The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-04
Formal Demand That Capper
Take BristOw From Position.
Pay Public Price for His Slur
on His Own State.
CONGRESSMAN TO GOVERNOR
Helvering Heads Delegation
Against Salina Man.
Returning From Capital Today,
He Will Be Asked to Explain.

Joseph L. Bristow's job as head of
the public utilities commission is the
price that is demanded for his slur
on Kansas. Formal demand that Bris-
tow be removed came to Governor
Capper in a telegram from Congress
man Guy T. Helvering in Washington.
1t is rumored that other members of
the Kansas delegation will urge the
discharge of Bristow.
When Bristow returns to Topeka
late today after a trip to Washing
ton, he will be given an opportunity
to explain. In the meantime many
Kansas Republicans are heartily sup
porting the demand that he pay for
his near-treasonable utterances by
separation from the state pay roll.
Governor Capper has reiterated his
statement of several days ago. but has
not indicated plan to remove Bris-
tow whose term of office expires jan
uary %, 1918. Congressman Helver-
ing is the first Democrat to take a
hand in the Bristow affair. All other
complaints have come from enraged
Republicans
Helvering's telegram to Governor
Capper was as follows:
kansas will, 1 am sure, commend
any action taken in purging our other
wise patriotic state administration of
any enemy of our nation. Believing
that you agree with me that all off
Gals, both national and state, should
be found supporting the government
In this emergency, may l not have
your views as to whether you ipdorse
the recently published and widely dis
seminated quasi-treasonable utterances
OF your appointee, the present chairman
of the state public utilities commits
sion, Joseph L. Bristow."
From Kansas Delegation.
1t is probable chat similar demands
will come from other members of the
Kansas delegation in Washington. 1t
| is also reported that federal depart
ments may impress upon Governor
Capper the seriousness of BriStoW s
utterances if the governor refuses to
act on present demands. Helvering Is
| cor gresham from the Fifth Kansas
district, is a member of the house
ways and means committee and is OK
pected to lay the Bristow matter be-
fore cabinet members in Washington.
+ Helvering is quoted from Washing
ton:
Il have taken up the matter of Bristow' s
utterances as Il protection to my state /
| do not purpose to have Kansas branded
as a Stacker, disloyal state without a pro-
tow voices the real patriotic sentiment OF
| think so. as they are doing because of
the official position he holds. 1 have heard
! sighting remarks made ABOUT Kansas as
a 'mollycoddle unpatriotic state AMI ut
| terances Of Mr.. Bristow as a public Off
cial of Kansas cited proof. 1 don't want
| to see my state shamed any longer.
| Governor Capper should fire from the
| states employ every public official who is
not loyal to his government in this great
! crisis of What Mr.. Bristow may say
! as a private citizen may not be of conse-
quence, but what Mr.. Bristow holding a
| high public office a representative OF
| the people of Kansas, says, is another
matter. And his near-treasonable utter
ances. his misrepresentation of the patriot
| ism and sentiment of Kansas. in my opin-
| ion, comes dangerously close to giving
aid and comfort to the enemy class"
Liability to State.
Gen. Wilder S. Metcalf, state senator
from the Douglas-Jeff connts
district and general of the First regi-
ment Kansas infantry, today branded
| Rristow as a liability to the state.
Il am not very much surprised al
Senator Bristow breaking forth in this
manner" said General Metcaif Il