The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-09
SECRET is OUT.
Topeka Joint Protection System
Laid Bare.
Frank Bates Paid $50 for
Immunity.
GAVE CASH TO WOLF.
Said 1t Had to Be Divided With
the Chief.
Townsend Refused to Sell Him
Schlitz Beer.
WAS TOLD TO QUIT.
Wolf Also Offered to Pay
Back Money.
Place Was Raided on Election
Night.
Bates Tells the Shameless Story
in Detail.
Bates Tells the Shameless Story
i'm Detail.

Why is Chief McCollum still in con-
troll of the police department? The
shameless policy under which Topeka
LIQUOR resorts have been protected
was rebuked in the city election, but
sAIcCollum is still directing the police
administration.
The people have known that there
has been collusion between those in
authority and the liquor sellers, but
there was difficulty to get the proof.
The State Journal is able today to
furnish the proof.
Bates Tells His Story.
Frank Bates, whose joint at 116
East Sixth avenue. next door to c. v.
VOLTS hardware store. has been raid
ed twice in the past week. has made a
complete confession of the relations
which existed between him and the
police department which clinches all
the charges of corruption which have
recently been made, involving c. v.
Wolf. of the police committee, and
A. f. AIcCollum, chief of police.
At o'clock on the evening of
March II Bates says he went to VOLTS
hardware store. and paid him $50 for
protection" which Mr.. Wolf stated
would be divided with the chief of
police. Wolf agreed to see to it that
Bates was protected" so long as he
would pay $50 a month.
A few days later, Wolf tried to return
the money, because Lon Townsend, rep
reseEting the Schlitz beer combine, re-
fused to permit Bates to run. Bates
would not take the money back, and the
result was that the police proceeded to
drive Bates out of business.
The following is the statement made
today by Frank Bates:
About a week before the Republican
primaries. c. V. Wolf came to me and
asked me to support him in his cam
paign for councilman. He asked me to
get out and see some of my friends, and
get them to help him in his fight He
said, If you will help me to get the
nomination, 1 will take care of YOU. If
you want to do any business there is
your back room, I will fix it so you cam
SO l. went to see some of nv friends
and did what I could for Mr. Wolf 1
also went to see Lon Townsend, and
tried to arrange to handle Schlitz beer
from him. He refused to sell to me-
on the ground that he did not want
another place running right across the
street from his joint at 115 East Sixth
So arranged to handle Anheuser-
Busch goods
Got Permission from Wolf
The. morning after the Republican
primaries, Wolf came to the door Of
Wen, you see 1 got the nomination
Now if you want to do any business
there in your back room, I'll see the
chief and see what can do for you
THAT afternoon, I went to see Wolf.
and he said that he had fixed it ali
right. and I could go ahead.
About o clock that afternoon
Wolf stopped at my place again, and
told me to come to his store at z
o'clock that evening. He told me to
be sure to be on time. as he had to
go UP to the city hall in the evening
at 8 o clock to canvass the returns. 1
went to VOLTS store at z O'Clock. He
said to me. in substance: Now Bates,
It viii cost you $50 a month to run.
or course YOU understand that this
money has got to be cut with the
chief. We may have to pull you once
In while, but if we do, YOU will be
notified to put hop tea on instead of
beer and get away with the whisky
Then the officers will lust make an
Inspection of the place, and leave you
alone. That's the way we are doing
with all the rest of them Wolf then
mentioned the names of some of the
other places which were running mn
DER protection They were all Schlitz
places one of the places he men
toned. 1 remember, was the RoyaI T
tod Wolf that Townsend wouldn't
ser me Schlltz beer. and that would
have to handle Anheuser. He said
that would be all right
He Pays the Money.
7 handed Wolf five SO bills. When 7
aid so he said, Now. for God's sake
Keep this to yourself 1t would ruin me
20 have it get out I asked Wolf how
Il would be if he should fail to be elect
ed councilman, or should not get back
pn the police committee He said
Don't you worry about that You inst
remember that if am defeated. I am
still high man in this police business
What I tell the chief to do he win 5o
The chief and me are the same thing
What I know, he knows. and what he
knows, I know If am defeated 7
viii go right on and protect you Just the
same
Three or four days after that Wolf
stopped at my place, and told me he
wanted me to come to his store
went there about o'clock in the
morning Wolf said: The chief sent
for me to go to the Jail yesterday. and
I went down. He told me that tha
people here on this block are hollaring
about you, and you would have TO
close up said. There's nobody kick
ing except the Schlitz combine Wolf
said that didn't make any difference. I
would have to close. and he offered to