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TTXE3 AIDVOOilTZL 5 & Co, of Kansas City, Missouri, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that some time in the month of June, 1882, Capt. J. B. John son, of Topeka, and Mr. L. Blaokman, of the same place, called at my office in Kan sas City, the latter introducing Capt. John son to me. At that time and place Capt Johnson said he was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor of the state of Kansas, that he had great hopes of defeat ing St. John if he could raise the necessary funds to apply where it would do the most good. He said he was opposed to prohibition and promised, if successful in the race, to do all he could to wipe out the iniquitous law, that he was in favor of a constitutional convention by which prohibition could be ignored and proper license laws enacted thereunder. He sud it would be necessary for him to advocate prohibition in order to defeat St. John in the nomination, but once elected he would do all in his power in the interests of the liquor traffic by the methods hereinbefore indicated. Quite a sum of money was raised and de livered to a certain prominent citizen of Kansas who was to deliver the same to Capt. Johnson, and who afterwards said to me that the money was promptly delivered to Capt. Johnson. E. L. Martin. Sworn and subscribed to before me this 11th day of October, A. D. 1884. seal. A. E. White, Notary Public Commission expires July 26, 1885. The proposition to make prohibition speeches, especially the one made at Fort Scott, a real good thing for Can didate Johnson to do nice deception for prohibition Republicans. affidavit by c. b. jones. State of Kansas, ) Shawnee Countt. j C. R. Jones, of Topeka, Shawnee county, Kansas, being duly sworn, states that prior to a certain conference held at the Gordon House in the city of Topeka, Kansas, on the day of , 1882, deponent and Capt. J. B. Johnson had a conversation, at which conversation said Johnson pledged himself to the interests of the liquor traffic of Kan sas; that at said conversation was considered the expediency of raising funds to support said Johnson for the nomination of govern or at the Republican convention against St. John as an anti-prohibitionist to open up Kansas to the legitimate liquor traffic Said deponent further states that he then jointly with Lew Head and L. Blackman, of the city of Topeka, at the instance of said Johnson, issued a call for a conference to be held in the city of Topeka of the liquor dealers of cities of Kansas City, Sc. Joseph and Leavenworth, and that said Head wrote said call. Said deponent further states that on the day of , 1882, there was held at the Gordon House in the city of Topeka, a con ference between the liquor dealers of said oities, for the purpose of considering the nomination of said J. B. Johnson for the office of governor of the state of Kansas at the Republican convention then soon to be held in said city; that said J. B. Johnson was present at said conference; that there was also present at said conference Sol Block and Charles G. Ferrin, of Kansas City, Missouri, R. W. Ludington and John Walruff, of Lawrence, Kansas, n. I. Smith and H. R. Hartwig, of St. Joseph, Mis souri, and John Hannon, of Leavenworth, Kansas; that at said conference at the Gor don House said J.B.Johnson M present and made a few remarks, pledging himself to the interests of the liquor traffic, there upon bid us good night, and it was there de cided by the liquor dealers in conference to support said Johnson for nomination for governor of the state of Kansas and to raise funds for that purpose, and R. W. Luding ton, of Lawrence, was appointed finance committee and authorized to receive all funds to be expended in the interests of said Johnson; that said conference at the Gor don House was adjourned to meet in the city of Kansas City, Missouri, for the pur pose of secrecy, and that said Johnson was so informed, and that said conference was held sometime afterwards at the Metropoli tan hotel, in Kansas City, Missouri. Said deponent further states, that he had a conversation with said J. B. Johnson after said conference in June, 1882, at which conversation said Johnson continued to pledge himself and to express himself as ready to serve the interests of the liquor traffic, and in that conversation was also considered the expediency of said Johnson making prohibition speeches to secure pro hibition votes, and it was decided and agreed to by said Johnson that said John son should make a prohibition speech in the city of Fort Scott, Kansas, which said speech said Johnson did afterwards make; that the making of this prohibition speech was also favorably considered at the confer ence afterwards held in Kansas City, where also the liquor men unanimously agreed to spend their money in the interests of the candidacy of said Johnson; and further de ponent sayeth not. C. R. Jones. