The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-23
THE MAYORALTY.
Mayor Fellows Announces His Deter
mination Not to Run For
the Office.


| mination Not to Run For
the Office.
Mayor Charles Fellows was asked to-
| day if he would be candidate for. re-
| election, and replied in substances:
ST have finally decided that will not
| be a candidate. had come to that con-
| clusfOn several weeks ago, but during
| the past ten days have received petit
| lions signed by over fifteen hundred citi-
zens asking that I be a candidate for
reelection. One of these petitions con-
tanned the names of over five hundred
men working in the Santa Fe shops.
Il have given the subject careful con-
Sideration and while feel deeply CRATE
full for the kindly expressions contained
in the petitions, have come to the con-
clusion that it would better to retire
at the end Of my second term as mayor.
Topeka has many worthy men thor
oughly qualified to fill the office. 1 feel
confident they will elect some one to
carry out the policy of the present adj
ministration as to the control of the
waterworks by the city, and just and
economical expenditure Of the city's
funds.
TT has been my aim as mayor, with
the assistance Of a good council, TO
tighten the burdens of the tax payers
and to stop all useless raids upon the
city treasury. feel that 1 have been
successful
There has not been a single deficien-
cy while have held the office. Taxes
obligation has been paid promptly. Use
less offices have been abolished. Ex-
orbitant salaries have been reduced.
The city has eSta bliShed credit equal
to any in the United States. I believe
I can truthfully say that not a single
dollar has been needlessly or wrong
fully expended.
ct have endeavored to perform my
duty since the police department was
placed under my control. The city Is
more free from crime and criminals
than for a long time past. The joint
list no longer faunts his banner in the
face of an outraged public, but hides
his business in fear and trembling be-
hind locked doors and mysterious pass
words"
It goes without saying that Mr.. Eel
lows has given this city as good an adj
1ninistration as Topeka has ever seen.
During the four years of his service the
city's affairs have been well conducted
and they will be turned over to his sue
cessor in a better condition than they
have ever been in the history of the
city. This alone is sufficient to be
proud of. To be sure the success OF
Mr.. Fellows two terms has been large
ly aided by an excellent council.
The watchword of the Fellows admin
istration has been harmony, that is,
harmonious action on the part of the
executive and the council. The city
elects both the mayor and councilmen
to conduct it's affairs.
The principal troubles Of city admin
istrations may be traced to a lack of
concerted action and discussion of the
city'S affairs between the mayor and
his council and to Mr.. Fellows thor
ough knowledge of this fact and his de-
termination to carry out this program
is in no small way due his own sue
cess.
OF course it takes a broad guaged
man in the mayors chair to follow these
views. Mr.. Fellows may well be proud
of the many friends who have urged
him to make the race again, but he has
firmly refused to become candidate
for another term.
The city is not only out of debt, but
during the Fellows administration has
greatly improved the electric light
plant and has paid for additional new
machinery out of the revenues of the
city. In fact the saving of the vapor
lights alone has put the electric light
plant in its present good condition with
improved modern machinery and facili-
ties for lighting up a much larger area
In fact the capacity of the plant has
been practically doubled. A most favor
able contract was made looking to the
maintenance of the asphalt paVementS.
Some city bonds have been recently
sold, as recorded in these columns, for
3A per cent interest. Five per cent
heretofore being the lowest the city has
secured and 3sz per cent is lower than
any city in Kansas has placed it's Sc
curities.
Mr.. Fellows has always been easy of
access, no matter whether the voter was
the wealthiest or the poorest. He has
had willing ear to hear various sides
of questions before him. He has repre-
scented this city creditably and favor
ably at home and elsewhere in the
larger cities of the country at gather
ings of mayors and prominent people on
various occasions, and will retire from
the office with the general good will of
the people he has served.
A gentleman prominently spoken of in
connection with the mayoralty contest
is Mr.. Chas. j. Drew. He has lived in
Topeka for thirty-two years and has a
reputation excelled by none for ability,
industry and integrity. He is a success
full contractor and has given four years
OF his time to the service of the city.
He is president of the council and pop
ular with the aldermen as we'll as with
his constituents. His ambition to be
mayor is a worthy one and he is fully
competent to fill the office both in a
business way and from his experience
as a councilman. He can generally be
found on the right side of all questions
and if he makes a mistake it can be set
down that it is from no wrong motive.
Under Mr.. Drew the city of Topeka
would have mayor who would con-
tinue the very excellent policy laid
down by the present administration and
the affairs of the city would be in good
hands.
LATER-Mr. Drew has decided to be
a candidate