The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-17
Custer Suit Against Fit. Scott
Mayor Which Was Not Filed.
How Gen. CoIeman's Good In.
tentiOns Were Thwarted.
MAYOR IS GOOD NOW.
Saloons in Ft. Scott Are All
Closed Very Tight.
Custer Suit Will Likely Remain
in the PigeonhoIe.

Tucked away in a pigeon hole in
the desk of c. C. Coleman. the attor-
ney general of the state, is a set of pa
pers which he prepared some six or
eight weeks ago to file with the su-
preme court for the purpose of bring
ing proceedings to Gust from Office
Mayor Goodlander of Fort Scott. for
his apparent failure to enforce the
prohibitory law in that city Mayor
Goodlander IS a Democrat.
These papers were not filed with the
court by Mr.. Coleman because he
listened to the advice of some of the
prominent Republican politicians Of
the state which was to the effect that
if these proceedings were undertaken
on the eve of election, they would
cost. the Republican party countless
votes and that in fact it would be an
almost suicidal effort from political
standpoint.
Facts concerning the existence OF
these papers have been known, OF
course, to some of the big politicians
around the state house for several
weeks but they only leaked into public
channels today. 1t is known that some
of Mayor GOOdlander'S friends in the
Republican party apprised him OF
their existence, and his knowledge OF
them is looked upon as the reason Tor
the manifesto which he issued recently
directing the Joints of Fort Scott to go
out of business, and which has result
ed within the last ten days of changing
Fort Scott from one of the banner
ssWet'' cities of the state. to dry
town In fact the conditions in re-
gard to the enforcement of the pro
hibitory law there are such now th2t
they have brought forth words of COM
mendation from the temperance PEG
pie of the state, especially from J. K.
Codding, the attorney for the State
Temperance union who is quoted as
saying that Fort Scott now is dry ana
has been closed up as tight as can De.
Stimulated by his success in the pro-
ceedfngs to Gust former Mayor w. w
Rose from his office in Kansas City,
Kan, because of the reimbursement
of the prohibitory law IN that city, MI
Coleman conceived the idea that it
would be a good plan to prosecute this
work and decided on Mayor Goodland-
er of Fort Scott, as his next victim II
has been a notorious fact for years
that the sprohibitorY law has been nom
essential in the conduct of the affairs
of Fort Scott which is the important
city of Bourbon county 1t happened,
too, that Mayor Goodlander is a Dem
ocrat as is ex-Mayor Rose
Mr. Coleman thought that not only
would proceedings against Mayor
Goodlander have q Statutory effect on
the respectsfor the prohibitory law, bur
would also be a good political move in
view OF the fact that Col w A. Har-
ris, the Democratic candidate for gov
ernor was going around the state
making speeches for the rigid enforce
ment of the prohibitory law as we'll al
the other laws of the state. Mr.. Cole
mans idea was that such an action
would show the people of the state
that there were some Republican Of
icials at least, who stood for the en-
forcement of the prohibitory law.
: So he went ahead and got what he
sufficient evidence against
Mayor Goodlander and drew up the
pa pers to bring custer proceedings. |
When he had the papers drawn their
existence was learned Of by the state
house politicians Some of them
thought it was a fine move for political
purposes. but the Oldest heads in Re- |
publican councils said that it would be
the worst kind Of a political move, one
that would be suicidal. One of the |
smoothest politicians in the state and |
man who is high in the councils of the !
party set his foot down against the pa
pers being filed and the proceedings |
begun. He pointed out what he con- |
sidered to be fact that the proceed I
ng.s against ex-MayOr Rose of Kansas /
city kan. would cost the Republicans T
thousands of votes in Wyandotte coun- /
ty, andsthe result of election showed 7
that his Judgment was correct. He in /
sisted that if the proceedings were be- |
gun before election, thousands of 9TH |
ar votes would be lost
Attorney General Coleman is not in |
he city today so no statement could be /
secured from him as to the status Of |
he case It is understood, however,
hat as long as Fort Scott remains dry !
The papers will rest in peace, but if |
here is any evidence of the town OPEN
ng up again the case against Mayor |
Eoodlander will be pressed.
1t is also the understanding that Mr.. |
Coleman has intentions of bringing
of a similar nature against
he mayors of other cities in the state
where the prohibitory law is violated
lnder the eyes of the city officials.