The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-07

HOCl a Union PRINTER.
In reply to the address. Governor Hoch
said:
I shall withhold my decision in this
matter until 1 have time to put it into
writing. [ wish to say a few words
concerning this case. First, I want to
say something of a personal nature.
MY whole life has been life of toll.
was born in poverty; I am naturally in
sympathy with the working man. At II
L served an old-fashioned apprenticeship
OF three years as a printer; then I be-
came Journeyman printer and Joined
the Typograp hical union. But I want
to say that organized labor has no
worse enemy than he who INDUCES in
violence or incites violence. People gen
orally want to be fair. The decision of
this great labor problem rests with the
middle classes of this country.
Now as governor of this state,
want to do what's right in this matter.
L gave a patient hearing to this case
when it was presented a few weeks
ago by able lawyers on both sides.
We have three coordinate branches
of the government, and each owes to
the other the utmost respect. This
case came to me from the courts The
governor has two prerogatives in such
cases He may say that a man is not
properly convicted by the jury. Such
action by the governor is of very. Ques-
uonable nature. and should only be
resorted to in the most extreme and
unusual cases. The chief prerogative
of the governor in the exercise of the
pardoning power is that of mercy and
sympathy. At the former hearing the
matter came before me wholly as a
matter of justice. It came to me from
the supreme court. The supreme
court is a body to which I owe the
utmost respect If one of the three
branches of government can be said
to be superior to the other, the su-
preme court would be that one. It is
| the urn in which our liberties are pre-
served. The supreme court affirmed
| the conviction of Mr.. Irelan; not only
that it said distinctly in its opinion
/ that there was an abundance of evil
denee to warrant the conviction. Sc
what could I do in that matter but
what I did do?
Union Labor Pressure
Il feel confident that you men
would not want me to decide this mat
ter simply because of the large body
of men which you represent. Simply
because a man has great many
friends does not warrant action. You
would have much less respect for me
| if I acted upon such basis.
1T would be as though the members
of the Methodist church should come to
me, a member of the church, and de-
mand that I take some action on the
ground that the Methodist church has
a great many members and wants such
and such a thing done. I would be much
more inclined to be Influenced by the
fact that a man has no friends at all
! than by the fact that he is backed by a
/ large and powerful organization.
Now I am going to give this matter
another consideration. 1 shall prepare
a statement in writing embodying my
/ conclusions. But I thought I ought tC
tell you frankly some of my idea on the
subject"
Labor Commissioner w. L. A. John
son. the chairman of the committee
then made a few appropriate remarks
to the governor, and requested him, il
possible, to prepare his written decision
in time to be presented to the labor So
ciety prior to its adjournment.
The committee appointed to call upon
/ the governor was as follows: w. L. A
Johnson, state labor commissioner
chairman; U. S. Grant. Tom Flynn, W
L. Brown, w. P. Bankurt, F. L. Ying-
ling, A. S. McAllister, John Burman. A
J. johnson, J. J. AIeNally, J. H. Schmidt
W L. stark. J. o. Carey, A. Towers
G. F. Whitlock. John McKivett. H P.
Miller. Isaac Gildberg, S. r. Goode, L,
S. McCracken, F. A. WooIferton. W. H
Barber, W. H. Johnston.