The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-04
VOTING SLOWLY.
Little Interest Being Taken in
the City Election.
Light Vote POlled This Fore
noon in All Wards.
FIGHT IN THE FIRST
Some Interest in Contest For
Councilman.
North Topeka Voting Against
the Auditorium,
But It Is Believed That 1t
Will Carry.
IN THE FIRST

This may properly be called a quiet
election in Topeka The people think
that they settled the questions at issue
once and they do not care to be called
upon a second time to do the work over
Only in one ward is there anything
like a fight and that is in the First. At
IL O'Clock over 100 votes had been cast
in each of the three precincts in this
ward and this afternoon a big rush is
anticipated. 1t is admitted by all par
ties that a large vote in this ward
means the election of J. B. Belts, the
Republican candidate, by a big major
ity. The opposition has been concentrat-
ing it's strength in the First ward A
good man was nominated and every
thing that can be done is being done to
defeat Mr.. Belts.
Councilman Skinner, who is one of the
First ward managers in the interest of
Mr.. Belts, said at noon today:
Il feel perfectly confident of the re-
suit. Mr.. Belts will be elected by a
safe ma jority. There is no issue here
upon which Mr.. Belts is being opposed"
1t had been supposed that effort
would be made to defeat Councilman
Morgan in the Second ward but at noon
the opposition had not shown it's hand.
ThevOting was very light in all Of the pre-
cincts and especially so on the west
Fourth street had cast 100 votes but
none of the others had reached the hum
dred mark and there are four of them
This does not indicate that Councilman
Morgan is suffering at the hands of the
voters but rather that the opposition is
making no effort to defeat him.
In the Third and Fourth wards the
voting Is very light but in the Fifth
a little more interest is being taken be
cause of the contest between two col
ored men for the seat in the council 1t
is conceded that Fred ROundtree will
be returned.
But little interest is being taken on
the mayor question, and c. J. Drew, the
Republican candidate. will be elected
practically without opposition, though
there are two other candidates.
A special fight is being made on Fred
Stonestreet, Republican candidate for
marshal of the city court, on account
of his color, but there is no indication
that Stonestreet will be defeated.
The auditorium question may be said
to be in doubt, though Mai. Anderson
and other prominent members of the
Commercial club are confident that the
proposition will carry. The center of
opposition is in the First ward, where
q determined effort is being made to
leTeat the measure. 1t is supposed from
those familiar with the situation that
the First ward will give a majority
against the auditorium, but the friends
of the project say that even if that is
true it will have little effect because
every other ward in the city will be
carried.
1t is possible that with an extremely
hight vote the auditorium may be de-
feated, but the vote may be large
enough this afternoon to remove all
doubt and place the city where it be
longs-in the forefront of municipal
progress. Heavy taxpayers, as a rule
are in favor of the auditorium and city
hall proposition. They realize that
something must be done, and the prop
oSition surely embOdieS the best means
of ACCOMPLISHING the much desired OBJ
ject.
The opposition in the First ward is
due to the failure of the original plan
which was to build the auditorium in
the City park This would bring the
hall much nearer North Topeka than
any of the public buildings and the
people of that section were enthusiastic
but it was found that the necessary
funds could not be raised and the pro-
ject had to be abandoned to give way
to something more practical. The lOca-
ton of the auditOrium-if the PROPOSE
ton is carried will be left to the mayor
and city council and there is no doubt
that it would be satisfactory to the
majority of the people.
The police are having no trouble at
any of the polling places. The ward
heeler is not in evidence. The fact that
there is practically no contest for any
of the offices leaves him without a vic
tim. No drunkenness is noticed any
where and there are no disputes The
police are unusually active in keeping
the loungers outside of the so foot line
and their work today is worthy of COM
mendation. The regular men are sta
toned at the polling places and the Eek
tras" have been put on beats"
Mr.. Drew was seen at noon and said
then that he felt perfectly easy concern
ing the result on the entire ticket.
The vote will be much heavier this
afternoon.
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