The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-04
GOOD DODGERS.
Councilmen Postpone Vote on
StahI Confirmation.
Seven Members Recommend C.
A. Golf For Chief.
THE MAYOR DECLINES.
Says 1t Would Be a Crime to
Turn Down StahI.
Work of Past Three Months
Would Be Lost.
THE MAYOR DECLINES.

The council lodged again last night
when the name Of F. NJ Stahl was pre-
sented by the mayor. because there was
not a fun attendance The vote prob
ably would have stood as il did before,
except that Councilman Hughes was alb
sent, and there would have been one
less vote for the confirmation
Early in the meeting the lobby was
filed with friends of Mr. Stahl. who
were anxious to see the council confirm
him
The following petition was presented
to the mayor.
I'VE, the undersigned councilmen.
acting upon your suggestion that some
one be recommended for chief Of police,
beg TO submit the name of c. A Golf.
He has been voluntarily promoted to
second place on the force, and believing
him to be capable and trustworthy, we
recommend his appointment"
The petition was signed by Council
men Belts, Morgan. CLANCY, Snattinger,
Weber, ROundtree and Warner"
The mayor said. 7 am not unnind-
full of the good qualities of Mr. Goff,
as I selected him as sergeant on the
police force, but if thought he was a
better man than Mr.. StahI I would have
brought his name before you long ago
It would be a crime TO make a change
now in the Office of chief of police. It
would be throwing away two months of
time and hard work can not see my
way to make a change now, and again
present the name Of T. II. Stahl for
chief Of police"
Immediately after the reading of the
petition the Rev H. d. Fisher addressed
the council, stating that he was there to
introduce to them the Rev. A NJ. Reyn-
olds, who would address them as a rep
resentative of the Ministerial union,
which represented fifty church organi-
cations He made a plea for confirTna-
ton of Mr. Stahl, and incidentally said
that the oounciImen who did not vote
for ri n
no good for the city, and did not repre-
sent the good people He then intro
duced the Rev. A NJ Reynolds who
said:
I do not want to tell the council its
business. but in the interest Of good
citizenship 1t would be the right thing
to confirm Mr. Stahl- / think some Of
you may have changed your minds
know petitions have been presented to
You asking that you do So.
He spoke of the money which was fur
nished the whisky element by St. JO-
seph and Kansas City brewers to de-
fend the violatOrs of the law, and said
that all he wanted was to see the law
enforced.
He said the eyes of the nation were
upon Topeka in this fight against liquor
and said that the fight could best be
kept up with Mr. StahI as chief He
spoke Of what good moral town To
peka was, but said that 1t could be i'm
proved by the closing of the joints, and
closed by saying that the good people
were satisfied with the work of Mr..
Stahl and asked that the council con-
firm him.
The mayor then made the nomination
of F NJ Stahl as chief OF police and
told the clerk to call the roll
Mr. Belts who was the first council
man called voted no and explained his
vote He said that he held exactly the
same opinion Of the matter as he did
AT the time Mr.. StahPs name was first
presented.
Councilman Miller voted yes and also
explained his vote He said that Mr..
Stahl had not had d fair trial and that
he had been handicapped in his work
Mr. Stahl has his plans laid and it
would be an injustice both to him and
to Mayor Drew to refuse to confirm
him"
At this point Mr.. Roundtree asked if
a motion to postpone the action Of
the council until there was a full meet
ing would be in order. Mayor Drew said
that it would as it had been done in
the same case before. so the motion was
made and put
Councilman Snattinger opposed the
postponement as it could do no good
'.Some of US may change our votes I
don't know whether anyone viii change
or not. but I don't ike TO have a ques-