The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-20
THEY Want HELP
Delegation from Kansas City
Comes to Topeka.
ASK C. F. HHtchins Be Appoint
ed Asst. attorney General.
LEFT TO MR.. COLEMAN.
Governor Bailey Is Not in the
City.
Text of the Petition Filed by
Mercantile Club.
LEFT TO MR.. COLEMAN.

A delegation from Kansas City, Kan,
representing the committees of the Mer-
camille club and the citizens, came to
Topeka today to present to Governor
Bailey in a formal way the petition for
the appointment of an assistant attor-
ney general, which Myron Waterman
talked over with the governor informal
ly last Saturday
Governor Bailey left at 10 o'clock this
morning for Fort Riley to attend the
military maneuvers there. He left the
Kansas City matter to be discussed with
the delegation by Attorney General
Coleman. and it will be decided after the
governor returns from Fort Riley and
has a conference with Mr.. Coleman on
Friday.
The delegation brought a petition adj
dressed to the governor signed by con-
siderable number of representative men
of Kansas City, Kan, setting forth that
4, the gambling and other laws are TIA
gravity violated there and that it is be-
1ieved that certain public officials nave
taken brides and otherwise "boodled;
that a grand jury has been asked for
to investigate these charges, but that It
will be useless unless the inquiry can
be conducted by some one other than
the county attorney, and the aid OF me
attorney general is therefore asked. Inc
delegation asks lOE the dPPOiilIllCHN VI
c. F. Hutchins as assistant attorney
general.
Among the signerS of the petition are
John W. Breidenthal. former state bank
commissioner, for years chairman or the
PoOulist state committee, ana the Tu-
sion candidate for governor in 1900;
Myron Waterman, cashier of the C1tl-
zens' State Savings bank OF kansas
City and former bank examiner, VINO IS
the head of the movement; Charles M.
Chei6Rn we'll known R6DuDllc6n
politician who was secretary of the
state senate during the last Two Ieg1s-
latureS: Captain 7. j. Hayes, president
of the Old Boys club. the chief Repub-
lican organization of Kansas City, and
now bond clerk in the office OF super
intendent of public instruction; DR.. Clay
e. Coburn, son of Secretary Coburn.
and others.
The petition is interesting reading,
and is as followS:t
your petitioners, the undersigned,
citizens OF the county of Wyandotte,
respectfully represent that for long
time in open defiance of the laws OF
the state of Kansas. making gambling
a felony, many common gambling
houses have been kept and maintained
in Kansas City, Kas., yet public offic-
and punish gambling, while confessing
prevalence prev 5fSfiiafs ernie, nave public
ly announced their intention. not to in
terfof6 IN any way WIN OF seek 10
suppress or punish the commission of
suchs felonies. for the alleged reason
that the crime Of keeping gambling
houses has long been tolerated and APP
proved by the public and by public Of
ficials in Wyandotte county.
I'VE further respectfully represent
that the belief is almost universal
among the l;iw-abiding people of said
county that many public officers have
been guilty OF accepting brides and of
other corrupt and Illegal practices. and
a recent investigation made by the
Mercantile club of this city discloses
that even in the management of the
public schools extertion and REGULATION
of the most fragrant and abominable
character have long been INDUCED in
by officers of it's board of education.
These illegal practices have been Who'll
ly ignored by the officers whose duty
it is to cause criminal prosecution to
be instituted therefor, though the per-
petrators in some instances have openly
and defiantly admitted their illegal con-
duct, justlfying themselves by the
atrocious statement that such crimes
have heretofore been habitually COM
mitted with impunity in this county
and that the public sentiment of this
community tolerates il it does not en-
tirely approve of the commission of