The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-18
CITY POLITICS.
The Republicans Will Hold Pri-
marieS Tomorrow Afternoon.
In Many Instances Only One
Candidate is Running.
VERY QUIET CONTEST
Is the Present Outlook For the
Primary Election.
VERY QUIET CONTEST
Candidates Are For Council,
School Board, COnstableS.

The Republican city primary will be
held tomorrow afternoon from o'clock
until at the places designated at the
bottom of this article.
AS the reader is aware, this is what
is known as an off year in politics. No
mayor will be elected this spring. There
is councilman from each ward to be
chosen and five members of the school
board, as well as a constable or two.
The city of Topeka is not always par
tlsan in the choice of its municipal Off
GERS and the voters are inclined to look
largely to merit and qualifications,
rather than to the position of the can
didate on the financial plank or the
tariff issue.
There are great many important
things concerning this city and it is
paramount that capable and broad
gagged self-sacrifcing individuals be
secured to take the places to be filled
IN the city government. There are a
number of leading questions which will
come up, during the next few years at
the furtheSt, which must be settled IN
an equitable manner looking to the
best interests and welfare of the citi-
zens and the city.
1t is needless to go over these mat
ters in detail, but in a general way, it
might be stated that there are a water
works controversy, a gas question,
plan for parks, sewer interests, etc,
etc.
At the primaries tomorrow it is ex-
pected there will be chosen the men
who will be placed on the Republican
city ticket. If these men are we'll Sc
lected it is altogether likely that citi-
zens will in the main vote for most of
them regardless of a very strict draw
ing of party lines.
The issues at this writing are really
not very clearly defined and if the
ter people or the gas people or any 9TH
er interests are behind the candidates
who are named it is not apparent. In
deed, in a number of instances, only one
candidate is before the public as yet.
1t may be well to have these issues
not too closely drawn now; the main
thing is TO keep successful, business
like, fair and brOad-minded men of af-
fairs in the offices.
In the First ward the only candidate
who has submitted his name to the Re
publican primary is @. A. Starbird an
attorney who desires to be one of the
two to represent his people on the north
side. Mr.. Pattison, the present council
man, does not desire a denomination.
In the Second ward, Mr.. w. J. Mat
tern is the only candidate before the
primary. He is a marble cutter and the
proprietor of a marble works located
Just north of the bridge. He has built
up a good business for himself, and his
friends are pushing him for the public
business of the Second ward as invOlV-
ed in the position of a councilman. 1t
is intimated that Mr.. Mattern is re-
ceiving not only the support of a num-
Der of Republicans, but also of Demo-
Gratis, which goes to show that the tar
iff issue or the money question is not
the one which the Second ward people
will try to settle at tomorrow's primar-
les.
Mr. Mattern is candidate to succeed
Mr.. Stevenson, who is not running
again, and who has in the past years
successfully given a great deal of his
time and attention to the city's bust
ness.
In the Third ward a respected bust
ness man living at Tenth and Morris |
avenues, Mr.. d. ]. Dickinson, is before
the public for a nomination which he
trusts will be equivalent to an election. !
If any opposition exists toward Mr.. |
Dickinson it is not yet in sight for to-
morrow's contest. Mr.. Dickinson be-
lieves that the city should own its wa
terwOrks and is a resident of what is
known as the dry district" He hopes /
that with the ownership of the works
in the city's hands his people will not
be compelled to beg for what ought to /
be nearly as free as air: pure, water
and lots of it.
Councilman Burgess will be renOmi- !
mated tomorrow by the Republicans in !
times in the council and has made I
such a record that no one cares to op- |
pose him. They give him clear field. I
1t is believed that no one will have the /
temerity to run against Mr.. Burgess |
even at the polls later on.
In the Fifth ward Councilman War !
nRT. who. by the way, IS one OF the
best councilmen Topeka ever elected, is +
a candidates for a second term and this .
fact alone that he is willing to devote +
so large a portion of his time to the /.
city's interests ought to cause his NOM /
nation by reclamation. However, there (
are one or two others who think they /
should fill the chair of an alderman, +
and while Mr.. Warner has some OppO- /
sition and may not win in a walk, it /
is not likely that he will have to run I
very hard to capture the prize which /
entities him to so dollars year and !
the criticism and praise of his cOnstit- I
uents
In the matter of school board, S. c. I
Miller, Rev. NJ. Q. Long, Edward VIII /
der, w. w. Thompson and Ira Howe i
are candidates for reelection. Long /
and Howe and also l. s Ferry, who is /
a candidate for the short term, have no +
opposition in running before the prima- (
ry tomorrow.
DR.. J. F. Buck. Frank Edison and Jno. /
CLANCY will also be put forward by /
their friends.
Without disparag cement for the new
gentlemen who are willing to sacrifice 1
their time for the educational interests !
of the city, and all of these gentlemen 3
seem to be excellent material 1t IS /
well to note that the present board OF |
education has secured a surplus for the I
treasury. Mr.. Edward Wilder who is /
out of the city and who IS a man VINO
would not think of running around and
asking anyone to vote for him, came
pretty near losing his name from the
ticket from the fact that he is not po-
litical wire puller and never would be-
Mr. Wilder telegraphs from Colorado
saving: Il can not consider that
office of board of education is one to be
fought for at the primaries or else
where. If it is desired that serve the
city on the board, shall cheerfully
to do So
This kind of talk ought to insure the
election of Mr.. Wilder by acclama ton
However there are other good men who
are running and about whom the Journal
would not raise question if 1t could Mr..
Wilder, however. is a public citizen who