Evening star., 1936-06-25
The Story of Aft M. Landon
Chapter XI-More Tasks Accomplished.
BY RICHARD b. FOWLER.

stories OF ali oeper rLuF\ntS ana
all the important acts Of the
Landor administration in Kansas.
Gov. Landon carried out prom
ise to drive the bank robbers out
of the State. He did it by the or
ganization Of a highway patrol under
the direction Of big man in broad
brimmed hat-Wint Smith, feet I
inches tall and World War captain.
In 1888, the last year before the
organization of the patrol, Kansas
was considered part of the happy
hunting ground of the Southwest, the
region identified with such public
enemies as Charles pretty Boy"
Floyd, Wilbur Underhill, Harvey Bal
ley, Clyde Barrow, Alvin Karpis, and
Machine Gun" Kelly.
The record for 1888 shows 81 bank
robberies in Kansas. In 1884 there
were only %. In 1885 they had
dropped to 6. The number of bank
robbers killed or sent to prison was
in keeping with the results.
Operating Costs Cut.
A cut in the operating costs of the
20 State institutions was made, &C.
cording to promises at q time of
rising prices and during a general
repair program. The reduction in op-
Grating costs from $6,500,000 a year
down to $5,000,000 was made by SAL
ary reductions and stopping the leaks.
The same methods applied in cutting
the operating cost of the State $5,-
100000 year. Naturally, Landon cut
his own salary along with the rest
and still is driving motor car that
was purchased early in the Woodring
administration.
Gov. Landon was conservative on
giving paroles from the State Peniten-
tiary, insisting that men should not
be turned out of the penitentiary
ahead of time unless they had some
where to 60, some chance for a de-
cent way Of living. For men on pa
roles he set up system of district
supervisors that worked. The per-
centage of parolled men returned to
the penitehtiary was reduced to IA
per cent.
Back in 1882 and for many years
before, one Of the strong Republican
leaders in Central Kansas was War
rem w. Finney of Emporia, the rich
man of the town, a philanthropist,
the man who lived in the big brick,
English-type house, the finest struc-
ture in Emporia He was a State di-
rector in the Y. M. C. A. and a COL
lege trustee. Impressive. 6 feet
inches tall and weighing 225 pounds,
F'lnney was a power.
Also widely known in the State was
Ronald Finney, son of Warren w. Fin
ney, massive, black-haired man with
striking eyes, a man of talent. The
Finney family owned three banks. a
brokerage business and was widely
represented in other Kansas business
activities. For years the Finneys had
been pouring money into Kansan poll
tics and building up powerful friend
ships. For years both men had felt
privileged to put their feet on any
desk in the Kansas State House.
Bogus Bonds in Treasury.
One Friday afternoon. early in Au-
gust, 1888. the State House buzzed
with rumor. Bogus bonds in the
State Treasury" That day S. NJ
Brewster, United States district at
torney, had received information. In
Topeka bank. examiners had found
bonds that were duplicates of bonds
presumably in the State treasurer's
Office.
Monday facts filtered through the
offices Gov. Landon and the dis
trict attorney were in conference be-
hind closed doors. Newspaper men
waited. The forger of the bonds was
said to be Ronald Finney. Unbeliev-
able! An order was out for the ar
rest of Ronald Finney.
Into the Kansas State House
| walked Warren w. Finney, head up,
defiant, the man who had behind him
both prestige and powerful friend
ships. good acquaintance even with
the Governor. He was admitted be-
hind closed doors. The Governors
friends squirmed. What could the
Governor do? Finney could have but
one request-time. If he were guilty,
it meant time to get the forged bonds