The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-17
HE'SNOT TO BLAME
Attorney General Dawson Makes
Hot Reply to Stubbs.
If Any One Has Failed to En-
force Law, It's Trickett.
SHOULDKEEPSABBATH
DeplOres Governor Writing His
ROasts on Sunday.
Produces Letters Authorizing
Law Enforcement Campaign.

John Dawson. attorney general, today
replies to the governors last letter cas-
tigating him for alleged neglect of duty.
In his reply the attorney general
checks the governors charges of neg
iect of duty in Cherokee county up
10 c. ". Trickett, the governors at
torney. Trickett. according to Dawson,
is the man upon whom the burden
should fall, and he quotes his own let
ter to Trickett giving him fun author
ity in the premises in southeast Kan
sas to prosecute jointtsts. Dawson ais"
takes the governor to task for spend
ing the sabbath day yesterday in
roasting the attorney general. The
Dawson statement and excerpts fol-
July II. 1911.
Hon. w. r. Stubbs, GoNeraO Of Kan
sas, State House.
Dear Sir:-Your letter delivered to the
press Sunday evening, as L expected IL
would be- and printed in this morning
paper has been carefully noted. WIN
YOU permit me to express my regret
that for cne who has made on the
stump and on the rostrum religious
Professions as you have t5e Sabbath
day might have been better occupied
Are not six days in the week sufficient
for the public vending of your mailce
spleen
to you, sir, that your mock herolcs
and threats have no terrors for me;
"They pass me by as the IDLE VIM
which respect not
You feel profoundly hurt at my N
tirnatiOn that a transcript of the testl-
1nonv might not be safe in your hands,
but YOU nave not hesitated to intimate
that the attorney general might sup
press and conceal crime.
1t is true that a very large amount
of the evidence collected concerning the
violation of the law In southeastern
Kansas was collected by men who were
paid out Of your contingent funo ana
the cases were commenced Dy me Just
as soon as possible after that evidence
was INSPECTED. Then you discharged
these men and they must hunt other
employment throughout the state or
elsewhere How will it be possible 10
win these cases when you nave dis-
charged those men from your payroll
Can cases be won without witnesses?
About two months ago the Pittsburg
papers charged that my activity 1or
the enforcement of the law in south
eastern Kansas was a part Of a scheme
in which the attorney general was en-
gagged to make w. R. Stubbs United
States senator. In a public address IN
that city, comm enting on that remark,
T said. THAT will be news to Cover
nor Stubbs" The same sort of an an
swer will do for your silly charge that
I am friendly to the liquor interests
That will be news to them
The Trickett Authority.
You appear anxious to draw a dis
tinction between the work of Mr..
Trickett, Mr.. Jackson and others and
nv work. Comparisons are Odious and
for the present decline to make them
But so that the public may be ad-
vised, [ publish herewith my letters or
April 90, 1911. authorizing Mr.. Trick
ett to participate in these cases Ihe
letters were submitted to you and ap-
proved by you before they were sent
s.fiauor. Crawford and Cherokee
"April 20. 1911.
Hon c. w Trickett, Kansas City
pear Mr.. Trickett: Pursuant to
the conference which we had in the
Governors Office wherein the governor
expressed a willingness 10 employ and
nav YOU to assist the state in such ac-
tions and proceedings as may be neces-
sary to institute or defend for the sup
preston of laWlesSness IN CRAWFORD
county, having reference more partlc-
ularly to violations of the prohibitory
law. I hand you herein enclosed
voucher for 5000 as a retainer fee in
such cases. While neither the governor
nor myself have authority to engage
your services for a, certain number of
dollars for certain number OF
months, yet we have ample authority
to employ you and pay you whatever
sum or sums the services are reason
ably worth, and this would in effect,
if computed by the month amount to
a monthly stipend. And the governor
tells me that you have expressed
willingness to assist in these matters
for consideration which would
amount to 5000 a month. authorized
the governor to say to you that in ad-
Il; n, 1 would
glad to make any arrangement with
YOU concerning fees which might be
collected and which are allowed to
prosecuting officers under the statute.
I think the governor suggested tnat
the fees should be equally divided be-
tween us, and that is entirely SatISfac-
tory to me, If it is to you.
II will endeavor to make arrange
ment to keep young Montgomery on
the lob in Crawford county or some
body else if Montgomery declines or if
his work is not effective and satisfac-
tory. You will understand also that
the county attorney. so far as my in
formation goes is doing the best he
can, but his problems arc too difficult
for anv one prosecuting officer and his
time is necessarily taken UP largely
with the prosecution of crimes of a
much graver character than liquor
selling However. I think we can
count upon his active support and
good will.
IF Mr.. Frank Lindsay. the special
counsel whom l have retained to assist
in the prosecution of liquor sellers in
Cherokee county, shall find the task
too heavy for one man, I understand
that by the terms of your employment
YOU are also to assist IL the prosecu-
tions in that county
For reasons which appear good 20
me. and I trust viii to you. 1 think
that the prosecutions should be
brought in the name of the state OF
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