The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-26
BILLIARD TO COFRAN.
Ex-Mayor Writes Open Letter to Pres.
ent Mayor.

j. b. Billiard wonders II Mayor COL
ran has forgotten his administration
could be bought almost openly-tWo
bottles for two bits: that gambling and
disorderly houses operated on Kansas
avenue, their inmates paying monthly
fines to Mayor Cofran's police depart
ment.
Some of Mr.. Cofran's statements
are direct slur on me and my official
actions" observed the ex-mayor, there
We're violations of the prohibitory law
under my administration. They Will
continue under Mayor Cofran. They
will still exist when he goes out OF
office. The mayor found 16 bottles or
beer, and declared himself astonished
at civic conditions. The mayor knows,
or should know, that a cleanup has
been going on for 20 years, and that
whole wagon loads of liquor have been
captured without record being mace Oh
it in the daily press.
In a communication to the State
Journal Mr.. Billiard writes as folloWs'
In a recent account of raids made
by the mayor, chief of police and as
sistants, after relating that as the re-
suit of four hours work, they had Sc
cured 16 bottles of beer, % half pints OF
whisky, 10 quarts of wine and MADE
two arrests, the following statement
appears: I was astounded at the con-
ditions existing in Topeka, said Mayor
Cofran, when he got home shortly pc
fore midnight. I had not thought II
possible things were in such shape.
The time for the cleanup evidently
has arrived. 1t is disgraceful.'
That statement is a direct renee
ton and slur on me ana my omclai
actions while I acted as mayor, ana
also on the good name of the city.
1t is time that similar statements
were made by some of Mr.. Cofran's
supporters and managers during the
campaign; but all know then that they
were misrepresentation circulated for
political effect in the campaign, and as
such did not deserve notice; but now
that the political contest is over ana
7 am only a plain citizen, there is no
excuse to continue the ISLANDERS on me
and ON the city, and especially none
for the mayor to stoop down and do so
himself.
have nothing to be ashamed of
in my official actions while 1 was
mayor of the city. My good name
and clean official record are the most
valuable and cherished assets that l
expect to leave to my children and
to the city.
The mayor knows or should know.
if he has noticed what was going on
during the last three years, that Chief
Jenkins made many raids, where not
only 16 bottles of beer and 20 half
pints of whisky were secured, but
were hauled to the police station.
Sometimes wagon loads were brought
in from raids and no big blow was
made about the great work or clean
ing being done. He also knows that
such raids and cleanups have been
going on for twenty years in the city
under all different administrations.
Under Mayor Bergundthal and
Chief F. NJ. Stahl the city was thor
oughly cleaned of joints. Under the
three years of Mayor Green's and
Chief Eaton's strict law and order
enforcement administration the work
was continued and still when Chief
Jenkins took charge joints and boot
leggers were still operating and con-
ditions were worse than when he re-
signed.
Has Mayor Cofran forgotten that
under his own previous administra-
lions joints were running almost wide
open all over the business part of the
city; that beer could be bought two
bottles for a quarter in many places?
Has he forgotten that disorderly
and gambling houses were operated
almost openly on Kansas avenue and
adjacent streets, and that their in
mates were paying monthly fines to
his police department?
Many of the old residents of the
city remember these conditions. If
the mayor is tastounded'' at the pres
ent conditions, how did he feel then?
If conditions are "disgracefuI' now,
what did he call them at that time?
When the legislature found it neces-
sary to adopt the Metropolitan law in
order 30 clean up Topeka and other
large cities by taking out of the hands
of the mayor the control of the po-
lice departments.
There were violations of the pro-
hibitory law under nay administra-
ton. They will continue under Mayor
Cofran in spite of all his efforts and
there will still be some when he goes
out of office. Yours truly,
j. B. BILLIARD.