The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-27
RESIGNATION OF
J. H. CRAWFORD
ASKED IN letter
Fred Robertson Brands State
ments He Made "Unworthy."
State Labor Commissioners I.
w. w. Stand Criticised.
MAKES LIGHT OF OFFICIALS
Complaint Made to Governor
by q. S. District Attorney.
Put Responsible Man on Job,
Is His Advice.
Fred Robertson Brands State
ments He Made "Unworthy."
State Labor Commissioners 1
w. w. Stand Criticised.
MAKES LIGHT OF OFFICIALS
Put Responsible Man on Job,
Is His Advice.

Branding statements made by J. H.
Crawford in connection with the anti
I. w. w. activities of state and federal
officials as the most unworthy thing
ever done by Kansas state official,
Fred Robertson, United States district
attorney. has written to Governor AL
len, demanding that the resignation
of the state labor commissioner be
asked for. Robertson also has written
letter to Crawford suggesting that
the state labor commissioner spend
his time cooperating with other Off
cials il combating the I. w. w. in
stead of writin~ letters for political
purposes.
In his letter to Governor Allen Rob-
ertson recalls the conference held
here during the special session of the
legislature in which the governor
promised to cooperate in keeping
down I. w. W. activities and then he
tells of the activities of Crawford, an
Allen appointee, from the governors
| own town. to minimize and make light
of the actions taken and the warn
ings sounded by federal and state Of
ficials.
Letter to Governor.
Robertson's letter to Governor AL
| len is as follows:
| June 90. 1919
| Hon. Henry J. Allen, Topeka, Kan.
! Dear Governor: Upon the sixteenth of
ference in your private office in Topeka,
| you assured Attorney General Richard J.
Hopkins and myself that you were in full
kansas harvest field tits year
a personal appointee from your your own own city city
| of Wichita, one J. H. Crawford, who. act
| ing as commissioner of labor of Kansas,
would come forth to minimize and make
| light of the efforts being made to protect
our farmers and the great wheat crop
| and SahOtana which I 6
| planned for this state. This man, instead
| OF looking after the labor interests in
/ Kansas, seems to deem II lfs special mis-
| sion to offer obstructions to those who
are charged with the duty of enforcement
of laws in Kansas. both for the state and
water not only on the efforts of the United
| States district attorneys office, but also
! upon the splendid service that is being
rendered in this connection by Attorney
/ General Hopkins and State Fire Marshal
L. I. Hussey. If we should get thru this
l present harvest without serious loss to
| Kansas farmers, 1t will be in spite of this
of his help.
The story accredited to him in the To-
| reference with this program to prevent law
| violation, but 1t is an effort to play the
lieve that you, the governor of the great
/ state of Kansas, would put the stamp of
approval upon tactics of that sort; On
| June "a, in your own newspaper, the Wich-
| ita Beacon, on page four. this same labor
commissioner apologies for the l. w. W..
and gives the Kansas farmer TO understand
there is really nothing to fear from him.
Yesterday. this same labor commissioner
wrote me letter, copy of which assume
you can easily obtain from his office, II
( not from the newspapers, which letter
/! clearly is written for the purpose of cast
ing an unfavorable reflection upon the
efforts 1 have been putting forth to help
the Kansas farmers in the present crisis.
| 1t is almost incoHceivable that Kansas
could have a man for labor commissioner
/ who wO1ld deem II his gDacfnl dnfy In
out 'criticising the officers of the law
who are charged with the sworn duty of
enforcing the criminal statutes The man
attorney general of Kansas, the state fire
saes district osf oce ahd 1e Wb, theG
should do and should not do in the en-.
forcement of law. is too big and useful
a person to be in so small place as labor
| commissioner. His letter to me, appear
ing to have been written upon yesterday
| ordinary principles of law enforcement
| This man Crawford appears to belong to
that very small class of individuals who
public official happens to belong to the
Democratic PARTY, he is incapable of rend-
ering valuable and unselfish service to the
people OF his state.
man of this caliber ought not be
permitted to hold any place of public trust
in Kansas. feel that If you famillarize
yourself with the entire situation as re-
lates to this man Crawford you will
promptly request his resignation. and put
acceptable to labor in Kansas, but who
does not entertain the notion that 1t Is
activities of other officers of the state who
are charged with the responsibility of en-
forcing the law.
With great respect. I am
Sincerely yours.
FRED ROBERTSON.
Letter to Crawford.
Robertson followed his letter to
Governor Allen with letter to Labor
Commissioner Crawford. He told the
state official fatty that the people OF
Kansas would show greater apprecia-
u tion of the department If he gave his
a information to law enforcement Off
GERS rather than to newspapers fol
political propa ganda.
In his letter to Crawford the district
attorney said:
fifth instant. would say if you know Of
any violation of law in Kansas by l. w
W.'s or others. you should report the mat
ter at once to Hon. Richard J. Hopkins
the attorney general of the state of Kansas
who is charged with the duty of seeing that
the laws of the state are enforced.
any Information to the effect that Mr.. Hop
kins, the attorney general: Mr.. L. T. Hus.
sey. the state fire marshal. and myself
forcing the laws of the state of Kansas In
wav that wonld protect the farmers Of
the state as far as the circumstance would
admit of from depredations by l. W. w,
and any others who might be disposed r.
commit acts of violence in the present ha r.
/ vest If, instead of writing u-e letters fol
political purposes. you would discuss the
situation with these two gentlemen. who
are in the same building that your office
is situated in. you would come nearer rem
. dering to the people of Kansas valuable
service.
a further reply to your letter IS BY
me this day being addressed to the Cover
nor Of Kansas