The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-15
Tom Wagstaff's Friend Answers
the McNabney Letter.
Independence Editor Tells Facts
About Law Enforcement.
S6 JOlNTISTS in JAIL.
McNabney Pleaded for Them in
Vain.
Stubbs Endorsed the Record
Wagstaff Had Made.

Through his friend, H. G. James
editor of the Independence Reporter
Tom Wagstaff has made reply TO the
McNabney letter published a re" Gays
ago in which an attack was mace on
Wagstaff's record of law enforcement
while attorney Of Montgomery county
The reply covers the case thorougnly
and makes clear the real facts in the
matter wagstaff has correspondence
from MeNabney himself and from
Governor Stubbs and ex-Attorney Cen
eral Coleman in which tribute was paiu
to his record in closing the MontsoIl-
cry county joints.
The McNabney letter, which was sent
to the square deal papers for pup1ca-
tion, attacked Wagstaf's record IN IN
general terms. McNapney cIdlIlleu - =
be chairman of the law enforcement
league and he alleged that AS soon as
he (Wagstaff) was installed in otnce we
expected to get great results out were
severely disappointed. we wrote anu
interviewed him but without success
Finally we arranged for a meeting Win Win
him in Coffeyville, and met him there
and put the matter up to nlm put ttle
people assembled left the meeting In
disgust
Mr.. James, in his reply, says:
Mr.. James Defense.
I'm the first place 1 want to say that
! am surprised at the action OF MT. NC
Nabney. He has branded h1mset
seIf-elected member of the Ananias
club while playing a very awkward
game of small politics. An inexper1-
enced campaigner forgets to burn the
bridges behind him. Mr.. McNabney
probably has forgotten the letters ne
wrote to Mr. Wagstaff. one of which
places him in the light of very un-
desirable and unreliable Citizen not to
say traitor to the cause ne represenleo
or was supposed to represent
Now let me tell you why Mr.. NC
Nabney is against Mr.. Wagstaff, and
I need not suggest that when nave
concluded you will suspect Just as 90
that thi man McNabney was Judas
in the camp of the enforcement league
Before the election, McNabney, rep
resenting himself to be Chairman
(Which in fact he was noO OF the Mont
gomery County Law Enforcement
league (an organization that was big III
name only), wrote Mr.. Wagstaf let
ter asking him to declare himself Mr.
Wagstaff replied that he would enforce
the prohibitory law the same as every
other law upon the statute books. This
was satisfactory to Mr.. McNabney.
''Wagstaff heard no more from Nc
Nabney until the next October. at
that time he had 56 jointists convicted
and awaiting sentence. 1t became
noised about that these v1olators or the
law had tried the patience of the coud-
ty attorney too far and that they were
going to get the limit. In other coun-
ties the iointists were finding loop holes
IN the law to avoid jail sentences and 1t
was keeping Tom Wagstaff busy to
he received the following letter from
the veracious Mr.. McNabney:
McNabney Letter to Wagstaff.
81 The Coffeyville Mel camille Co.,
Wholesale Grocers.
Coffeyville, Kan, 1O-1S-'o5.
"'Mr t A. Wagstaff, Independence,
"'Dear Sir: I presume you will
think 1 have gone clear back on you,
but rest assured I am still on same
ground as before. Heartily behind the
man who does his duty.
Now, in regard to the sentences
that are pending for tomorrow. l am
not one of the ones who delight to |
see others punished If they show signs !
of repentance or quitting. 1 believe |
that Mr.. Ollinger and some of the |
others are ready to quit and have |
made arrangements to do so. and if so !
] have no quarrel or spite against
them.
"I would suggest what 1 consider |
better than a jail sentence at present |
time and that would be to have a sem |
tence passed, but suspend the penalty |
pending good behavior This would be |
a club over them and believe it would |
result in more good than tc send them |
to Jail Then, if violated they could |
be dealt with. I believe this would be |
satisfactory to the temperance people, |
at least, know it would be to me.
1
court. Yours respectfully.
I'M. S. M'NABNEY.'
Remember, the man who wrote the
above was the alleged chairman of the
Law Enforcement league; remember.
also. the county attorney was then en-
deavoring to enforce the law. that he
had Sc jointists ready for sentence.
Jointists Sent to Jail.
''Mr. Wagstaff replied to Mr.. Nc
Nabney that at the May term of court
he had 36 of the most penitent joint
lists he had ever seen They were so
sorry they had violated the law, that
every one pleaded guilty and promised
to sell booze if only they
would not have to go to Jail. He told
Mr.. McNabney that on this promise
he recommended to the court that
these offenders be let off with only
fine. The promise was not kept. No
sooner had these men gained their lib
erty than they went back to selling
booze-and some of them. by the way,
are still at it down in Okla hOma. Mr..
Wagstaf told Mr.. McNabney he could
not accept his suggestions. The joint
lists were fined and sentenced to jail
for from 90 days to six months and
to paw a fine of from 500 to $780,
From that day to this NJ. S. Nc
Nabney has been the personal and po-
litical enemy of Tom Wagstaff. I will
leave it to the reader 20 decide be-
tween the two men.
But 1 would add that it was be-
cause of just such traitors as this
man McNabney that it seemed almost
impossible to put the CoffeyvilIe joint
lists out of business. The county at
torney would issue a warrant for the
arrest of Coffeyvil1e joint keeper and
before the sheriff could reach the bor-
aer city the coming event was tipped
1ff and when the sheriff arrived the
bird had flown. Public sentiment to
, very large extent in Coffeyvil1e was
4nf nd he Of d.,