The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-04
as OTHERS SEE rs.

~ AAAAALaass a14-Azz4 Is
1t is quite interesting sometimes,
though not always hattering. to dis
cover how other people regard US. When
the other fellow is badly mistaken, as
we usually persuade ourselves he is, the
discovery is frequently most amusing,
although occasionally it is sufficient to
provoke US to wrath.
These observations are called forth
by an outburst in a recent issue of the
Houston Chronicle, brought on by the
refusal of Governor Hoch to permit a
negro, accused os murder in Texas, to
be taken back there for trial for fear he
would not get a fair trial or that he
would be lynched. The Chronicle makes
this the basis for throwing a lot of un-
necessary brickbats in Kansas direc-
ton
AS to the wisdom or the propriety Of
Governor Hoeh's action there are prob
ably two sides. To the ordinary in
dividual it would appear that if there
seemed any proba bnity of the negro's
guilt, it was Governor Hoch's duty to
turn him over to the Texas authorities,
and allow them to be responsible for his
safe-keeping. Kansas can hardly jump
IL LLAE EQllEluS1OLl that d 4tEEAO AA4NA- ~ ~
will be Iynched if taken back to Texas
just because negro murderers have been
lynched in Texas in the past Kansas
has not quite a clean record on that
score herself, yet we would be some
what indignant if Texas would refuse
to let a criminal be brought to this
state for fear he would be lynched!
But that is not looking at ourselves
~ -, - amusing
glasses Of the Chronicle Here is the
Chronicles view:
Nearly half a century ago Kansas
gave the world John Brown fanatic,
who went out uDon murderous ana
visionary crusade, and ended on the
gallows, and since then she has furnlsh-
ed grasshOppers, POpullst senators,
senators who violate the plain law OF
the land and get into jail, and every
manner Of freak and curiosity, ana now
she has a governor who declines TO
honor a due, regular and constitutional
requisitiOn of the governor OF q sister
state for an indicted fugitive because
the fugitive says he can not get fair
trial, and that people of his race nave
no fair chance in Texas, and lot OF
such rot, with which even II II were
true the governor of Kansas has moth
ing whatever to do.
"A negro committed penltehIlafy
offense in Texas-at least he was IN
dicted for such an offense by grand
jury. Before he could be arrested he
fed to Kansas. The Texas sheriff 10
Gated him in that land of refuge and
procured a requisition from the COVER
nor of Texas on the governor of Kan
sas Cor the surrender OF the fugitive,
a perfectly regular, orderly and neces-
sary step in the arrest OF a criminal
and the enforcement of the law
TT is not a question of courtesy be
10 c.f1 faes or n 2 10Y
ence with the governor whether he shall
or shall not honor the requiSitiOn, but
is plain duty if the Indictment be in
due form and the papers regular. The
Texas sheriff had the papers Just as
they should be, but 1t is reported that
the governor of Kansas referred the
sheriff to negro clerk. who, it appears,
was put in charge Of the matter
THE sable clerical official, deputy
governor of Kansas, declined to honor
the reQuisition of Governor Lanham,
not because it was not in regular form,
and in strict compliance with every
constitutional and legal requirement, but
because the colored fugitive put up
wall and said that negroes had no
chance in Texas, and that they could
not get a fair trial, and that he should
not be sent back, and thereuDon the
Kansas governor and his ebony-hued
clerk and counsellor figuratiyely spit on
the reqUisition of the governor of Texas
and kicked his messenger out
"Of course, all this happened in Kan
sas. There is not another state in the
union wherein such arrant, asinine folly
and discourtesy and absurdity would
have been possible.
IAN indictment, duly authenticated,
and a requistiion bearing the seal of the
great state, the emblem of its sovereign
power. are presented in accordance
with law and immemorial custom to
the governor of Kansas, and while the
indicted criminal is under arrest, and
the duty Of the governor of Kansas is
as plain as the way to his office door,
he deputies a negro to pass on the mat
ter, and the messenger of a sister state
is turned contemptuously away, while
the negro prisoner goes free. Such ex-
hibition of ignorance, prejudice and sec
tiOnal feeling fatigues indignation and
produces disgust too violent for editorial
expression"