The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-20
|. DO NOT LIKE IT.
State House JanitOrs Are Very
Much Exercised.
Say They Didn't Assault
Charles Reid.
HOCH is APPEALED TO
Says He Will Stand by the
JanitOrs.
No Warrant Yet Secured for
the Men Concerned.

News from the battlefield, Capitol
Square.-Great indignation prevails
here among the state house janitors
concerning the reports sent out of the
engagement of Tuesday afternoon be-
| tween the janitorial corps and the vol
unteer infantry recruited for the de-
| tense of the small boy caught riding
a bicycle through the state house
square
The janitors say that they have
been misrepresented, and that as a
matter of fact, not a single blow was
struck during the encounter. In or
der to put themselves on the proper
footing with the public, and be in
position to maintain the dignity of
| the law, meeting of the janitors of
| the state house has been called, to as
| semble in a few days, to vote on the
purchase of uniforms. 1t is practically
settled that each janitor will buy him
| self a handsome blue uniform with
| brass buttons bearing the words
state House." The janitors are I'M
animous in the belief that uniforms
will be of material assistance to them
| in commanding the respect of the
public in the enforcement of the law
on the state house square.
Governor Hoch was called up by
telephone this morning by County At
torney J. J. Schenck, who notified the
governor that Charles Reid desired to
secure a warrant for the arrest of
Fred Fauntroy. Mr.. Schenck wanted
to know what the governor thought
about it, In discussing the matter to-
day, Governor Hoch So d:
81 certainly shall So stain the jani-
tors in their enforcement of the city
ordinances. The janitors have been
sworn in as officers and are entitled to
respect. But on the other hand, will
not tolerate any attempt on the part
of the janitors to exceed their auth
GRITTY One thing is sure; the next
legislature will pass a law giving to
the executive council full authority to
control the state house square. The
city council has very kindly passed an
ordinance keeping people in automo-
biles and on bicycles from passing
through the grounds, and we propose
to see that that ordinance is enforced.
1 have talked to the three white men
who took a hand in this affair, and
I have also talked to Custodian Vor-
hees. Mr.. voorhees, says that he
thinks the janitors did not exceed
their authority. and believes that they
should be sustained. 1t is possible
that the tanitors did rot exercise the
men were not justified I'm interfering.
Mr.. Reid took a wrong view of the
case; he held that the law did not pre-
vent bicycle from passing through
the grounds. In that he was wrong"
Assistant Secretary of State T. J.
Botkfn said: Everybody is getting
very much excited about very small
affair. 1t didn't amount to anything,
and reminds me of the war between ma
tives in South Africa that started over
whether a young hippopotamuS had
been wounded by the tusks of it's faith
er or its mother. An Englishnlan fin
ally stepped in and settle the whole
difficulty by declaring that both sides
were wrong. and that the hippo was
injured by it's uncle"
Frank Dimery, one of the three jani
%<,,ex ,k@ H.. 49,
state house with instructions to warn
people not to pass through the grounds,
said this morning:
MOT a blow was struck, and the re-
port that eight janitors were mixed up
in the fight is false. That man Reid
came along when White was warning
the boy not to ride through the state
house grounds. Reid shouted at the
to White that he had a right to ride
through the grounds. Reid said, Hit
that niger in the mouth if he don't
let you co. Fauntroy then stepped up |
to Reid and told him he had better keep |
out of the fuss or he was liable to be
arrested for interfering with an officer |
Reid doubled up his fists as though to |
hit Fauntroy, and Fauntroy also dou-
Don't do that. There's no use fight
ing and they cooled off some. Reid
went to the station with Fauntroy and
that's all there was to 1T.
pISu JIG VI lIlO Sldlc MUSE |
janitors whom Charles Reid accuses of
assaulting him, says the account of the
fight was wrong. Mr.. Fauntroy denies
that he was rough and said: There
was no fight. Reid wasn't hit. 1 simp-
y arrested Reid and turned him over
to the chief Not a blow passed, no
one was hit. Reid struck at me but
ne did not hit me- Reid was interfering
with me where he had no business to
and that is the reason he was arrested.
There were only three men present in
stead of the eight as reported. I felt
hat I was justified in arresting Reid"
co 0pE,E AuHNE GLASS plant