The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-28
WARk IS POPULAR
Industrial Court Judge Has
a Big Following.
Friends VIII Protest Against
Removal From Court.
CALL ON GOVERNOR ALLEN
Delegation to Insist on Reason
for Late Rum0r.
One Lawyer Enough Allen Be-
1ieyes Now, 1t Is Said.
GOVERNOR ALLEN
BY A. L. SHULTz.

| Eating raw oysters before bedtime
produces nightmare for the diner.
| Opening a fresh can of trouble before
an election has much the same ef-
| feet on politician. Just now the
| industrial court row reaction is TRAIL
| ing Governor Allen up and down
southeastern Kansas as he closes the
final week of his campaign.
Reports that Governor Allen in
tended to kick Judge George Wark off
| the industrial court bench has started
a genuine disturbance in the south
eastern counties 1t has also disturbed
and distressed many overseas men
who held the former army officer and
to take Judge Wark off the bench
is certain to create trouble in these
circles-and there is apparently no eff
fort to keep the matter secret.
Stand Behind Wark.
Just now several delegations are
waiting to call on the governor, ac-
cording to reports. He was due for
an interview in Parsons, another in
Columbus and will meet still another
line of protest against Wark's removal
when he arrives in Wichita-his own
home town-for the final speech of
the campaign.
The first complaints against any
move to lift Judge Wark out of his
job on the industrial court came from
Montgomery county, Wark's home.
But the protest seems to be spreading
to former service men. lawyers and
associates and friends of Wark's dur
ing his service in the state senate. Nor
did the protest become milder when it
became known that under the report
ed plan to remove Wark, a successor
mot unfriendly" to Judge Clyde NJ.
Reed would be sought.
Judge Wark'S trouble is that he had
not agreed with Judge Reed in some
of his opinions and refused to agree
to the appointment of Charles Hol-
brook as a court investigator. Judges
Wark and Higgins refused to give the
Wyandotte county man a job even
after urged by Judge Reed and Gov
ernor Allen. 1t is said that Governor
Allen has changed his mind as to the
personnel of the court and now de-
sires but one lawyer on the bench.
State house dope has been to the eff
feet that he will name some one who
will work with Judge Reed.
Friendly to Fred Trigg.
Cecil Howes of the Kansas City Star
has been mentioned as a possible sue
cessor to Judge Wark, as has ALI Lam
don of Independence and U. 5. Sartln
of Kansas City. All are friendly to
Judge Reed, Fred Trigg and William
Allen White and in sympathy with the
governors policies.
Governor Allen is to be asked for
a flat statement on the Wark matter.
He is also to be asked to make
definite yes or no answer before the
end of the week. 1t is quite probable
this demand will come from several
sources. That it will come is certain.
Judge Wark is the short term mem
ba~ of the industrial court. He drew
the one year appointment. Judge
Reed was appointed and confirmed for
the two year term, while Judge Hug
gins holds the long term of three
years. IN order to drop Judge Wark
from state service it is merely neces-
sarv that the governor wait until after
adjournment of the next legislative
session and appoint new man.
Popular in Montgomery.
Down in Montgomery county Judge
wark has a strong following. He was
elected state senator in 1916 and re-
signed when appointed to the indus
trial court position. During the 1919
session he was in France. He had won
medals for bravery in service and had
become one of the popular officers of
the Thirty fifth division. Colleagues
in the senate voted Senator Wark his
pay as state senator during his alb
sence. But when he came home with
his troops, Captain Wark declined to
accept the pay and returned his
vouchers back to the state auditor.
When Captain Wark's company ar
rived in New York the men rres 7nted
him with a gold watch 1t was one of
the testimonials of the high regard in
his men.
Now they have learned that Judge
Wark is to walk the plank. And the
new brand of trouble which was SO
freshly opened at the state house may
cause Governor Allen some unrest be-