The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-03
Robertson Warning to VOiland
Deliberately GarbIed.
L. $. Officer Absolutely Told
Him To Report Disloyalties.
HAS BEEN or NO AID IN WORK
"NOt a Scratch of Pen" From
VOiland, Robertson Says.
Readers of Governors Paper
Led To Believe Differently.

Fred Robertson, district attorney,
never authorized Fred aYoiland to
handle disloyalty complaints. In fact
he warned him against such action.
Governor Capper and Fred Voiland
deliberately garbled the letter pub
Hshed from Fred Robertson, United
States district attorney Had the let
ter been published in full, it would
have established the charges of the
State journal to the effect that the
governor ; d Voiland had no author
ity to meddle with disloyalty com
plants in Kansas and interfere with
the administration of justice.
By the adrOit use of double mean
ing words, readers of the governor
paper were also led to believe the
letter from Robertson was written in
connection with a case being invest-
gated Jointly by Noiland and Robert
sons office. Yet the letter con-
cerned card index of Red Cross and
Y. NJ. c. a. subscribers and liberty
bond purchasers. Robertson had
merely beer, asked to approve card
form. The district attorney knew
nothing at that time-May 4-of the
plan which placed the governors dis
10y atty letters in NOiland's hands.
He Warmed VOiland.
Yet RoDertson's letter contained an
adInunition which defined to Noiland
clearly and emphatically the limited
authority of independent investigators.
1t stated clearly that all letters con-
cerning Illegal acts of aliens or Amer1-
can citizens must be sent promptly to
RUDertsOn's office.
Nulland never answered that letter.
He never consulted either Robertson
or L. 5. Harvey, first assistant district
attorney, concerning one enemy alien
case.
Robertson has directed the prosecu-
ton pf scores Of dislOyalty cases the
last few months He has caused the
ipte.nment of many enemy aliens. Yet
when asked today concerning the CO.
operation of the governor and Vol
and. he said they had failed to pro-
vide Information in one OF the cases
he mas prosecuted. AS consequence
of this statement, added mystery will
surround the direction by Voiland of
the hundreds of disloyaIty letters
which he admits came into his posses
sion
Left Out Part of Letter.
The instructions to Voiland as to
his lack of authority to NEEDLE with
government matters and especially
disloyaIty cases, was made clear in
Robertson's letter Yet when portions
of this letter were printed-in a
frantic effort to establish a relation
ship with some branch of the govern
ment-the portion of the letter strict
1y in point was not mentioned.
After discussing with VOiland the
card index form of listing war activi-
ties donors by the state council OF
defense. Robertson warned:
Reports of alien enemy property
should be made to A. Mitchell Palmer,
custodian. Washington. d. C.
Reports of disloyalty, where they
be the acts Of aliens or our own citi-
zens. should all be made to this office
no one else has any authority to deal
with them. 1t will be of great service ,
II you will see that all your workers
thru0ut the state are particularly in
Structed to make all reports of dis
loyalty and allen enemy activities
direct to me promptly. and If they VIII
advise all with whom they come in
contact that they should likewise
make such reports TO this office. will
he great help
Yet Voiland never needed the ad-
monition. He never answered Rob
ertson's letter. He never sent infor-
nation concerning one of his many
really important cases to the district
attorney-the authority and only le-
eaily constituted authority for ham
ding these matters
Robertson Tells Facts.
From that day to this. I haven't re-
ceived the scratch of pen from Vol
land" said Robertson. He has trans
nitted me one or two copies of very
unimportant matters. Until very re-
Gently, I had no idea he assumed to
handle disloyalty cases or pass on the
course they should take His authority
is that of any self constituted investi-
gator who stands in the departments
path.
we have handled hundreds Of dis
tContinued on Page TwoI
KANeBS RESERVE STATE RANK