The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-11
ALBERT PARKER WINS.
Continued from Fourth Page.)

would naturally incline toward the pro-
hibition policy of that party, but he
couldn't get from under his platform
On March 10 Mr.. Parker received the
Endorsement of the Populist primary
convention, and became the recognized
leader for the allied anti-Hughes forces
MI Parker continued to gain strength
up to the time of election, which was set
for April 2. On the other hand, the
friends of Colonel Hughes became pos
sessed of so much confidence that moth
ing could beat the regular Republican
nominee that they failed to keep their
fences in the best repair.
The result of the election was a great
surprise 1t showed that Mr.. Parker
had received 6,337 and Mr.. Hughes 6,326,
a majority of IL votes for Mr.. Parker.
The total vote was 1868, out of total
registration of 1851. Mr.. Spencer and
all the other Republican nominees We're
elected by majorities of about $500.
Immediately there were rurnors of a
contest by Col. Hughes to take from
Mr.. Parker the office to which he had
been elected by such a small majority.
Nothing was done. however, except to
vass of the vote which occurred on
April 5. The canvass developed still
greater sensations than the election. 1t
continued till nearly o'clock in the
morning of April 8, and then adjourned
till 1:30 in the afternoon At the after
noon session, the canvassing board de-
cided to issue a certificate of election
to Col Hughes, on the ground that the
elections board had made mistakes in
returning the vote and footing up the
poll books which would change the
totals enough to give Hughes n ajo q
ty of 8 votes. The certificate was is
sued to Col. Hughes, and he took the
oath of office on Saturday, April 6.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS COM
MENCED.
Bright and early on Monday morn
ing Albert Parker commenced legal pro-
ceedings against Colonel Hughes. An
injunction was issued from the district
To frnYf
making any city appointments. Appli-
cation was also made to the district
court for a writ of mandamuS to COM
pei the city council to resume its ses-
sion as a canvaSSing board, recount the
vote, and issue to Albert Parker a GER
tificate OF election
The Injunction was a little too late to
accomplish all that 1T sought to ac-
complish for Colonel Hughes had al
ready appointed Frank Stahl as chief
of police and F. P. Lindsay as police
judge.
The council failed to obey the writ of
mandamuS, and on April IL appeared
before Judge Hazen by its counsel to
show cause Several members of the
council attempted to hold meeting to
obey the writ, but were unable to secure
a quorum.
The hearing of the mandamus and in
junction suits proceeded Jointly on
April IL and April 20, and on April %
Judge Hazen rendered his decision. He
granted the writ of mandamus, but de-
MED the injunction On May Colonel
Hughes attorneys appealed from the de-
cision on the mandamuS to the supreme
court, where the case was heard on
May II, and on May 81 was decided by
the supreme court judges, by vote of
4 to 3, in favor of Hughes, thus reVerS-
ing the district court. The supreme
court simply held that mandamus was
not the proper way to test the title of
Colonel Hughes to the office.
The attorneys for Mr. Parker at once
commenced quo warranto proceedings
in the supreme court to finally settle
the contest. On May 81 the attorneys
agreed upon a recount of the ballots,
and selected James E. Larimer as COM
missioner to conduct it. The recount
began under the direction of the SUI
preme court. on June 5, and was finished
on June H.
The recount showed in substance that
the total number of votes cast for
Hughes was 6,341 and for Parker 6,346,
thus giving Parker a majority of five
votes. However, the attorneys for Mr..
Parker challenged 81 Hughes votes, and
the attorneys for Mr.. Hughes chal
leEged 43 Parker votes, besides 178
Parker votes which were marked for
Mr.. Parker in both the Democratic and
Populist columns. of the ticket. OF I'M
challenged ballots, therefore, Mr.. Par
ker had 6,125 and Mr. Hughes 6,285. If
the double-marked ballots had all been
counted for Parker. as they were cast,
he would have had majority of 49,
DOUBL BALLOTS.
In all the precincts of the city except
one, the second precinct of the First
ward, the election boards counted the
double marked Parker ballots in figur-
ing up the returns. In the precinct
mentioned. % double marked ballots for
Parker were rejected, and not counted
in figuring up the returns The general
opinion has been that the question de-
pended upon the validity of the double
marked ballots
With the report of Commissioner
James Larimer on the result of the re-
count, the public knowledge of the pro-
gress of the case has practically ceased
Arguments have been made to the SUI
preme court judges, and voluminous
briefs submitted, but nothing new or
startling has developed. There has been
nothing to do but wait for the decision
which has been put off from month to
month for some time.
Meantime, Col. Hughes has held the
mayors chair, and has exercised all
the functions of the office. He has ap-
pointed men to all the positions within
his gift. He has had in general enough
friends in the council to carry through
his pet schemes, and he has instituted |
number of changes which his successor
Will have as an heritage. The expenses |
dollars a n onth under Mayor Hughes, |
and the receipts are no larger than |
ever What the outcome of this disas- |
trous financial policy will be only time |
will tell.
Albert Parker, who was elected mayor
of Topeka is 81 years old and was born |
in New Hampshire. He has lived in To- /
pekaI<or % years and is one of the larg- |
est tax payers in the city, his taxes |
amounting to about 81. 500 per annum.
This will not be his first experience in |
office. In 1888 he was elected register of |
deeds at the same time that Charles F. !
Spencer was elected county clerk 1t is |
a coincidence that he should again be |
elected with Spencer, but this time |
Spencer was on the Republican ticket |
while before both were Democrats He |
also served as city assessor under Mayor |
J. C. Wilson.
Mr.. Parker is a strict temperance |
man and uses neither liquor nor to- |
baeco. He now lives at 312 West Eighth |
avenue, but for many years his resi- |
dence was on the present site of the |
Auditorium.
MIR RARKEE,S OPINIQN