The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-17
EARLY IN THE FIELD.

The nomination of a candidate for
mayor of the city Of Topeka, which is
yet nearly a year in the future, is be-
ginning to engage the attention of the
politicians. Several candidates, more or
less avowed, are already in the field.
The definite shaping-up of the contest
viii not take place until after the coun-
ty election this fall Both the prohibit
ton and liberal elem ents are waiting
for that show of strength with consid-
cradle anxiety. A victory for one side
Or the other in that contest will have
its influence on the mayoralty contest.
That the nomination of mayor viii oe
fought out on prohibition and liberal
lines is a possibility The election of
Mayor Parker, an avowed resubmis-
sionist, over the accepted candidate of
the law and order element gave the
liberals reason to believe that Top Al-a
has abandoned its long standing repu-
tation as a prohibition stronghold. They
do not seen to understand that there
were other things that entered into the
contest.
Several candidates have been men
toned as possibilities by the law ard
order organization. One of these will no
doubt be indorsed in the way 1hat was
done last year. f. ". Emerson is IA
vored by great many of The law and
order people. Others want ]. NJ F.
HUGHES chosen. The principal argument
in favor of Hughes is that he lost con-
siderable money in fighting Mayor Par
ker in the courts. and shoa1d have a
chance to reimburse himself Hughes
does not command the undivided sup
port of the law and order people. be-
cause they think his record while in the
mayors chair will interfere with his
election
The other wing is likely 10 choose be-
tween Mr.. Snattinger and W r Weber.
both well known business men who
would like to get the place.
StiIl another somewhat unsettled ele-
ment who belong to neither faction
would prefer to have Councilman Ber-
gundthal nominated, purely on his mer-
its as q smart. energetic and honest
citizen Mr.. Bergundthal is not oppos-
ed very seriously by either of the rad
zeal factions of the party, but the poll
ticians assert with great pos1tiveness
that it would be suicidal to nominate a
North Topeka man for mayor. They
say that no north slider could be elect
ed. simply because the people on the
SOQtA Slde OF EIe river WOuAQ insist upon
keeping the office in their own hands
which is of course entirely wrong
Both sides are already organizing for
the struggle The liberals claim that
it will be impossible for the law and or
der people to again secure such an or
ganization as was perfected for the sup
port of J. W. F. Hughes last year. On
the other hand. the liberals say that
they are in better shape for fight now
than they ever have been.
When Hughes was running for Office.
his friends controlled all the city Off
ees and had a large amount of patron
age to give to the faithful workers.
Now the other side is in possession of
these valuable political engines of war.
The candidate who can stand on his
/ record as a business man as we'll as
upon his record as the advocate of eth
/ er prohibition or liberal administration
4 is the kind of a man that is needed.
I The city demands a good business man
to steer it through the financial diff
/ eulties into which past administrations
have plunged it. There is no necessity
Of wreeking the city simply to carry out
some particular idea