The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-12
A FIASCO.
Forcing a Vote on Municipal
WaterWOrks
When the People Were Not
Asking 1t,
Turning Out just as Was to Be
Expected.
VERY FEW VOTES CAST
The City Unanimous For Mu-
nicipal WaterWOrks
So Little Interest Now That
Only 200 Votes
Were Cast in the City Up to
Noon.
So Little Interest Now That
Only 200 Votes
Were Cast in the City Up tt
Noon.


of waterworks proposition is alarmingly
light. At noon today less than 500
votes had been polled. Two elections
in one week are too much for the people
of Topeka They have not yet recov-
cred from that of last Tuesday and to
plunge into another seems to be a little
too much.
Nothing was done this forenoon by
either side to get out the voters. Those
who cared to vote were allowed to do
so but there was a total absence or
ward workers in nearly every NOtlnS
place. The waterwOrks people Nave NOT
shown their hand. A great deal of quiz
ct work has been done during the past
weed but nothing has been done openly.
Dave MulVane made round OF the
polling places this morning and there IS
some indication that he will turn his
workers loose this afternoon He seems
perfectly satisfied with the light vote.
The only hope of the water works peo-
pie is in a light vote.
A strange thing in connection with
this election is the apathy that seems to
prevail in the dry districts" 1t was
supposed that the people who have been
deprived of fire protection for so long
would simply fall over themselves to
get to vote on this question but they
have not done so. AT 10 o'clock, in the
first precinct of the Fifth ward, where
the people who live in Martin & Dennis
addition vote, only seven votes had been
cast. 1t was supposed that all of those
were in favor of the proposition.
In the second precinct of the Fifth
ward in which a great many cOlOred
people live, only u votes had been cast.
The colOred people will not vote unless
there is some one to urge them to get
out, said the judges at this precinct.
At the third precinct of the Third
ward the people who live in LOwman
Hill cast their votes, but at IL o'clock
only "a votes had been cast Only two
of them were cast by people who live in
LOwman Hill.
Edward Wilder, who is opposed to the
city acquiring the water works was one
of the first men to vote at the second
precinct OF the Third ward. He cast
his vote and walked out without word.
He was followed by two or three others
but at noon only about 20 votes had
been cast.
Ex-Councilman NetteIs was the first
man to vote in the fourth precinct of
the Third ward and he was followed by
Assistant Cashier F. NJ. BOnebrake OF
the Central National bank. Both men
voted for the water works proposition.
At IL o'clock "a votes had been cast in
this precinct and it was said that there
were not more than two or three of that
number against the water works prOpO-
sition.
People watching the vote in the
fourth precinct of the Fourth ward
said at noon that a majority of the
votes cast at that place were against
the proposition but as only 35 votes had
been cast it is indication of what
the final result will be. In the third
precinct OF this ward it was claimed
that the % votes that had been cast
were all for the proposition The judg-
es said that nearly all who asked for
tickets expressed themselves in favor of
the city becoming the owner of the wa
ter works system.
The conditions in the Second and
First wards were much the same as
elsewhere in the city. At noon less than
80 votes had been polled at each of the
polling place. The few hangers on who
are seen say that the people do not
understand the matter and they hint
that a few drinks of Kentucky whisky
might quicken their perception.
In the First and Second ward a large
vote is expected this afternoon as the
Santa Fe shop men will not be at work.
In fact in all localities in the city a
much larger vote is expected this after
noon. If the water works company in
tends to do anything it will be done af-
ter 3 o'clock. Not a single team has
been hustling out the voters and haul
ing them to the polls and it was sup
posed that none would be needed as
the question involved is of Individual
interest to every one in the city.
Unless something unlocked for should
happen there is no doubt of the water
works proposition being carried, but it
doesn't have the moral endorsement of
a. big vote. In the Second ward where
it is claimed there will be a large vote
this afternoon a large portion of the
people favor having the city become the
owner of the water works. There ssnO
doubt that a, large majority of the peo-
pie in all portions of the city are in IA
vor of municipal ownership of the wa
ter system but they will stay at home.
The Journal said in the first place
that there was no need of bringing up
the issue now and it hasn't been shown
yet why it was done The Journal knew
and said that the people are not inter
ested in the matter.
We hope no more forcing business
will be undertaken by misguided enthu-
siasts. When the water works compa-
nys charter expires then the city is
| ready to take the water works. Now
| it doesn't care anything about it.