The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-10
Art Hargiss and T. ID. Hum
phreys Buck Each Other.
Humphreys Accuses Hargis of
BOISheyiki Tactics.
COL. NORTON MAY TAKE HAND
It's Intimated He Dealt From
Bottom of Deck.
Air Thick, Fraternization Tac-
tics FrOwned Upon.

Mayor House this afternoon upset
all chances of fraternizing by Topeka
home guard companies when he
placed T. D. Humphreys in command
of the organizations to succeed him
self While no open declarations have
been made as to a suspension of
armistices, it is quite certain that
Humphreys will shortly go to the mat
with Art Hargis and his company,
while the troubles which the local
negro guard company will cause war
rant unlimited speculation.
Humphreys started the trouble in
the Hargis camp when he said the
Hargis company was a de facto" af-
fair. He also added that ''Hargis
takes his job too seriously" and pro-
ceeded to call a meeting TO Thursday
night when several brands of trouble
may be precipitated. In the meantime
Humphreys may sit up nights With any
trouble the Rev. Mr.. Russelps negro
company may drag in.s
A letter addressed to Charles 5
Huffman, adjutant general, was sent
by Mayor House today. 1t is quite
probable the letter will be submitted
to Col. Jonathan D. Norton, in charge
of the home guard work or the state
Whether the mayor may select sub
stitute and wish his ex officio job as
commander-in-chie of the local home
guards on another party, isn't mat
ter for immediate dispute. The mayor
has done it. And Humphreys has ac-
cepted the responsibilities, glories and
miscellaneous and assorted badges
titles and brindle fringe with smiles
and bows
Trouble Is Serious.
hrnf arlxr love in
the fraternizing of Humphreys and
Hargis. And there is the spot where
smoke appears. Humphreys is In
charge of the job and he wants il
clearly understood Hargis has a COM
mission That commission seems
regular. legal and effective. Maybe
Humph- -eys can revoke it. Maybe he
can't. Maybe he won't try. But the
sparring which followed the mayors
move warranted the floating of un-
settled weather flags.
"Hargis has a de facto organiza
ton and he has tried to Bolshev1k
this whole affair." said Humphreys
! THE trouble with Hargis is he takes
his job too seriously. He wants tt
be the whole thing"
| And Commander Humphreys, hav
ing right, title and much interest in
| by and unto the command of the loca
! company, doesn't want the authorit!
aSSuIn 0d enllTely Dy d IillIu VI CNCi
! a second party So there you are.
! Norton May Have Say.
! In talking the matter over, Hum
| phreys intimated that Colonel Morton
! had dealt from the bottom of th
: deck in playing with the mayor. 81
Colonel Norton, being a superior of
4 ficer over Humphreys, may hav'
something to say himself. In tina
] event Humphreyss free and unlimit
ed assertion of right and authorit.
may be more limited than is appar
ent on first look. And if Humphreys
) remarks drag Colonel Norton into tn
! matter, there is also the adjutan
generals office and even the COVER
nor's office to think about. So, afte
all, the breaking up of fraternal feel
ing and good will in Topeka hom
guard camps is quite a serious mat
+ ter.
! Meanwhile the Rev. Mr.. Russell, il
command of the colored bFigades, ma
have chance to get his breath Will
the first round of the Humphreys
| Hargis row is staged