The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-31
Sherwood Sidesteps Effects of
Revolutionary Remark.
Reed Contributes Half Apology
for State Mine Official.
SORRY IT WAS PUNISHED
Defiant Statement Made Pres.
ence of Three Witnesses.
Interview Suggested by Secre-
tary to Governor Allen.

James w. Sherwood, state mine in
spector, sought to evade effects of his
revolutionary interview by deelara-
tons that his remarks were made in
sought to restate an almost foreign
remark in an effort to show that he
was misquoted, And that he may not
stand unsupported, Clyde NJ. Reed, as
private secretary to Governor Allen,
contributed an explanation and half
apology for the state official.
. Here are the actual facts surround
ing the sensational interview-facts
which The State Journal will cheer
fully prove,
Mr. Sherwood was sought at the
suggestion of Reed. Mr.. Reed believed
that Sherwood. who had just come
from the mining districts, might be
able TO produce good newspaper
story. A representative of The state
journal and representative of a
Kansas-City Newspaper went to the
state labor commissioners office,
Sherwood and John H. Crawford,
state labor commissioner, were talk
ing. Crawford introduced the news
paper men to Sherwood. 1t was clear
thruout that the representatives called
for news and especially sought state
ment from Sherwood. Apparently
Sherwood accepted the situation, as
he talked freely, during the interview,
In the course of his discussion of the
coal situation and in answer to a di-
rect question by a state Journal rep
resentative, Sherwood said:
The Sherwood Statement.
"If the government gets smart and tries
Win w pbbe be revolution in two weeks weeks What
we need is to fmpeach thee president and
to put someone with sense and Judgment
in charge Of things"
men were in the room when Sherwood
made his statement. A few minutes
after this uttefance, a representative
of the Daily Capital entered the office.
stayed a few minutes and left before
the Topeka and Kansas City newspa-
per men concluded their interview.
In a statement following publica ton
of the interview by The State Journal.
Sherwood said:
az made no sucn statement as I was
quoted as making. The remarks ] made
on the subject were made in IA private con-
versation aud not intended for publication.
l did say that the whole trouble started
when President Wilson's socialistic labor
On ass bd aR Mhsn fSe
than $500 a year. l did say If the nresl;
war board dismissed, there would have
been no such critical situation as exists
today
81 did not predict n revolution but
said that conditions are so serious thai
a/revelution might be possible unless greai
| wisdom is used in the attempts to settls
| the controversy. l am not an l. W. W
| aud only recently took the position of STATE
mine inspector after working as an inspee
| tor in the federal bureau of mines. i hqys
| a boy only a few weess home from twa
! years Service in the army, and no on.
| is more loyal to the government than
think l am. am for a settlement of thu
| controversy between the miners and op
orators by peaceful negotiations and ar
bitration, and am hopeful that the Strike
| will be settled by peaceful methods.
II feel sure that no trouble will oecui
| in the Kansas coal fields. The mer~gil
simply walk out in case the strige u
called but they will obey the law and con
/ duct the strike in a peaceful way. Thu
| great injustice that was done in quoting
me wild reVelutionist was not 50
in which the interview was printed Thi
was entirely false and misrepresentcd IN
| in all that / meant to say and all tina
l stand for as public officer and privat
| citizen"
Clyde M. Reed, private secretary tt
| Governor Allen, issued the following
statement on the Sherwood incident
AFR Sherwood participated in con
ference with Attorney General Hopkin
and myself that lasted nearly all day
Mr.. Sherwood at no time expressed an.
lsuch views as were credited to him i
certain newspapers. On the contrary hi
along the lines of moderation and con
ciliation. l greatly deplore the sensational
treatment given his alleged remarks be
very delicate and difficult situation, still
more delicate and difficult TO; handle W
are doing our very pest to o r. miner
will be of inealenlable value to Kansas a
this time. There is ii faint chance of sue
cess which everyone would regret to Sc
dispeiled.'
|