The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-20
WORDS FLEW FAST
Commissioners Bone and HOI.
man Got Together Today.
Furious Seance in City Hall
Lasted for an Hour.
BROUGHT IN POLITICS.
Bone Threatened to Expose HOl-
mans Past Methods.
Purchasing Agent Controversy
Growing More Serious.
BROUGHT IN POLITICS

| The sizzling controversy between
City Commissioners Roy L. Bone and
M. c. Holman over the city purchasing
agent question came to a white heat
this morning. From 9:45 until 1920 in
Mr.. Holman's office the two commits
sioners fought it out and between them
sat Sanitary Sergeant Vanderpool, try
| ing his best to call a halt and bring
peace. But his efforts were useless and
| when Commissioner Bone finally re-
! treated in order to his stronghold the
breach between the two men was wider
| than ever before.
| Denying each others statements, ac-
| cusing each other of starting the fight,
bringing political feuds into the lime
light, flashing papers into each others
faces, the two city officials wrangled
and heaped the English language into
their widening breach.
1t is pretty hard to tell how it came
out-in fact when the flag of truce
was raised for few hours rest each
man was positive that he was right and
a reconciliation was impossible.
Holman, you have been trying to
discredit me, you have been doing your
| best to make the people believe that I
am wrong and dishonest said Mr..
Bone. Let me tell you one thing, I
| do it-eSpecially when l know that you
cannot prove a thing you say
'I am doing no such thing" retorted
Commissioner Holman. You are the
one who started this controversy with
your purchasing agent ordinance. You
started this trouble in the council
| chamber and I have simply defended
| my rights"
Commissioner Bone f1ared up at this.
You started this yourself" he answer
70 he 70 70
Journal reporter saying that you had
! id of SIS on a job that I had bid of
$12 on. Then you come here and tell
me and the people that you have never
received any bids. That doesn't look
like the truth to me. 1 never said
word about this until you brought it
out in the paper You are the one who
started this
II did not" snapped Holman.
You did, said Bone.
81 didn't, I sayi'
''WelI know you did"'
For a few seconds this rapid fire sub
sided Both men grumbled to them
selves and then Mr. Bone burst out:
Bone Hints at Sensation.
eff you give out any more statements
of this kind I will give the State Jour
nal something that will cook you.
know of few political dealings with
man on the North side that 1 will let
out"
Now. look here, Roy, there is no
need for anything of this kind inter-
rupted Mr.. Holman-and nothing more
was said on that tickliSh subject.
81 asked every man in my mill to
vote for you and they did" continued
Commissioner Holman
Il asked the men in my foundry to
vote for you for the primaries but
against you in the general election,
answered Bone-and this subject drop
ped.
81 can prove every statement I have
made in this controversy said Mr..
Bone on another subject. EVERY word
I have written or have given out as an
interview I can prove. You can't do
that. You can't prove hardly any OF
that stuff you gave out"
Holman Strengthened up in his chair
at this.
ct want to say that can prove all
I have said," he said. st am not re-
sponsible for what goes on when am
not around and when am not told:
If Vanderpool gave you some bids L
am not supposed to know anything
about it, 1 did not know that he gave
them to you and there was no way for
me to know. I know that | did not
get those bids and I know that 1 do
not recognize any bids out of this de-
partment unless 1 get them myself
Before the people in this city you
have called me liar and thief,
retorted Bone. This is a nice way
are not in the right-when you know
that I have done nothing of that kind.
I am going to see this thing through
and I am going to prove everything 1
have said and done"
There was a whole lot of other
argument that could not be caught by
the reporter and that would fill up the
page. Sanitary Sergeant Vanderpool
stopped the controversy for minute
and managed to say:
don't think
there is any doubt but that both of
you are right. You are both honest
and there is no occasion for trouble of
this kind
But this is all the sanitary sergeant
could say. He failed totally as
peacemaker. The rest given the two
commissioners was a signal for in
creased vigor and they went at it
again, more furious than ever.
After the two men had separated,
Commissioner Bone prepared a state
ment in answer to the interview given