The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-14
Again Decides to Appoint Hig.
gins Parole Officer.
How the appointment Was Made
Once Before.
SHORT IN POST OFFICE.
This Charge Caused withhold
ing of the Commission.
Congressman Curtis Said AnthO-
ny Was Behind Opposition.

For the second time, John Higgins
has been appointed parole officer of the
state penitentiary. Higgins is a LeaV-
enworth man. a brother Of William
EIiqsins. and himself for many years
deputy warden OF the penitentiary.
Higgins was appointed for the first
time about two weeks ago, just after
Frank McGrath's death. As soon as
McGrath was dead, Warden Haskell
and p. II. Coney, department comman-
der of the G. A. r., came to Governor
Hoch. and asked him to appoint Hig-
Eins. The governor liked the idea and
told Haskell to go and tender the place
to Mr.. Higgins. Mr.. Haskell went back
to I.eavenworth with the news, and
Governor Hoch started out on a speak
ing trip
When the governor returned he
found his desk covered with protests
against Higgins appointment. 1t was
charged that Higgins had been found
short in his accounts while postmaster
at Lansing, and had been obliged to
make up a deficiency. 1t was also
charged that the United States district
attorney had several complaints
against Higgins which he was expect
ing to spring at any time. Warden
Haskell was hastily summoned to
Topeka, and was told that the gov
ernor couldn't think of appointing
Higgins until the charges were cleared
but you've already appointed
him." said Haskell.
He hasn't got his commission"
said the governor.
mo, but he has been notified Of his
appointment" said Haskell.
Capt. COney took hand, and made
a great fight for Higgins. He said
it was not a square deal TO appoint
Higgins and then try to gig back.
Congressman Curtis also got into
the game with a strong statement on
behalf of Higgins. Curtis said that
Higgins was all right; that the fight
on him was being made by the An
thOny element at LeaVenWOrth.
The governor was at last convinced
that Higgins shortage was due to the
acts of Higgins son, who had access to
the cash drawer. and that by making
good the deficit, Mr.. Higgins had not
convicted himself. as was claimed
So the governor made up his mind TO
stand Pat. Meantime a lot of other
candidates had jumped into the field.
Davis Of Shawnee Dustin Of Leaven-
worth, Douglass OF El Dorado, Hard
man of NeoshO, and three or four 9TH
ers. all came forward with their en-
dOrsements. Mr.. Fredenhagen, the To-
pelza man who works on behalf Of dis
charged prisoners, made a fight on Hig-
gins, because he was not enough of
Christian. Fredenhagen wanted a Chris
tian for the Job. and didn't care who,
just so he was a church member in
good standing.
Governor Hoch let town about one
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. Just be
fore starting he declared that he had
made no appointment of parole officer.
What's the hurry about making the
appOintment?' said Governor Hoch.
There's lots Of time"
1t seems, however, that the governor
had left instructions that if certain
things came to pass during his alb
sence, the appointment should be an
nOunced. The things came to pass. and
the announcement of Higgins was made
public about o'clock Thursday after
noon.
one of the dark horse" candidates
called up the State Journal Office about
4 o'clock in the afternoon, and said:
The State Journal is way off on this
parole officer appointment
"Is that SOP was the reply. seVVhO
will get it,"
"Well, the man who viii get it hasn't
been mentioned yet by your paper
He is a Santa Fe conductor"
How do you know" was asked
Because I'm the man. The place
has been offered to me, and if I decide
to accept, I viii let you know
This seems to have been a joke on
the conductor, for he didn't get the
place. AS a matter of fact there was
a conductor after it. He runs on the
Santa Fe between Topeka and Atchi-
son.