The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-15

toed for the interests of the people of
this city. We know where Mr.. Drew
stands on the waterworks question, for
he has been tested, and we will know
where he will stand on that question in
the future whether he is elected mayor
or not The people of Topeka voted
$40, 600 of bonds and said that the
mayor and council should acquire q
water plant for the city, and that is no
easy burden to rest upon the shoulders
of a mayor. I met with Mr.. Drew in a
committee when this question came up
for discussion as to what we should do,
and it was he who proposed that an
expert be employed to ascertain the
value of the present plant. He believed
in offering the company what the plant
is worth and no more, and if they re-
fuse that offer the council should go
right ahead and build a plant 1t should
be borne in mind that part of this plant
is of no value to the city. There are
many four-inch mains and we want no
four-inch mains. There is no chan
about Mr. Drew. He is the kind of a
man Topeka needs for mayor"
Councilman SINNERS remarks started
the applause He was followed by
Councilman Morgan of the Second ward,
who is employed in the Santa Fe shops
Il know what I am talking about,
said he when say that Mr.. Drew mas
been true to his constituents. know
that he is a friend of the labOring men
because when some one proposed the
reduction of the pay of the street force
he stood up and said that he would not
ask a man to work for less for the city
than he paid. This water company
sneaked out of the state and organized
under the laws of New Jersey and that
in itself is cause for suspicion Experts
have gone over the books OF the water
company and the found that the people
pay the company about $4,000 year
There need be no fear about the city
taking hold of the plant. The water
rates can be reduced and then the plant
can be paid for in 20 years with 25 per
cent of the proceeds. live in a dry
district where the only protection we
have is that contributed by the Santa
F'e company which has given US ID
hydrants and the privilege of calling
on their fire department at any time
We have ne advantages OF city water
east of the Santa Fe tracks and the
people who live in my section of the
city want water. Every year the peo-
pie of Martin & Dennis addition and
the people who live in our section step
up and pay their share of the water
tax and they do not get particle or
protection in return Don't you think
that it is about time that something IS
done? I hope that the people Of this
city will elect the mar who has stood
by the taxpayers OF Topeka like a solid
rock Let US not take any chances but
vote for the man who mas been weighed
in the scales Of experience, Mr.. Charles
Drew"
VIM Brooks, a colored man who lives
in the First ward-I have made a can
VdSS or the First WARD ana nave IOuuu
all the men for Drew and seven cOlOred
women for Brooks OF those seven wo-
men three of them were for Brooks.
the nurserynan, and two of them for
me, so that I think that things are in
pretty good shape in the First ward
I am for Mr.. Drew for a different rea-
son that some of the rest. I am for
him because he faced the bullets, bay
ouetS and cannonS during the war for
my liberty"
Jerry White. a colored man who said
he was a Populist, declared himself for
Mr.. Drew. He said that he paid $50
taxes a year and he wanted to support
the man who would help him as a tax
payer
The meeting then adjourned for the
formation Of ward organizations