The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-28
The CASE OF BONE
Kansas District Attorney
Stands Well in Washington.
Enmfty of BristOw and Social
list Leaders to Offset Record.

| Washington, April 2S.-Harry J. Bone
United States district attorney of
Kansas, has had anything but flowers
strewn in his path since his appoint
| ment. He has had brick-bats fired
| at him, instead of bouquets. When
nominated for a second term by Presi-
| dent Taft on the recommendation of
| Senator Curtis, his confirmation was
unrelentlessly fought in the senate by
Senator Bristow, who filed charges
| against Bone in the department of
justice.
The president directed Attorney Cen
eral Wickersham to make the fullest
investigation into the charges, and
after several months of inquiry it was
found that he was guilty of no wrong
doing whatever.
Mr.. Bone was appointed to this place
in the first instance by former PreSi-
dent Roosevelt. He made good from
the start and his record is indeed an
enviable one. So worth while had it
been, in fact, that Attorney General
Wickersham expressed the opinion that
Mr.. Bone was among the most cap
able and succe-~ful of the United
States district attorneys throughout
the entire countr.-. And Mr.. Wicker
sham's confidence in the abilities of
Mr.. Bone was shown time and time
again when he assigned him to take
charge or assist in the prosecution of
important government suits in other
states than Kansas. Mr.. Bones reap
pointment by President Taft was a
natural consequences and a reward for
faithful service
In the meanwhile Senator Bristow
continued his fight against confirma-
ton until the last congress closed. He
succeeded in holding up the appoint
ment on the grounds that Bones Sc
ia taf
him.
There is a we'll founded belief that
Senator Bristow's opposition to Mr..
Bone was due almost solely to per-
sonal animosity. Certainly it did not
rest on any deficiencies in Mr.. Bones |
record in office, which has been con- |
sidered as clean and competene as could
be. And therefore the attitude of Mr..
Bristow was unreasonable and did a
grave injustice to Mr.. Bone, for the
rule is that federal officers who make
good are entitled to at least two full
terms President Wilson has given it
to be understood that he will not dis
turb any of the big federal office
holders in the states until their terms
expire where they have good records.
Since taking his seat in the senate,
Senator Thompson has had several
conferences with Attorney General Nc
Reynolds to determine as to whether
Bone shall be permitted to serve out
his term, which expires the early
part of the coming year. 1t is I'M
derstood that as yet no real. substan- |
tial grounds have been found to take |
action in a form of a dismissal.
Charges of official misconduct have |
been preferred to the department of |
justice by j. J, Sheppard of Fort Scott, |
a gainst Attorney Bone and H. Due /
berg. a special agent of the department, |
in connection with the prosecution of !
Eugene V. Debs. Fred D. Warren and |
Sheppard. These charges have been !
dismissed as groundless.
There are already a dozen or more
Kansas Democrats seeking the office of
district attorney. Prominent among /
them are Fred Robinson, of Atwood;
W. A. Ayers, of Wichita. former clerk
of the court of appeals; w. w. Hooper,
of Leavenworth; Edgar Bennett. of |
Washington; Charles H. Apt, of lola,
and Francis NJ Brady, of OsweSo.