The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-18
Gov. Allen Directs Griffith to
Proceed as Soon as Possible.
Will Go to Supreme Court for
Decision in Near Future.
EDITOR ASKS QUICK ACTION
Whites Arrest Brought Ma
tiOnal Attention to Kansas.
"Henry and Me" Hold Friendly
Conference in Topeka.

William Allen White, Emporia edi-
tor and famous Kansas writer, who
Graves to go to jail along with Alex
ander Howat if the Kansas industrial
court infringes upon his right OF free
speech and prevents his expressing
mTmpathy with men when they go out
on a strike. may yet have a chance Tor
his white alley of justice. Today state
officials were working on plans under
which they hoped to get Whites
placard case before the state supreme
court for a decision
This action was being taken at the
direction of the governor, following u
declaration by Attorney General-elect
c. b. Griffith that-the state desired to
drop the case and following a visit to
Topeka by White and an evening
spent by Henry and Me" at the gov
ernor's residence
White was arrested at the direction
of Governor Allen and the industrial
court during the railroad strike. when
he placed a card in his window of his
newspaper office declaring himself AZ
per cent in sympathy with the strikers
and declaring that he would advance
his sympathy one per cent a day as
long as the strikers remained in the
right. so far as he could tell
Was OF National Interest.
Whites arrest brought national at
tentfon to Kansas and the workings OF
the industrial court law The En-
poria editor declared the new court
was being used to suppress sacred free
speech. Governor Allen and the
judges of the Industrial court declared
White had conspired with the strikers
and that the right of free speech and
freedom of the press were not in
VOlved-that White could say any
thing he wanted to say in his news
paper. but that nc could not Join in
placard campaign.
In some quarters the charge was
made that the arrest or White was
publicity play However. a great
many persons took the matter most
seriously and declared that the indus /
trial court was threatening the free
and easy use of an individuals tongue.
A number of big newspapers irallled
to Whites defense. ? Golfers weekly 1
carried a first page defense of White /
and his article for free speech
Case Set for Trial Nov. 20.
The case was set for trial on No
Governor Allen stated that the attor-
ney generals office had so much work /
on more important cases that ne de-
sired that the White case be continued
until after the end of the Allen ad- |
IninistratfOn. White Immediately pro- 4
tested and declared that such action
would lend color to the reports that
the whole affair was publicity play. I
He went to the district judge-Judge /
Harris, OF EmpOria-and the judge
stated that il the attorney general was /
unable to get to the case for jury /
trial on November 20. then he would
than December 9. This appeared to /
be sufficient to insure White of trial
on the charge placed against him
But late Friday the attorney gem
erals office sent a letter to Roland I
Boyton. county attorney of EmpOria, 4
stating that the case did not present I
a fair state of facts for a test case
and that the state desired to dismiss
the case entirely.
White in Another Protest.
Again White became hot under the
collar. A few hours after the attor- I
ney generals letter was made public. /
the famous Emporia editor appeared Z
in Topeka. He bearded his old friend
Governor Allen in his den in the eX-
ecutive residence to tell him what he I
thought of this kind of justice-charg-
ing man with a crime and then not
giving him the benefit of court trial
to vindicate himself. or pay the PEN
alty if he had been guilty.
Details of the meeting of White and
the governor are not known to the
public. Most likely they did some
rag chewing" However. the old
friendship between Henry and Me- !
prevailed. it is understood. They broke
bread together over the governor s
table And White returned to En- !
committed. The governor appeared to 1
be in a good humor this morning he
left the impression that there had
been nothing more than friendly /
meeting And those who know the 1
Damon and Pythias friendship be-
tween Henry and Me- know that
they would part as friends no matter 1
how wrathy they might havesgotten in
their discussion
White to Get Another Chance.
But this morning the governor
stated that he had asked the sttorney /
generals office to try to find a way /
to get the case before the state su-
preme court for a final decision as
soon as possible
And Mr.. White still has chance for
MS white alley of justice"