The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-27
GET OUT, Mr.. ROSE
Governor Would Gust the Mayor
OF Kansas City.
County Attorney Gibson Also
ON Prescribed List.
DON'T ENFORCE LAW.
Particularly the One Referring
to Prohibition.
Action Begun in Supreme Court
Through Coleman.
Both Officials Deny Charges of
COlluSiOn.

Governor Hoch and Attorney General
Coleman opened up the fight on the
kansas City, Kan, joints Tuesday af-
ternoon by filing in the supreme court
three drastic proceedings.
F'irst-A suit to GUST from office May
or William W. Rose, for conspiracy to
permit the violation of the prohibitory
law.
Second-An custer suit against Coun-
ty Attorney James S. Gibson, charging
not only conspiracy. but the acceptance
of bribes.
Third-Proceedings to prohibit the
city of Kansas City from accepting Ii
censes from joints in violation of law
These suits are Governor Hoch's an
swer to the bitter criticism to which
he has been subjected by the Wyan-
dotte county w. c. T. U. Whether it
marks the opening of a general prohi-
bition war on similar lines in all the
big cities of the state remains to be
seen. The general opinion is that HOch
does not expect to open up similar
fight in other towns unless somebody
gets the evidence necessary to make the
cases stick.
Myron Waterman, the former Topeka
man, is the governors representative
in Kansas City, and to him must be
given the credit for stirring up the
present excitement. He has obtained
most of the evidence which will be used
IN the prosecution of the suits, Mr.
Waterman SAID last night in an inter-
view at Kansas City:
i insisted on the three suits being
brought by the attorney general he
said last night. One was to oust the
county attorney, another to ouSt the
mayor and the third suit 20 prohibit the
city from collecting license from the
joints and gambling houses under the
system of fines"
DO you expect by these proceedings
to close the joints?
THAT will depend on the men ap-
pointed to succeed the mayor and counv
tys attorney But they viii be closed
ultimately
you do not charge Mayor Rose and
his administra ton with grating, do
your"
No; and I want it distinctly under
stood that there is nothing of that kind
charged or intimated. The custer pro-
ceedings are simply based on d failure,
on the mayors part, to enforce the law,
and the practice of licensing the joints.
Mr.. Waterman was asked concerning
the information on which the custer
proceedings against County Attorney
Gibson were brought
THE question as to the $50 a month
from each joint keeper he said, is
amply substantiated by affidavits, but
/ have given my word of honor that
these afidavits shall not be made pub
lie"
Beyond this he would not discuss the
charges against the county attorney.
save to say that the records of the dis
trict court and the county clerks Of
fee would be used to substantiate the
other charges.
Why he said. 4 have a statement
under the seal of the county clerk to
the effect thai County Attorney Gibson
never made a quarterly report, and
there is a fine of SO day for failure
to make such reports
Rose and Gibson Will Fight.
Mayor Rose and County Attorney
Gibson will fight the cases to a finish.
Their plan of campaign will probably
be to secure delays in the supreme
court until their terms of office expire.
Mayor Rose gave out this statement
at Kansas City:
Il have nothing whatever to say
about the charges he said.
Are they true, or are they not true?"
he was asked.
False. every one of them. 1 have
never connived with any one to violate
any law nor have I licensed saloons, .
replied the mayor.
''WiIl you instruct the city counselor
to fight the proceedings?"
wen, I guess 1 won't give up with
out fight
''wm this have the effect of closing
the joints?"
II can't say as to that"
"Win you continue to act as mayor?"
81 will. at least until the supreme
court decides the case"
Mr.. Gibson denies everything, bribery
charges and all. 1.-The charge that I
have accepted money from jointkeepers
is absolutely false said Mr.. Gibson
last night. Il have never received any
money either directly or indirectly from
jointkeeper or sold any indulgencies
or privileges to violate the prohibition
law or any other law. That charge is
not only false, but malicious. If any
person has collected money on the rep
TeSentation that he was the agent of
the county attorney it was wholly un-
authorized and it viii be my delight to
prosecute such a man in the courts.
If Myron A. Waterman or any other
reformer or citizen, will present to me
evidence that any of my deputies or
any man representing himself as my
agent has been collecting money from
1ointkeepers, I shall not only summar-
1ly discharge the deputy but I shall
prosecute him for taking the money.
AS to the charge that have failed
TO follow UP or prosecute injunction
proceedings filed by me, I have to saw
tnat IN every case permanent injuuc-
tlons nave been secured against the
1olntkeeperS and I have told Mr.
Waterman and others that if thew
would furnish me the evidence that the
1nJuncttons were being violated I
would prosecute the parties. I fled
injunction proceedings against a large
number of jointkeeDers. Those in
functions were made permanent and
stand on the dockets today as such
and any citizen, on producing the evi-
dence that the iniunctions are being
violated, can have the jointkeepers sent
to jail. =
81 have always stood ready and
willing to prosecute the violators of