The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-10
LAST NIGHTS MEETING.
Addressed by DR.. Hlbben at Madison
and Kious Streets.


The little church at Madison and
Kious streets in North Topeka was
filed last night with people to hear Dr..
J. B. Hibben, one of the candidates for
mayor The night before the people
had heard the virtues of Mayor Fellows
extolled and they were anxious to hear
the other side.
though the applause was frequent it
was not boisterous. A colored man
named Moore called the meeting to
order w. ]. Stewart was elected
chairman and John Matheny was made
secretary. H. w. Cheney, candidate
for councilman, made a short address
and then DR.. Hibben was introduced.
appreciate my welcome in the First
ward" said DR.. Hibben, for it has
come from my friends as well as the
friends of the opposition. This is a
ialr race, and will do all I can to
my friend and has been for many years.
and no matter who wins at the pri-
mary next Saturday I hope to still call
him my friend.
They say that he is entitled to a sec
ond term, but know of no reason why
a man who has held Office for one term
should be given another. Even Presi-
dent Harrison, who was one of the best
presidents this country ever had whose
record had no blotS upon it, was defeat
ed for second term. He was known
as the best friend the old soldiers ever
had, and still Grover Cleveland turned
him down. In the past twelve years
no mayor in Topeka has succeeded him
self.
81 had no desire to be a candidate for
mayor and it was only after earnest
solicitation of many of my friends and
of a large mass meeting that 1 consent
ed to become a candidate
DR.. Hibben then related the formal
announcement of his candidacy before
a large meeting in a hall on Kansas
avenue.
''I was not brought out by the rich"
he continued, but by the poor. My
opponent claims all the votes of the
rich No matter what he says, I am
proud of my support, and if 1 am elect
ed will endeavor to serve all classes
alike. (Applause) 1 wish it We're my
power to give every man in the city of
Topeka work, but you all know that is
impossible; but in all that 1 do 1 shall
be fair, and no class or clique will be
favored.
Some of my opponents said that I
have promised everyone in Topeka a
job. L say here now, and you are my
witnesses, that have made not sin
gle pledge to anyone. If I am to be
mayor of Topeka it must not be with
my hands tied. 1t has even been said
that have promised positions to
teachers, when everyone with a grain
of sense knows that the mayor has no
more to do with the employment of
teachers than does the president of the
United States.
MY opponents have resorted to all
sorts of things. Why, they even lied
on the hogs. daughter.) They have
said that 1 will drive all the hogs and
chickens out of the city. They claim
that I am in league with the butchers
and will prevent anyone from raising
his own meat, so all will have to pa
tronize the butchers. I was connected
with the board of health for ten years,
and I did not take the poor mans hogs
or chickens away from him. Such
stories are not worth notice. CAP
plause.)
1T is said that our present mayor
will get a pension for every old soldier
in Topeka. if he is elected. I was sec
rotary of the pension board in Topeka
several years, and during that time
our ratings were always in favor of the
old soldier. I wish that everyone who
fought to save our noble country could
receive a reward for his valor in the
form of a pension. The friends of the
present mayor call attention to the
number of old soldiers employed by
him. Let me tell you one thing, and
old soldier he made sure that he was a
good politician
TT is strange that just now we are
threatened with cholera and every dis
ease known to man and that it has been
necessary to employ 200 or 800 men to
clean up the streets. But you have
not heard of them working out in the
districts where their work is most need
ed. They work upon the main streets,
where they can be seen and where they
can do political work, for that is why
they are appointed. I wish they could
have work all the year. but if I am