The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-01
Mr.. PARKER'S Def
Dares Mr.. Hughes to Agree to
Count of Ballots.
Hughes Refers Parker's Pro-
pOsal to Attorney.
DODGE THE QUESTION.
Mr.. Carver Would Wait For the
Mandamus Decision.
Raises a Point About the Mark
ings on Ballots.
SNYDER TAKES A HAND
Discharges Voters Who Sup
ported Warner.
Says 1t Is Only "Usual Monthly
Changes"
Raises a Point About the Mark
ings on Ballots.
SNYDER TAKES A HAND
Discharges Voters Who Sup
ported Warner.
Says 1t Is Only "Usual Monthly
Changes"
To the Public:


To the Public:
I am unwilling longer to rest under
the constant imputations Of the Capital
that seek to be mayor on technicalities
and do not want a count of the ballots
am an old citizen of Topeka with large
interests here, and believe that have
the confidence of this community and
wish to keep it. To my mind trickery
and cunning are just as disreputable IN
public as in private affairs.
"A man should be a highminded gentle
man everywhere and not simply in his
private relations. This unjust imputa-
tiOn might not disturb a professional
politician I will not keep silent under
It, Be it known then, that even at this
time, when have clearly the best Of the
fight that / am now willing, as 1 always
have been willing, to have the ballots
counted and abide the result, but have
wanted them fairly counted putting
aside all technicalities whatsoever I'm
der rules which throw out ballots on all
sorts of fimsy pretexts a count Of the
ballots would bring US no nearer the
will of the people.
What the people of Topeka want to
know is, who has a majority Of the
votes cast regardless Of technicalities
and bubbles. I have been and am now
willing to have a recount and to make a
vote of every legal voter shall be count
ed, if his intention can be ascertained.
(and believe it can be in almost every
case), all technical rules to be disregard
ed, and hereby challenge Mr.. Hughes
to agree with me that we have an irnnIe-
diate and speedy recount on this honest
basis; it being further agreed that no
appointments shall be made and none
confirmed until decision has been
reached upon such recount Of the bal
10 q
less and there would be no technical law
points from which to appeal and within
a week this whole controversy could be
settled. Let this challenge be accepted
by Mr.. Hughes or let somebody else be
blamed for a reliance upon technicalI-
ties. ALBERT PARKER.
my case is in my lawyers hands.
I'll take no steps except on the advice
of my attorneys. Coll. w. F. Hughes.
II think we would be willing to have
the count made according to law. We
are willing to go to the supreme court
and have the ballots counted and have
the court say who received the largest
number of legal votes and we will con-
sent to the court having the count right
away. The court is to count only the
ballots, which under the law, should be
counted Any ballots so marked that
under the law the judges of elections
should throw them out shall not be
counted. The same rule to apply to both
parties. We would make no stipulation
as to the tying of Col. Hughes hands
so IS to prevent the performance of any
duties of the office that public interest
requires should be done.
such a count could be made in a. c0u-
pie of weeks I think, however, that it
is important that there be a decision of
the supreme court on this mandamHS
case as in the light of Judge Hazen's de-
cision everything is at sea regarding
city elections. Unless the decision is
made, before the ballots are counted the
court would make no decision. We are
willing to have the supreme court take
up the mandamus case next week. We
would not consent to any recount except
by a tribunal where the decision would
be final and could be enforced. A mere
private count that is legally binding on
no one will not at this stage Of the pro-
ceedings, be thought of by Col. Hughes
attorneys. Before this litigation com
menced we might have been willing TO
do so."-Judge T. F. Carver, counsel for
Col. Hughes.
Col. Hughes did not seem surprised
nor did Judge Carver when they were
shown the signed statement made by
Albert Parker to the effect that he was
willing for a fair and impartial recount
of the ballots and a count devoid of
technicalities-
Col. Hughes was pasting clippings
from newspapers regarding his candi
dacy for mayor in a large scrap book
concerning Col. Hughes late" court
martial The colonel stopped with a
mucilage brush in one hand and a
sticky clipping in the other. He laid
down the clipping, conveyed a cigarette
to his lips, took the agreement signed
Albert Parker and read it.
Then he said his attorneys were the
ones who knew about his case He took
another whin of the cigarette, pasted in
another clipping and then read the
agreement once more and again made
the same statement
The fact is. that Col. Hughes and his
attorney who made so much fuss about
legal and technical proceedings regard
ing the contest and who advised re-
count are now refusing to have a fair,
impartial and true recount that viii
show the wishes Of the people but in
stead demand a recount t. be governed
by technicalities which means that they
expect several scores Of votes cast for
Parker to be not counted.
In the mean time Street Commissioner
Frank Snyder. one of Col. Hughes right
hand men, discharges city employees who
dared to disCbey his orders by voting for
any candidate for mayor at the primary
except Hughes.
Snyder admitted that this morning he
discharged six men who have been work
ing on the streets He denied that
there was any more politics than usuaI'