The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-05-02
EDEN OF POLITICS
A KANSAS TOWN WHERE EVERY
MALE VOTER HOLDS OFFICE,

His People Doubly by Holding Two
Ofices-Had TO go Beyond tho Limits for
q City Attorney, and Although He wss
Elected Unanimously, He Declined to
serve-He VIII Take Fees But Not a
Salary, and Thereby Avoids Contact
With the Constitution.
The truth Of the old saying that
''queer things happen in Kansas" has
been verified once more. One year ago
the city of Geuda Springs hourished IN
TWO counties-Cowley and Sumner-and
had a thriving government OF women
Not man was in the council and with
few exceptions the appointive officers
were women The CALLING yoke OF petit
coat government was too severe for the
Cowley county end Of the combination
and its citizens discovered some flaw in
the charter that enabled them to secede
and throw the entire city on the west
side of the county line. The loss OF the
r,owlev county partnership reduced the
n,pulation of Geuda TO sucn an extent
that a new and very serious difhcuity
presented itself TO them. Last fan Geu-
ia was about the hottest place in the po-
ut:cal world and the inhabitants were
pretty evenly divided IN their support Oh
Mckinley and Bryan. The party De
seated then made up its mind mat Il
would again match strength Win the
successful party in the spring. Both
~ a or13r DdNlle
and had their forces in splendid hgnuns
trim when the extraordinary discovery
was made that no one political party had
enough qualified voters in It's orgaihZd-
ton to fill the officesof city OF the thlrd
class. What could be done? PROPOSE
ton was made 10 surrender the cnarter
and place the little city under township
government, but it being a health resort
of deferred hope, but still ambitious, the
maintenance Of city government was
deemed essential for its present and fu-
ture success.
Great occasions alwaysp ro1uce great
men. and when the wise men in each par
ty confessed their inability TO solve the
queer situation, Uncle Thomas Royal
the ancient and venerable village ots
driver, presented his opinion OF Whal
should be done II was TO the effect tnat
both political parties should get together,
Law aside their politics and agree upon
one ticket. Accordingly, a public meet
ing was called and a ticket agreeable all
around was nominated. In the meantime
the women of Geuda Springs had become
tired of political life and every mother
daughter OF them agreed not to Vote or
accept Office under any consideration.
When election day arrived twenty-five
men voted and that was the sum total
of all the votes cast. In a week or 50
the mayor announced that in selecting
his appointees he had run short of ma
terial and would have to ask some or the
people to serve their city doubly. The
result is that Mr.. Stokes, the druggist,
holds are portfolio Of police judge and
city treasurer combined, in addition 10
which he is a school director, superin-
tendent of the local Sunday school ana
holds several other offices. This same
man Stokes is a man of peculiar notions
In business. He is the proprietor of the
only drug store in the United States that
will not keep cigars for sale. He will no.
sell tobacco in any form, nor will ne sell
anything with alcohol in it.
But to return to city affairs. Geuda
IS still without a city attorney. Colonel
Bob Mitchell was elected, but he will not
qualify for the reason that he is not IN
the city, having always lived on the Cow
ley county side OF the line. The citizens
of Geuda are in no shape TO bep articular
about the citizenship of their city attor-
ney, as Mr.. Mitchell is the only attorney
in the town, and hence they elected him
unanimously. 1t is said that he has told
them that he will serve them whenever
they need his services as a feed attorney
but not as a salaried city officer A
city can go 10 Timbuctoo TO hire an at
torney, but il cannot elect one outside its
own limits. Ii is not probable, however,
that the services of a city attorney VIII
be needed. Last year there was no need
for one and there is no indication OF the
necessity Of one this year. Neither was
there any necessity for police judge or
marshal last year. as in the period be-
tween April I, 1896. and April 1, 1897.
there was not a single arrest made, and
hence there was no case in the police
court OF course if the city needs ad-
vice about the legality or constitutional
lty OF any proposition the mayor can
very easily see bob" Mitchell quietly
and get the proper zip.
There is one thing about the official
roster Of Geuda which takes in every
mail inhabitant in the city above twenty
pne, and that is. il is not tainted in the
least with scandal TheAe are no jobs or
steals. No fat contracts are 10 be let,
nor no fat treasury 10 be raided. Meth
er is there any annual fight abou: the
city printing, for there is no paper IN the
town. and the publication of ordinances
ana other legal notices is done by hang
Ing seven copies Of the same in seven
conspicuous places in the city. One Of
these places is the local meat market
kept by John Rowe. and as an evidence
that II is conspicuous il is stated that ne
sells as much as one quarter Of beef
per week in. shop that ne rents for
eighteen dollars per year.
Geuds Springs may be modest in lis
doings now. but the time Is coming when
Il viii be proud city. Its waters are a
dead shot on rheumatism as well as on
nearly all other diseases. l. has merits
that destine II to be, in time. one OF tile
greatest and sures, health resorts in
America.
GREEK DEFEAT OWING TO BLUNDERs
One Short, Bold Rsyonet Charge Would
Have Upset Turkey.