The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-27
City Administration Receives
an Excellent Endorsement.
Topeka or New Jersey, and the
People Voted For Topeka.
LARGE WOMAN VOTE.
Ladies Trudged Through Rain
and Mud to Cast Their Ballots.
WaterWOrks Issue Brought Out
, the Vote.

Charles J. Drew of the Fourth ward
was nominated for mayor of Topeka at
the Republican primary Saturday by a
majority of about $500. He carried ev-
cry ward in the city and even scored a
victory in the precinct which includes
Tennesseetown which is the west end
of the Third ward. 1t was here that
the Brooks movement had its center of
strength. It was conceded that the ma
jcrity of colored people were supporters
of Brooks.
The total vote cast was about 5000
and in every precinct there was large
woman vote. 1t was the greatest OBJ
ject lesson in favor of woman suffrage
ever witnessed in Topeka. 1t has been
claimed that the women took no inter-
est in elections and there never was a
more unfavorabIe day for voting. A
heavy rain fell all day flooding the side
walks and making the crossings almost
impossible. In spite of that fact ladies
walked a dozen blocks to cast their
ballots for the welfare of Topeka. The
best women in Topeka and those who
move in the most exclusive circles gath
cred their skirts about them and ac-
companied their husbands to the polls.
Up to noon Saturday the vote had not
been heavy. The Brooks supporters
were Wen organized and they rushed
their vote in early. They were well sup
piled with conveyances and load after
load of Brooks people were unioaded at
the polling places in the forenoon.
But after u o'clock a change came.
The women voters of Topeka began to
arrive Many did not wait for car
riages and some who waited got tired
and for fear that they would be forgot
-
to the voting places through the driv-
ing rain. The Drew forces simply over
whelmed judges and clerks. 1t was the
hardest afternoons work ever done by
many of those who sat upon the election
boards.
The Brooks workers who had been
employed for the day watched the
crowds in CONSERVATION and dismay.
Every one knew that the result would
not be doubtful if the people of Topeka
would vote-and they did.
s ]. Bear, who was assisting the
Drew forces in the west precinct of the
Third ward, said today: Il have lived
in Topeka. a good while and l have
never seen anything like it. If I had
been able to get cOnVeyances we could
have secured at least 200 more votes in
the west precinct of the Third ward.
] saw women walk from Lowman Hill
King and Clay streets, and others came
from the vicinity of Washburn college"
At this precinct 300 votes were polled.
In the west precinct of the Fourth
ward the conditions were similar
Nearly 500 women voted and nearly all
of them in the afternoon. This precinct
was carried by Drew by majority of
51S. 1t is here that he has lived for
years and his neighborS rushed to his
support One lady over 80 years old
walked four blocks through the rain to
vote for Mr.. Drew.
The Brooks supporters received a
shock in the Second ward They claimed
from the first that they were sure of
the Second, Third and Fifth wards, and
expected larger majority in the Sec
ond ward than in any. But the people
in this ward rallied and swamped the
Brooks organization. East of the Santa
Fe tracks the Drew forces carried
everything like a torrent The majority
there is more than two to one for the
Drew ticket.
In the west r7ecinct of the Second
ward there was mare intimidation than
anywhere in the city unless it was at
the east precinct of the Fourth ward.
Drunken negroes stood around the poll
ing places, crOwdihg the rooms and
5oetlinS the people right and left. The
police regulations at these two places
were bad or there would have been
many arrests. But in spite of this fact
the Drew vote was large and only a
fev less than cast for Brooks.
City Clerk s. S. McFadden was de-
feated for denomination. He is one of
the most competent clerks in Kansas
and has been of great assistance to the
mayor and council His long service as
an official crippled his campaign for
there is a widespread prejudice against
continuing men in public positions for a
series of years.
City Attorney Bird was renominated
by safe majority for third term The
people were not willing to make a
change in that office with the water
works controversy in course of settle
ment.
ELECTION MISTARES