Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1918-06-07
TRY TO BESMIRCH THE
CHARACTER OF DEAD
CHANUTE MAN
WILL BOYCOTT KANs. CITY
Three Murders and Numerous
RObberies In Kansas City
In One Day-Murders
At Large


on murder in Kansas City last weel
of d. w. Hargrave, a popular anC
highly respected young business mar
of Chanute. may result in cleaning
up Kansas City of its thugs and mur'
derers and resorts of i'll rcpute.
The boycott which Chanute has
started against Kansas City because
of this murder, and which all Kansas
is being urged to join in, has greatly
stirred the big crime center at the
mouth of the Kaw. The Chanute
boycott is now the live topic of con-
versation there in Chamber of Com
merce, city official and police circles
and all the Kansas City newspapers
are full of it both in their news and
editorial columns.
AS the Tribune said, the only way
to make Kansas City be good was to
aim at her pocketbook, and If other
Kansas towns will aid Chanute in
this movement, it won't be long until
that crime center is the most vir-
tuous city in the country.
As was to be expected, the Kansas
City police department in order to
save its face some is now trying to
besmirch the character of young Har-
grave by claiming he was on his way
to the gambling house instead of be-
ing a mere passer-by on the street
Police Commissioner Ransom of Kan
sas City, on the testimony OF gamb-
ling house capper, makes this charge.
This outrageous lie is not only arouS-
ing great Indignation in Chanute, but
it will probably result in some very
expensive libel suits against Mr.. Ran
son and the papers printing the
slander.
The comment in the Kansas City
papers follows:
Star Wishes "Us" Luck.
(Kansas City Starr
Chanute and other Kansas towns
arc preparing to pass Kansas City BY
on the other side of the street until
conditions here are made safe for
visitors. The Chamber of Commerce
has asked Mayor Cowgirl what the
city proposes to do about it, and
the mayor has asked the police.
We wish the Kansas towns luck.
Maybe they will have some influence
at the city hall and with the police
commissioners. Kansas City folks
have felt a good deal as Chanute
does, but here at home we haven't
much influence with the police. Inc
only person who has any influence
with the commissioners is the gov
ernor. and he doesn't live here. Mr.
Pendergast has some influence, but
he is away at the races good deal
Maybe Chanute's feeling in the
matter will help US all out. Already
we note that the mayor comedies
Something is wrong here" we
should say there was. The mayor
seems to think the trouble is too
many crimes are committed, and too
many criminals escape" Maybe that
is it. Certainly a great many crimes
are committed here, and possibly TOO
many. If this is now recognized
and towns with influence, like Cha
mute, are now protesting against 1t.
maybe something will be done about
il.
Admits Chanute Has Grounds
(Kansas City Post)
When a community the size of
Chanute, Kas., calls upon its citizens
TO remain away from this city be-
cause il is more dangerous here than
in the trenches in France, it is time
IN look at the foundations OF such a
sweeping indictment.
Saturdays record would 60 far
towards the belief that Chanute has
grounds for its fears. Three killings
and three robberies of a spectacular
ratnre are not the best advertise
ment for any city.
The murder of a diamond mer.
chant in a quiet fiat, the robbery Of
two men in automobiles, at widely
different points, indicates the pres
snce Of an element in city life that
$1,000 ont at once.