The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-09
EVERYBODY SIGNS
Little Opposition Encountered
to Santa Fe Shops Extension.

The work of securing pledges for the
Santa Fe shop proposition has been
pushed rapidly by the canvassers yes
terday and today, and a large majority
OF the people to whom they have been
presented have signed them. All of
the voters in the city viii not have
been seen by tonight, but it is hoped
that when the work has all been
checked up this evening it will show
that a large majority of the voters of
the city have already signed the
PIECES This will allow the finance COM
mittee to guarantee the passage of the
bond proposition as soon as the legisla-
ture authorizes it.
Strange as it may appear, about the
only opposition there has been to the
proposition has been among the shop
men themselves. They claim that the
railroad company will get the benefit
OF the plan, and that the poor people
will have their taxes increased by it.
As a matter of fact the railroad COM
pany does not care whether the shops
are brought here or nOt-the people
who live here and own property and
pay taxes are the ones who are anxious
to bring the shops here, 50 as to make
more work in Topeka, and increase the
amount of taxable property and make
the payroll of the Topeka shops larger.
The argument advanced by the shop
men who are opposing the proposition
IS that the company has just laid off
a gang of men because of the lack Of
opposing giving the company any more
shop room.
The shopman who would support this
sort of an idea would spite himself in
stead of the company. If these new
shops are built here it will bring a
great deal more work to Topeka and
give employment not only to the men
who have recently been laid off but
make demand for several hundred
besides. If the shops are taken some
where else, it will take work away
from Topeka, and ultimately workmen
who own property here may have to
leave it and follow the shops or get
into some other sort of work. 1t is to
the interest of the shopmen to get all
the work here possible
In the other parts of the city the
voters are almost unanimous for the
proposition. NJ. c. Holman who has
charge of the circulation Of the pledges
IN the First ward, says that he under
stands the circulators have met with
only six or eight refusals, and have Sc
cured several hundred pledges.
In the Fourth ward one of the circllla-
| tors says that he has secured pledges
from 80 per cent of the people whom he
| has seen, and another says that over
him i-e1 ~
George Jackson. who has charge of the
/ east end of the Fifth ward, has secured
| several hundred signatures and has met
| with only a comparatively few refusals
| to sign the pledge.
All the solicitors in the various wards
! will hold a meeting early this evening al
which they will check. up their work and
| secured to the pledges, and a report will
be made to the Commercial club which
meets this evening in regular monthly
| meeting.
Tomorrow the finance committee viii
/ probably proceed with the solicitation Of
| funds for the purchase. of the site fol
| the shops in excess of $500 per acre which
| the Santa Fe company is willing to pay
! The work of securing pledges will alsC
probably be pushed forward until the city
| has been thoroughly canvassed, which
| may require a day or two more.