The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-11
MR.. JETMORE's sTATEMENr
The East Side Circle and the May
oralty


To the Editor of The State Journal:
My name having been used by Mayor
Fellows in a card published in the Jour-
nal on the 9Th inst, of course he ex-
poets me to answer him. 1t would be
diseOurteoUS on my part not to do So
Although Mr.. Fellows pretends to be
unconcerned as to his candidacy vet
he rushes into the papers, and as an
speech that was reported in the Jour-
nal, in which stated that he was 'tun-
worthy of the support of the labOr1ng
man" because he had brought outside
mechanics in to compete with those at
home.
While I was present at the meeting
referred to in North Topeka, and made
a speech in favor of the candidacy of
DR.. Hibben, made no such statement
as alleged by Mr.. Fellows; nor did the
report published in the Journal show
that any statement of that sort was
made by me, and as a verificatiOn of
this 1 appeal to the files of the Jour
nal
Again, Mr.. Fellows states that have
a grievance; that represent the east
ern bondholders' that own the remains
of the East Side Circle railway.
He is as far from the facts in this
as he was in the statement of my re
ported speech" above referred to. The
property is not owned by eastern bond
holders as Mr.. Fellows we'll knows. The
property was formerly owned by the
East Side Circle railway company, was
sold under foreclosure; and the pur-
chaser at the sale, with the assistance
or Mr.. G. w. Ament and other inter
ested citizens of Highland park and
along the line of the railway, induced
John Wilson and ]. H. VanarSdale, cap
1taliStS of Peoria, Ill, to purchase the
railway property, as also several humid
red acres OF land east of the city known
as VinewOOd park These gentlemen
in good faith invested many thousands
of dollars in this property and opera
ted it in the name of the Topeka and
VineWood Park Railway company.
1t was the purpose of these gentlemen
to improve the property so as to make
the park attractive TO the public and to
equip the railway so as to afford cheap
and convenient facilities for transpor-
tation to those desiring to visit the park
and also those residing in Highland
Park and along the line of the road.
To this end they made many improve
ments at the park, repaired the rail-
way property and resumed the opera
ton of the road and which gave en-
plOyment to many families. These men
were assured, and had a right to ex-
pect, that the mayor and citizens of
Topeka would extend to them cordial
cooperation and encoura cement in
building up this enterprise. Instead of
this, they have met a stubborn and per-
sistent opposition on the part of Mayor
Fellows; and which has induced these
men to withhold further investments
in that direction, and to stop the Oper-
alton of the enterprise, thereby throw
Ing the families out of employment and
support. With a deliberate intent to
wreck this enterprise, as also to secure
the political cooperation of the enemies
of the road on Ninth street, Mr.. Eel
lows proceeded to exact unusual re-
quirementS of these men by way of
needless repairs. These they met at
great expense, even lowering their road
bed in Ninth street some three feet, at
a cost of several hundred dollars, on
new grade given by his city engineer;
and when completed Mayor Fellows
with his street commissioner and a large
force of men unlaWfully and wrong
fully proceeded to and did fill up and
cover the rCadbed and track with earth
to the depth of some three feet, in which
condition il now remains, thus prevent
ing further operation of the road in
Ninth street.
Finally, in order to make the des-
tructiOn of the enterprise complete, by
a trick, as he admits himself he in
duced the council to pass a resolution
declaring the viaduct to be unsafe, and
directing the same to be removed unless
repaired within 80 days-and this too,
Tweedale, have examined the same and
pronounced it absolutely safe, and that
there is no danger of its falling.
Even if this property were owned by
eastern bOndhOlderS'' as asserted by
Mr.. Fellows this would be no excuse
or justification to him for its confisca-
ton and destruction; and such Senti-
nent is populistic and unworthy of the
chief executive of the capital city of
Kansas Well may We inquire, is he
a Republican? And if the information
had of the political prediction of the
gentleman to be correct, l am led to
conclude the sentiment above expressed
by him is from instinct rather than. ac-
cident.
1 should be exceedingly gratifed to
see elected to the Office of mayor of this
city, an honest, capable, broad guaged
citizen A B. JETMORE.