The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-08
CHIEF ON GRIDDLE.
Head of Police Roasted to
Deep Dark Brown.
Councilman Hughes Handled
Fork Like French Chef.
THEY STANDBY EATON
Resolution of Irate City Father
to Suspend Is Lost.
of Reporter Sloan.
THEY STANDBY EATON

One of the most sensational
speeches ever delivered in the city
council chamber was made by Coun-
Gilman J. w. F. Hughes, last night,
when he spoke in defense of a resolu-
ton he had introduced asking that
Chief of Police Eaton be suspended
and his action investigated in con-
nection with the assault upon G. A
Sloan, a Topeka newspaper reporter.
General Hughes spoke for fifteen
minutes and every second of the time
was fresh with lively expressions, new
spot lights on the alleged condition
of the Topeka police department, reve-
| lationS of the manner in which police
officers are said to be in constant fear
for their positions, and severe con-
formations of Chief of Police r. w.
Eaton.
Councilman Hughes had offered a
resolution which asked that the ac-
ton of Chief Eaton in striking a news
paper reporter and injuring him ex-
ternaIly and internally, be investigat-
ed by the police committee of the
council. Resolution also provided
that Chief Eaton be suspended from
office until after the report of the
committee and that all police officers
who testified in the trial be immune
from punishment by the chief or CT
officials.
The resolution was lost. Those who
voted for it were Councilmen Fink
Fraser, Hughes, Lannan and Miller.
Howard, Jordan, Simpson, Stanley
and Tandy. In reference to this vote
one of the councilman said last
night: 1T is easy to see now just how
coming commission election is lined
up. Jordan, Howard, Tandy and
Stanley are now lined up in the adj
ministration crowd and Fink and Mil
Ter are against them. This Eaton
matter is becoming campaign litera-
ture."
'.BuIIdozed" Officers.
In his speech following the intro
duction of the resolution General !
Hughes made some nasty charges /
against Chief Eaton and the manage |
ment of the police department. He |
claimed that Eaton would discharge
an officer if he told the truth about |
the affair, that he had "bull-dozed /
and would bull-doze again" the Off |
GERS, that many an officers mouth |
has been closed by the chief, that /;
former Sergeant Maurice Jenkins was I
accused and investigated and fired for
very little testimony, and that the |
whole matter was a disgrace to the j
city.
''The news of that police station is
public property said Councilman |
Hughes. THE reporter went there to
get 1t and he had a right to it-just as |
L.
and kicked him and the doctors tell me !
that he is injured internally. I think |
the council should investigate. The |
chief will bulldoze the officers-they |
are afraid to tell just what happened |
because of their jobs. Eaton has bull |
dozed people before-I might mention |
the road house case not long ago when |
his action was too plain to be decent. /
Then there are other things that might |
be investigated-lots of them. You |
councilmen know them as well as I do. |
I think it is time that some of these |
things were made public and change |
could be made. What the people of To- !
peka want from their chief of police is |
the truth-they don't want things |
closed up and hidden like 1t has been |
in the past. Maurice jenkins was dis |
charged because a questionable charac- |
ter preferred charges against him. The
committee investigated and the council |
stood by the committee. Eaton has |
been accused of crime by an honest !
man. This Jenkins affair is full Of |
secrets"
Best Chief I'm History.
Councilman Blakely then arose and I
tried to bring peace. He doubted the /
alleged "bulldozing' of the police Of |
ficers by the chief and said that they |
would allow such a thing to happen. /
He said that he had faith in the action |
of the court and did not think this |
matter should come before a commit |
pliment by saying that it was the most |
competent force in the history of To-
peka.
Councilman Howard thought that the |
council should not t'butt-in on the |
COURTS At this General Hughes |
jumped to his feet and pointing his /
finger at Howard asked him If he would |
support a resolution making the police |
officers immune from losing their jobs
if they told the truth about the affair. |
Mayor Green entered the conversation |
at this time and said:
Il don't believe the officers in Ques- |
ton will swear to lie. I have called |
them in to my office and have assured |
them that l will protect them from any |
injury and that they must tell the |
truth
eff Eaton was in the right an investi-
CATION will not hurt him in the least"
exclaimed Hughes ''An assault on a
man is a violation Of the law. Not |
long ago a policeman got drunk on the |
state house grounds and he was dis
charged at once-yet he disobeyed the
law only-not as bad as an assault.
Any city would suspend a man for an
action of this kind and I believe the !
citizens of Topeka demand it,
The vote was taken and the above |
mentioned councilmen stood out in |
favor of the chief.
The Conscientious Elector-No, I'd rath- |
er vote for the devil than for youi The /