The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-10-23
LOST HIS POSITION
Warden Kees Down and Out
of the Game.
M.F. kINCAID GETS THE PLACE
Grain Bags Made At Washington
State Penitentiary Disposed
of To Spectators

NJ. L. Kincaid, of Seattle, chairman
OF the State Board of Control, resigned
that position and has been appointed
superintendent of the penitentiary at
Walla Walla, in place of A. T. Kees.
The board has addressed q letter to Mr..
Kees asking for his resignation, and
gave out statement that as result
OF its recent Investigations it has
found that Kees had permitted state
grain bags to be purchased for speou
lative purposes after be had been
warned that bags applied for were
bought for speculation. The toard in
its statement declares that it believes
Kees had not personally pro6ted from
the speculation.
The appointment of Warden Kees at
the Walla Walla peDitentiary was
made by Governor Mead as the result
of convention promise to the Ankeny
following. d. B. Crocker was a men,
Der of the board of three that acted
as an advisory committee during the
Mead campaign, and saw to it that
KEGS got the job as soon as Mead was
inaugurated. Warden Dryden, his
predecessor, had supported Turner,
and the penitentiary was Immediately
turned over to Kees.
When scandal occurred in the
Walla Walla city election more than
year ago over the registration of
guards in disputed precinct, Kees
proved he was not involved and es-
capped, while number of subordinates
were dismissed. Then he broke with
the Ankeny following over the dis
missal of Eugene Lorton from the Un-
ion and fought Ankeny in his effort to
control Walla Walla county this fall.
ADkeny won, and Kees has been with
out substantial political support since.
There have been other charges of
lax administration at the Walla Walla
penitentiaIy, but the jute bag scandal
was the reason given by the board for
Warden Kees removal. Chairman
M. F. Kinoaid, ofthe State Board Of
Control, named in KEGS place, is a
former locomotive engineer of Seattle.
He was promised the appointment OF
State Labor Commissioner, but sub
sequently was given that of chairman
of the Board of Control. He is good
executive and strict disciplinarlan.
Warden Kees said, in response to a
question regarding the rumor of his
removal or resignation:
"All the Information I have in re-
gard to the matter is what / have
heard through friend who talked
with Governor Mead over the tele.
phone. The governor confirmed the
report that | had been removed. l did
not resign and do not intend to do so.
OF course, when the time comes I will
step down and out and do not intend
to attempt to put up any fight tor the
position.
II have never been notified of any
charges having been preferred against
me and have been given absolutely no
opportunity TO defend or vindicate
myself. All ask is square deal and
that do not consider | have had so
far. I believe this is political job
aud want the responsibility to rest
where it belongs.
1.-The State Board of Control was
here on the 10th of this month on
regular visit, but they said nothing to
me in regard to the grain sack matter
until called their attention to the
correspondence concerning the same.
They left apparently satisfied and this
action on the part of the Governor is
complete surprise TO me.
''Mr. Knettle made affidavit that be
wanted those sacks for his own use
and cannot understand why should
be held responsible for any dishonesty
on his part. know can yindicate
myself before the people of the state
and will demand an opportunity to do
so.