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th day of October, 1881. seal. C. A. Alexander, Notary Public Commission expires November 7, 1887. QUITE A SUM OF MONEY WAS RAISED BY THE LIQUOB DEALERS, Delivered and turned over to Capt J. B. Johnson to assist his guberna torial canvass of 1882. affidavit or b. w. ludington. State of Kansas, I Countt of Douglas, j R. W. Ludington, of Lawrence Kansas, being first duly sworn, deposes and says: I have read the aforegoing affidavits of C. R. Jones, Lew Head, L. Blaokman, Sol Block, C. G. Perrin, and their statements re ferring to a certain conference held at the Gordon House, city of Topeka, on the day of June, 1882, are true in substance and in fact. At said conference Capt. J. B. John son was present, and then and there pledged himself to the interests of the liquor dealers in conference to support said Johnson for governor of the state of Kan sas, and to raise funds for that purpose; and I was there appointed finance committee, and authorized to receive all funds to be ex pended in the interest of Johnson, and to turn the same over to the said Johnson. Quite a sum of money was raised by the liquor dealers, delivered to me, and by me turned over to Capt. J. B. Johnson to assist him in his gubernatorial canvass of 1882. R. W. Ludington. Sworn and subscribed to before me this 13th day of October, 188-1. seal. H. E. Benson, Notary Public Commission expires January 20, 1887. The liquor dealers in conference decided to support "a party by the name of Johnson" for governor of the state of Kansas, and to raise funds for that purpose, and It. W. Luding ton, of Lawrence, was appointed finance committee: AFFIDAVIT bt c. g. febbin. State of Misboubi, Countt of Jackson. J ' C. G. Perrin, of Kansas City, being first duly sworn deposes and says: I was present at the conference of liquor dealers held at the Gordon House, Topeka, on the day of June, 1882, the same as re ferred to in the affidavit of Mr. C. R. Jones, Lew Head and L. Blackman. Capt. J. B. Johnson appeared before the conference, and there pledged himself to advance the interests of the liquor trafflo in Kansas if we would grant financial aid in his guber natorial canvass. Then he bid us good night. It was there decided by the liquor dealers in conference to support the said Johnson for nomination for governor of the state of Kansas and to raise funds for that purpose, and R. W. Ludington of Lawrenoe was appointed finance oommittee and authorized to receive all funds to be expended in the interests of Johnson, and to turn the same over to the aid Johnson. That said conference was adjourned to meet in the city of Kansas City, Missouri, for the purpose of secrecy, and that said Johnson was so informed and that said con ference was held sometime afterwards at the Metropolitan hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. , C. G. Pebbin. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 11th day of October, A. D., 1884. seal. A. E. White. Notary Public Commission expires July 25th, 1885. FLERSHEIM, I HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO BEAT ST. JOHN, BUT I. NIED MORE MONEY. If I had $1,000 or- $2,000 more it would enable me to make my calling and election sura You ought to raise it among your personal and political friends in Kansas." ,. AFFIDAVIT BT B. 8. FLSBSHEIM. State of Missouri, I Countx of Jackson, j ' B. S. Flersheim, of Kansas City, being duly sworn, states: I am a member of the firm of B. S. Flersheim & Co, Capt. J. B. Johnson, of Topeka, was in troduced to me at our store in Kansas City, by Mr. L Blaokman, of Topeka, some time in June, 1882. He made the following statement: He had come to Kansas City to see about the Kansas campaign. He supposed that the Kansas City liquor men felt interested, as prohibition cut off a large territory from their trade. He did not believe that the people favored prohibition. He was indi vidually opposed to prohibition, although he was a temperance man. I replied: What do you want, what do you expect of us, or words to that effect. Mr. J. B. Johnson's answer was: He was a candidate for governor, and had good pros pects to beat St. John for the nomination. My answer was again: What can we as citizens of Missouri do in suoh a campaign? Johnson replied: I need money, as needed in any campaign. St. John's friends have money and were ready to spend it. I then said: Suppose we contribute, what will you do; what can we expect of you re specting our business Interests? Johnson replied: I told you before I am opposed to prohibition. It is wrong, and while I am a temperate man myself, I shall, if nominated and elected governor with your support, never do anything to en force that obnoxious law, except as I would be compelled mto do, because as a matter of course'my election does not repeal the law. I replied: I can't see how finanoial assist ance on our part will benefit our interests, unless a Legislature can be elected which will resubmit the amendment, and would be liberal in all respects regarding our in