In Kansas

Governor Jonathan M. Davis of Kansas, a Democrat, had only a day or two more of his term to serve when suddenly a warrant was sworn out for him and his son.

They were accused of taking a bribe. It was charged that one Fred W. Pollman, a banker convicted of forgery and sentenced to prison had, with the knowledge of state attorneys, entered into negotiations with Russell Davis, the Governor's son; that he promised to pay $1,250 in exchange for a pardon; that Russell Davis visited a room in a Topeka hotel and received $1,000 from Pollman, while reporters and a stenographer listened to the conversation by a telephonic device in a room near by; that Russell Davis went away and returned with the pardon; that Pollman then delivered $250 more to Russell Davis and then confronted him with the reporters; that Governor Davis had suggested that his son be employed in the matter.

The Governor insisted that the whole thing was a "frame-up" and that advantage had been taken of the "unsophisticated nature" of his son, whom he had asked to deliver the pardon.

Both Governor and son furnished $1,000 bail and the Governor retired from office two hours later. Turning from the manuscript of his farewell address, Mr. Davis, "without wavering," defended himself thus:

"I have committed no offense. I have violated no law. I have committed no crime. I have neither solicited, nor accepted any bribe. In my official acts I have an ear for the poor and the down-trodden of the State. I have made the best fight I could.

"A great newspaper in search of prestige and influence has sought to besmirch me. They have invaded the sanctity and privacy of my home and sought to enlist the efforts of criminals and those of low character. The people of Kansas will resent such attempts."

There was talk of an investigation by the legislature of the Governor's pardoning activities during the two stormy years he has held office. All that time he has been faced by a hostile (Republican) legislature. He is succeeded as Governor by Ben S. Paulen, a Republican. Paulen, Davis and Editor William Allen White conducted a triangular fight for the governorship last fall. (For further news of Kansas see EDUCATION.)