The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-20
DELEGATION OF
WOMEN CALL AT
CITY HALL TODAY
Tell Mayor His Police Force
Should Be ReOrganized.
Request Removal of Chief
Swallow as Beginner.
RAD LEE WAS HANDED BLAME
Women Say Former Judge Bore
Brunt of "Defense."
Laxity of Law Enforcement on
Charge of Delegation.
Women Say Former Judge Bore
Brunt of Defense"
Laxity of Law Enforcement on
Charge of Delegation.
STATE ACTION IS CONSIDERED
Enough Evidence on Hand for
Move, 1t Is Said.
Steady Stream of Witnesses to
Attorney General.

A delegation of twenty-three wom-
en-. representing eleven orga anizations
of the city. called upon Mayor Her
bert J. Corwine before noon today. and
left with him a communication de-
manding the removal of Chief of Po-
lice Guy A. Swallow. and the imme-
diate reorganization of the police
force of the city.
The communication was as follows:
Hon Herbert ]. Corwine. Mayor;
In view of accumulated evidence
showing n very lax enforcement Of the
law. and the cOnniFance OF members
of the police force with law breakers.
We. representing the organizations Of
women hereinafter named. do urgently
and earnestly request the removal Of
the present chief OF police and the re
organization of the police force Of our
city. Respectfully submitted.
The organizations represented by
the women included the W. c. T. L,
the Central Congregational church.
the State Sunday School assocfa tion,
the United Brethren church. the First
Methodist church, the Good Govern
ment club, the Shawnee County
League of Women Voters. the First
Christian church. Of which the mayor
is a member, the Womans club of
Topeka. the Mothers Conservation
league. and the Parent-Teachers' as
sOciatiOn of North Topeka.
The women signing their names to
the letter, as representing the organ
izations named, were;
Miss Laura Strange. Mrs. Clara
Baker. Mrs. r. NJ. Bennett. Mrs. Anna
B. Fisher, Mrs S. p. Lindsay. Mrs
r. G.. Walthall, Mrs. NJ. G. Strange,
Mrs A J. White. Mrs. Ida Atkins. Mrs.
Gertrude drummer. Mrs. Bertha Will
son. Mrs. Maude Stanley. Miss Martha,
Bennett, Mrs. G. NJ Blair, Mrs Clara
Currie, Mrs. NJ 6. Hathaway. the
Ha-pTriu-r~
West Side Christ AN church. Mrs. c
G. Hamilton, Mrs. c. J. Evans. Mrs
E. S. Shaler Mrs. J. R Waddington
and Mrs. A. H. Byers.
Officials in Conference.
City Attorney Ralph T O'NeiH was
called into the office of the r7avo1-
when the delegation was seated cSl1ief
Swallow reached the city building as
the delegation was leaving, and went
into conference imediateIy with O'Neil
and the mayor. in O'Neill's office.
Neither the mayor nor the citv
attorney made any promises Of ac-
cedlng 10 our request, or stated that
they would deny it, Mrs. c. J. Evans
who acted as chairman of the dele
CATION. stated after the conference.
Whlle not prepared with names
ana dates which would stand as eN,f
dence IN court. We told them of various
instances OF laXity in law enforce
fnent which we deemed would Justify
the actlon We asked for in the com
munication.
stances We cited. Several of the won
en- stated that they will cOoDera+a
with the city officials in the enforce
ment of the law"
They Blame Lee.
The attitude of the mavor ana +ba
city attorney, according to the state
ment OF the women. after the confer
ence, was to saddle the blame for the
laSity in disposition of LIQUOR cases or,
Rad NJ. Lee, who has resigned as
police judge. The women were NOT
satisfied with this explanation.
They stated that the mayor took the
1uenced by propa ganda circulating
thruout the United states. intended 70
show that the prohibition laws are
not being enforcedy and were made
victims OF this propa Uganda, in the fact
that they were bringing publicity
upon the nOn-enforcement of the law
in Topeka.
The women who called upon the
mayor today were members of the
same group who called yesterday on
the attorney general.
Drastic Action by state.
At the attorney generals office to-
who are conducting the investigation.
were examining a steady stream of
witnesses who ranged in rank from the
mayor to humble Iaborers. II was
stated that sufficient evidence has al
ready been accumulated to justify the
consideration of drastic action by the
state.
The intimation was that others be-