The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-25
They Believe That He Should
Be Their Candidate.
DOES NOT WANT 1T.
Famous Preacher Talks of the
Movement.
Says That He is Not Fitted For
the Place.
Would Be Candidate If He Felt
1t His Duty.

There is a strong possibility that
Charles NJ. Sheldon will be the next
mayor of Topeka.
The law and order people of the city
believe that if Mr.. Sheldon would con-
sent to run for the office. he could be
elected. They realize that at the next
city election, there will be a terrific
struggle between the law and order"
and liberal elements, and they are al
| ready casting about for the strongest
available candidate.
Charles NJ. Sheldon is popular in To-
pel1a. His honesty and sincerity of pur-
pose is beyond question. He is not re-
garded as an aristocrat by the laboring
people, because he is in the fullest SYM
pathy with laboring men, and holds
m any beliefs in common with them. He
would enforce the prohibitory law if
such a thing could be done. Probably
no man in Topeka could command such
united support from the law enforce
ment voters of the city.
The law and order people generally
are in favor of a new candidate for the
office of mayor They say that the old
Hughes-Warn fight should be allowed
to die out They would not be united
in their support of Hughes for second
time He would not be as strong a
candidate as he was before, because ne
was in office long enough to show that
he is the exponent of a most extraVa-
CANT financial policy. Law and order
people do not like to have the city's
money wasted in foolish expenditures
and in the creation of political jobs, any
better than other people do
1t is claimed that the fact that war
ner was beaten by Hughes by sucn
ma jority in the primaries OF the FORMER
campaign makes his nomination Dy the
Republicans doubtful. The Repup-
licans may select a new man. AT the
present time Councilman M Snattlnger
is talked about as a likely candidate for
the support of the 'llberaf element
of the Republican party.
The possibility of Mr. Sheldon's can
plications If Mr.. Sheldon is nom1-
mated, he could not demand the sup
port of the Republican party, because
he is not much of a party man. HIS
political work has been independent oI
party lines. He has worked for the
men whom he. considered best, regard
less of party. But naturally Mr.. Shell
don is a Republican. He is more of q
fact, however, that he has frequently
scratched the Republican ticket would
no doubt be used against him in case
the law and order Republicans should
If Mr.. Sheldon and Mr.. Snattinger
should run against each other for the
Republican nomination, the chances are
that Mr.. Sheldon would win, because of
his great personal following in Topeka.
Mr.. Sheldon does not want to be
candidate. This is to be expected from
a man of Mr.. Sheldons disposition
When the subject was brought to his
attention by reporter for the State
Journal. Mr.. Sheldon said:
You are the first person who ever
suggested such thing to me. The
ministry is my work, and l never have
had any intention of deserting it. do
not want to be mayor L do not think
it would be advisable for any mention
to be made of the subject in the news
papers. I am not fitted for the position.
All my training has been academic, not
executive. 1 am not business man,
and all that have learned about busi-
ness has been by hard knocks
ITO accept the office of mayor would
involve giving up my church work. I
could not conscientiously try to do both
things. / know that our mayors usually
conduct their personal business in adj
dition to their duties as mayor, but our
mayors are usually business men. My
pastoral work is such that can not do
it and serve the city too. I believe that
can do more good in my present
work than I could as mayor of Topeka.
I have a great many young people in
my church who sometime can do
more for civic reform than 1 am able to
do, and I believe my work is with those
young men and women
IF I felt it to be my duty to run for
the office of mayor, L would not hesi-
tate a moment. If I thought I could
do more good by being a candidate for
that office than by continuing in my
present work. I would certainly be a
candidate If 1 was so foolish as to
think that there was no other man who
could represent the law and order peo-
pie of this town as we'll as myself, I
would feel it my duty to be a candi-
date. But there is plenty of material
which is available, and there are many
men who would make very much bet
ter mayors than myself
If Mr.. Sheldon should be elected |
mayor, he might institute some unusual |
in the administration of city |
affairs. Mr.. Sheldon has always mani |
tested a great interest in the civic well
fare of Topeka He urges the membe |
of his congregation to take an active |
part in politics, to attend the primaries, |
and vote at the elections. He paid for |
building a hospital annex to the city |
prison, and he built the handsome |
bronze fountain in front of the transfer |
station. His work in uplifting Tenn |
esseetown is well known. Mr.. Sheldon |
might make mistakes. but he would |
certainly give the city clean admin |
istration if he should be elected to the |
office of mayor.
No Help For Sugar.