The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-02
Attorney General Will Take
Hand In Doodle Investigation.
Difference Between State and
County Authorities Adjusted.
MR.. GIBSON GIVES UP.
Came to Protest and Finally
Lends His Endorsement.
Don't Want the Joints Dis
turbed by Grand Jury.

AS a result of the conference between
Governor Bailey and County Attorney
Gibson of wyandotte county Saturday
afternoon. the governor has instructed
Attorney General Coleman to take
hand in the Doodle investigation in
Wyandotte county.
Mr.. Gibson came to Topeka Saturday
to head off this very proceeding, but
Governor Bailey handled the matter SO
automatically that before Gibson went
home he gave the governor a written
request to instruct the attorney general
to assist in the investigation.
This seems to have been Governor
Bailey's reason for insisting that Mr..
Gibson come to, Topeka The outcome
smooths the way for the investigation
without any undue friction between the
attorney general and the county
attorney. which would have been in
eVitable had the attorney general been
Instructed to take charge of the inveS-
tigation over the county attorneys pro-
test
Gibsons letter to Governor Bailey re-
questing that the attorney general take
hand in the proceedings, is as fol-
lows:
Dear Sir-Having returned to the
state yesterday after an absence of sew
eral days,I find that there have been
charges made that L am not in favor
of a vigorous prosecution and investi-
cation before the grand jury of the
Doodle charges in Wyandotte county.
In order that there may be no misun-
derstanding in regard to my position, 1
respectfully ask you to require the at
torney general of the state of Kansas
to represent the state at the investiga-
tion before the grand jury and trial of
indictments found by said grand jury.
JAMES s. GIBSON,
County Attorney, Wyandotte county
Kansas"
Attorney General Coleman will spend
some time in Kansas City this week
looking up evidence to be presented
to the grand jury. The citizens com
mittee, headed by Myron Waterman,
which has been pushing the inyestiga-
ton. has considerable evidence. it is
said. and more will be secured
From remark dropped by c. S. Nc
Gonigal. one of the two who accom-
panied County Attorney Gibson Satur-s
day. 1t seems that they do not want the
joints disturbed by the grand jury
MeGonigaI said he wasn't opposed to
the DOODLE investigation. but he didn't
want the grand jury used to shut up
the Joints.
Governor Bailey himself does not pose
as diplomat He says Gibson express
ed himself as being very willing TO navu
the attorney general act in the Doodle
investigation, and he put into writing
request to have the attorney general
represent the state.
he wanted to be very fair in the mat
ter" said Governor Bailey today, but
he said he would like to talk with the
attorney general about the matte=. Ac-
cordingly, l called up Mr.. Coleman by
telephOne-he was at Clay Center-and
asked him to come to Topeka. He had
just seven minutes in which to catch
the train, but he made it, and Mr.. Glib
son talked the matter over with him III
the afternoon, promising to give him all
the assistance possible in the matter
ITO make it a matter of record 1 sent
Mr.. Coleman copy of Mr.. Gibson.s Ies-
ter and formally instructed him to act
in accordance with request in the letter
L think this is the most satisfactory
way the matter could have been ar
ranged If l had instructed Mr.. Cole
man to take charge of the Investigation
over the protest of the county attorney.
it would have created constant friction
and trouble. Now Mr.. Coleman Will
have the advice and assistance of the
county attorney, and If Mr.. Gibson is
sincere, and he appeared so to me, his
assistance ought to be a great help in
the investigation
Governor Bailey's letter to Mr.. Cole
man formally instructing him to pro-
ceed in the matter is as follows:
4 enclose you a copy of a letter un-
der date of October 81. from James s.
Gibson, county attorney of Wyandotts
county, Kansas, requesting that you be
required to assist in the Investigation
before the grand grand Jury of the Doodle
the trial of the indictments found bv
the said grand jury.
In compliance with this request and
the execution of my duty under the
law, herewith require you to comply
with this request
Senaor Fred DumDont Smith recently
made a visit to his boyhood home in
Pennsylvania. Conditions have greatly
changed there in the years since he
moved away, and great industries have
been built up. AS a result Senator
Smith is getting little weak on the
subject Of protection. In the course Of
a very interesting letter on THE Land
paper, the Kinsley Mercury, Senator
Smith says:
| TT is just a little jarring on a good
Kansas Republican who desires to
stand pat with Hanna, to go to the
sanctum of protection and see who gets
the protection. It is just a little weary
| ing to contemplate infant industries
like the Edgar Thompson Steel Works
and other Carnegie properties that we
have nursed and Graded and reflect
that they are still demanding the pres
ent high duties at the expense in some
cases of our Kansas farmers
These same works are selling steel
| in every quarter of the globe, under
selling every competitor, England and
Germany with their cheap labor but the
tariff wall enables them to keep the
price up to the home consumer 1t is
time it came down a bit. The infant
| industry business is becoming a joke.
1 The Iowa idea, revision of the tariff by
| its friends must come or as sure as fate
it will be revised by it's enemies. And
an ak and stagnation and ruin will
follow"
E. W. Hoch was in Topeka a short