The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-25
SORE.

a
and reflects upon the whole administra-
tion.-
All of this sudden outburst is adj
mitted by our morning contemporary
to be due to the action of the council
in voting unanimously in committee of
the whole to make the State Journal the
official city paper. This paper is sorry
to see so much feeling and resentment
displayed over a local issue. The Capt.
tai declares it should be given the city
printing year after year; that it should
receive the city printing, the state
printing, and the county printing 1t
makes a terrific fight for all three \
few years ago it was successful in hold
ing the city, the state and the county
printing. but lately it has run against
a number of obstacles which have de-
prived it of some of these things.
The State journal makes no contest
for state or county printing; it has
simply sat on the fence and watched
the Capital demand the state and
county printing on the ground of its
partisan position.
In the city, however. things have
taken different aspect. Here it has
not been a question in city contests be
tween protection and free trade, or be-
ism, or trusts or anti-t trusts, or even be-
tween free silver and the gold standard
These issues are not up in city politics
Matters of municipal Importance and
the welfare of the city of Topeka are
the questions which are rightfully agi-
tated at city elections.
The present city administration was
selected on the issue between municipal
and stock company control of the water
works Everything else was lost sight
Of In this contest the State Journal
supported the candidate who was in
favor of the public ownership of the
water-works system. Mr.. Drew repre-
scented the people who wanted the city
to own and operate the works; who
wanted a large portion of the city sup
piled which was. and is still, unable to
procure water.
The Topeka Capital in that contest
represented the opposite side. It's candi-
date. Mr. Frank Brooks. failed to carry
a single ward in the city.
The recent refusal of the Capital to
publish, although requested to do so by
unanimous vote of the Commercial club,
Edwin Austin's comprehensive state
ment in the waterworks question, would
indicate that it was still opposed to the
pronounced views on this subject enter
tanned by the mayor and council.
The present administration, supported
by the State Journal. and an Overwhelm-
ing majority of the people of Topeka, is
likely to soon secure for the city its
r1ghtfuI demands in the waterworks sit
nation. The city hopes soon to be able
to supply its people with that most nee
essary element; supply it to every por-
n e,r1
These are some of the reasons that
probably induced the members of the
city council to be friendly to this paper.
Other reasons lie in the fact that there
are thousands of people in Topeka who
read only the State Journal every day.
In the city printing motion, Council
man Elliott took no advantage of any
body; every member was present with
the exception of Mr.. Belts, who. in
speaking of his expected absence from
the city, stated to a councilman that 1T
made no difference, as he was in favor of
the Journal anyway"
This paper does not know how Mr.
Warner voted in the committee on the
whole the other evening on the first in
formal ballot, but it does know, how
ever, that the councilmen all of whom
We're present but one, agreed to abide by
the action of that evening; that after
the first ballot Mr.. Morgan moved TO
make the matter unanimous and the mo-
ton was carried without any dissenting
vote.
Mr.. Warner said today that if he is a
candidate for mayor next spring he does
not know it. He said Mr.. Drew is con-
Quoting the affairs of the city in most
commendabIe manner. and that in the
Il
be the candidate again. and he would
most heartily support him.
The State Journal does not know how
Mr.. Roundtree voted, but it does know
that he has a perfect right to be can
didate for office if he wishes to be- with
or without the consent Of the Topeka
Capital
The smallest and most unworthy at
tack made by the Capital this morning,
simply because it was squarely defeated
is made upon Mr.. Elliott, president of
the council. whom it accuses of violating
the law by holding two positions and
getting two salaries from the city Mr..
Elliott during a residence of more than
quarter of a century in Topeka, has
made reputation for integrity, ability
and straightforward actions which can
not be injured by newspaper innuendo or
attack. He was doing yesterday Just
what he has been doing for the past six
months 1t remained for the Capital to
first condemn him when it discovered
that Mr.. Elliott and the majority of the
members Of the council voted against it
as the official paper of the city for the
ensuing year
Mr.. Elliott as member of the council
draSs the munificent salary of $416
per month. When he was urgently re-
quested and appointed as the repre-
sentative of the city to watch the con-
struction of the auditorium and city
hall. to see that the work was done
properly and in accordance with the
specifications. it was a happy selection