terests. Johnson said: It would be a hard matter to get the necessary majority in the Legis lature for resubmission, but the constitu tion and laws of Kansas need revision badly, and if elected governor I will use my best efforts to influence the Legislature to call a constitutional convention, and at that convention I will leave nothing undone to have prohibition entirely ignored in the new constitution. Shortly after this conversation he left Kansas City, and we contributed to a fund to further Capt. J. B. Johnson's interests before the Republican convention. I went to Topeka towards the end of June, 1882, on private business. On an evening as I was sitting in front of the Windsor hotel, Capt. J. B. Johnson stepped up,reoog. nizing me and we shook hands, and he said he was glad to meet me in Topeka, and in quired when I would leave. I told him the next day. Johnson said: He would like to see me on very important business before I left. My reply was: If so I would like to see you in the morning, as I am anxious to leave by noon. Johnson said: This matter was of great importance. My reply: If it is I will stay until to morrow night, but would like to see you in the morning. Johnson replied: I will meet you in the hotel office between 10 and 11 a.m. to morrow. We met about that time. He began: Flersheim, I have a good chance to beat St. John, but I need more money. I said: What do you need now again? ne answered: If I had $1,000 or $2,000 more it would enable me to carry the west border tier of counties, and then I would be perfectly sure of beating Si. John on the first ballot. I asked: Do you feel so perfectly sure about it? He answered: Yes, I do. Here is Jim Leg ate; I suppose you know him, and he will bear me out in my assertion. He then introduced me to Mr. Legate in whose presence he repeated what he had just told me. I then said: As a matter, of course, it is of greatest importance to have Kansas re opened to the legitimate liquor traffic It stands us liquor dealers in hand to use all efforts to enable us to do legitimate trade in Kansas. You well know we have largely contributed money for your benefit, but we do not feel like giving more on mere idle talk. If you feel sure of receiving the nomination for governor with an additional expense not to exceed $2,000, I think you ought to be able to raise it among your per sonal and political friends in Kansas; but while I have no authority to speak for any one except my house, if you will so require I will give you a written guarantee to reim burse you or your friends for at least $1,000 of the $2,000 so additionally expended, after you have received the nomination, but do not think that any one of us felt like spend ing any more money on idle promises. Johnson said: This would be a hard matte? to do. I then replied: If you folks feel so sure of your nomination, with the promises you made while in Kansas City, I almost feel like I could guarantee you the entire $2,000. Let us hear from you. I left Topeka the same day. B. S. Fleksheim. Subscribed and sworn to before me this Uth day of October, A. D. 1884. seal. A. E. White, Notary Public Commission expires, July 25, 1885. Confirmation of the conversation which took place between Capt. J. B. Johnson and my partner, Mr. Fler sheim, when Capt Johnson was in troduced to us by Mr L. Blackman of Topeka: AFFIDAVIT OF SOL. BLOCK. State of Missouri, I ma Countt of Jackson, j Sol Block, of Kansas City, being duly sworn states: I am a member of the firm of Flersheim fc Co. I was present at the con versation which took place between Capt. J. B. Johnson and my partner, Mr. Fler sheim, when Capt. Johnson was introduced to us by Mr. L. Blaokman, of Topeka. I heard the conversation and I have read the foregoing affidavit, and the statements of Mr. Flersheim referring to said conversa tion with Mr. J. B. Johnson, at which I was present, are true in substance and in fact. I further state that I was present at the Gordon house at Topeka, referred to in tha affidavits of C. R. Jones, Lew Head, L. Blackman and C. G. Perrin, and their state ments regarding the same are substantially correct Sol Block, Subscribed and sworn to before me this Uth day of October, A. D. 1884. seal. A. E. White. Notary Public Commission expires J uly 25, 1885. Lew Head was assured by Jones and Blackman that they had a con versation with Capt J. B. Johnson, and that Mr. Johnson was willing to make any arrangements to open the state to the legitimate liquor traffic AFFIDAVIT OF LEW fllAD. State of Kansas, ) Countt of Shawnee. ( Lew Head, of Topeka, Shawnee county. , Kansas, being duly sworn, states that after a consultation between C. R. Jones, L. Blackman and himself, it was agreed to call a meeting of the liquor dealers of the cities of Kansas City, St. Joseph and Leaven worth, to be held in the interests of the candidacy of Capt. J. B. Johnson for gover nor of the state of Kansas. That he had no conversation personally with said Johnson ( Continued on eighth pagt.)