The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-01

| rying much about his chances. He has
1 no opposition in the Third ward. He
states his position on the WaterWorkS
| case as follows:
Il want the city to own the water
| works. 1 do not believe in getting the
| case into the courts IL we can avoid IL.
Lawsuits which last a long time and
cost a great deal of money are always
| to be avoided. 1 am in favor of COM
promise, if possible. but am opposed TO
| any compromise which is unfair to the
| city,
WEBER AND KIRKPATRICK.
One of the hardest fights in town H. to
| be in the Fourth ward where Council
man W. F. Weber is finding an oppo-
| nent in the person of W. B. Kirkpat-
rick On the waterworks case Mr. We
Der and Mr. Kirkpatrick are lined UP to-
| gether- Mr. Weber says:
If I am elected, I will do all in my
power to have the waterworks case
pushed to a conclusion. am not in IA
vor of paving the company its own
price, but think that fair price should
be agreed upon under authority of The
courts. My record in the council shows
where 1 stand on the question of city
ownership"
W. 3. kirkpatrick: 81 am in favor of
city ownership every hour OF the day.
If elected to the council. L will labor to
that end. 1 realize that it is a hard
problem for layman to undertake.
and am not prepared to say just what
course will favor to secure the de-
sired end"
Mr. Kirkpatrick is the avowed candi-
date OF the Hughes faction. He was
put into the race by Judge r. F. Gar
Yer, and is Endorsed by the women vo-
| tiers. The women are making house
! to house canvass of the Fourth ward In
his behalf. He has never been in poll
tics, and viii swing large vote, espe-
cially in the west precincts of the ward.
Mr.. Weber is fighting for reelection
on his record in the council. The Fourth
ward never had more efficient council
man than Mr.. Weber. He has done
more for the ward than is usually done
by any councilman He is an admin
istration" man, and has the support of
scores of the best people of his ward.
Much volunteer work is being done by
Mr.. Weber's friends.
Mr.. KirkpatrickS candidacy is being
opposed by a faction of the knights and
Ladies of Security, of which order he is
the national president and receives a
large salary. Many, of the members of
the order do not believe it is a good
thing for the national president to
prejudice the interests of the order by
taking part in a local political fight.
FIFTH WARD FIGHT.
The Fifth ward has the only three
cornered fight in town. Samuel 7.
Howe, A. p Roundtree (coloreO and
John ]. Hewitt are the candidates. The
candidates express themselves on the
waterworks case as follows:
A. p Roundtree: Il believe in the
city ownership of the waterWorks plant.
I do not know exactly what would be
il 1 am elected to the council 1 will
always be found on the side of city
ownership. 1 think the city should get
possession with as little delay as pos
sible. That is my platform"
Samuel T. Howe: I'm order that there
may be no misunderstanding L think it
proper to state clearly my convictions.
As rule have been and am now OPP
posed to municipal ownership of indus
tries, because / have never seen any
statistics or arguments which have con-
WINGED me that the interests of the peo-
pie are thereby best subserved. 1 be-
lieve that individual initiative and en-
tCrpriSe should be conserved when con-
sistent with the greatest good of the
greatest number. 1t has been and is
now my strong belief that municipal
management of any industry can never
equal private management in efficiency
and economy. Remove the inspiration
of self-interest from enterprise and the
spirit essential to success is lacking
While association and cooperation are
necessary in many ways for the well
being of the people, yet the worlds
progress in the arts and sciences and in
almost everything that counts for the
betterment of the people proceeds in far
greater degree from individual effort.
However, / would have public service
industries regulated. l would institute
a careful investigation as to the cost
of the service and allow q reasonable
profit to the management If private
industry is not content to render service
at reasonable profit, then it should not
be employed However, the case is set
tied so far as municipal ownership of
waterworks by Topeka is concerned
The people have spoken, and a large
majority of them favor it Should /
become member of the council would
do everything 1 could do to secure the
best possible results of such a policy"
Mr.. Hewitt's opinion is not available,
but he is said to be a city ownership
advocate.
Apparently Mr. Howe has the best of
the fight in the Fifth. He is an old citi-
zen, and probably has better qualifica-
lions as councilman than any man in
the city of Topeka. His whole life has
been devoted to a conscientious study OF
civic affairs, and he has contributed ex-
tenSiVely to current literature The
subject of municipal problems. He is u
Hughes man, but is supported by James
S. Warner.
Mr.. Howe if the opposition to him We're
united, but apparently it is divided be-
tween Mr.. Hewitt and Mr. Roundtree-
Roundtree can not even poll the solid
vote of the colOred people, as S. E. Rid
ley. Chas. Smith and number of other
well known cOlored men are fighting
him, and working for Howe.
Mr.. Roundtree will probably get the
big end of the vote in the east precinct,
Howe will get the almost solid support
of the west precinct and the middle
precincts which is the largest in ihe
ward, will be the free-for-all battle
ground That Mr. Howe is not entirely
confident of his election is shown by the
fact that he has recently been doing
some house-t o-house work in the doubt
full precincts and is putting up an ag-
gresSive fight all along the line.
IN THE SIXTH WARD.
George Tineher and Jay c. Lee will
fight it out in the Sixth. This is a per
sonaI popularity set-to, as both men are
Hughes supporters.
On the waterworks question Mr..
Tincher says: Topeka people are pay
ing enough excess every year TO almost
make up the difference in the dispute
over the price of the waterworks plant.
1 think the city should acquire the plant
even if it has to pay more than was at
first offered. An equitable compromise