The Topeka state journal., 1902-04-23
PARKER OUT OF IT
Says He Wouldn't Be Mayor
Again.
Discusses the YinewOOd Park
Railway Franchise.
HASN'T MADE UP MIND.
Doesn't Know Whether He VIII
Veto 1t or Not.
Believes Mistake Was Made in
Hasty Action.
HASN'T MADE UP MIND.

II will not under any circumstances
be a candidate for reelection to the
Office of mayor. said Mayor Parker this
morning to a reporter for the State Jour
nal while discussing his probable action
1nregard to the Vinewood park franchise,
which is now up TO him for approval or
veto.
THAT fact, however," continued the
mayor. will have no influence upon me
in this Vinewood park franchise matter.
1 propose to act in that matter as be
lieve win be for the best interests of the
city If the business men and citizens
Of Topeka want this road, 7 certainly
viii not stand in the way. I can say
truthfully that have not decided what
I viii do I do not want it said that I
expect to veto the ordinance, though I
personally believe that the council made
a mistake in passing it the way they
did"
Speaking of his decision to relinquish
the mayors chair at the end of his term
OF Office, Mayor Parker said: I don't
want to be mayor again. I am done.
L don't want any more political honors."
Mayor Parker will not act on the
N1newood park franchise until after the
meeting of the Commercial club which
is to be held Friday night That meet
ing has been called for the purpose of
ascertaining the sentiment of the busi-
ness men of Topeka in regard to a Kan
sas City electric line
I will not be in any hurry to decide
upon my plan of action, said the mayor.
I believe that if I should veto the or
dinance, the council would pass it over
my head. The ordinance had seven votes
last night One more vote would be
enough to carry 1t over my veto, and
judging from the attitude of several
cOuncilmen. I think that they could be
persuaded to help pass the ordinance
AT IN IL +f1raf IL
not like the way the ordinance was
rushed through to final passage. was
interested in having several amendments
adopted to protect the city. Every one
ofthese amendments was voted down. The
franchise as it stands is exactly what
the VinewOod Park railway wants. The
NIneWOOd park attorneys defeated all
the amendments they did not want.
They secured the passage of the ordi-
nance in exactly the shape they asked
for it. Ny idea is that the city made 4
grave mistake in not waiting till COun-
cilmen Howe and CLANCY could be pres
ent to vote on the measure. These two
councllmen constitute a majority of the
judiciary committee and they should
have been present. But the ordinance
was passed. The council does not
know what sort of shape the ordinance
is in, because there was too much haste
in its passage.
*.As far as the alleged opposition of
the business men of Topeka is concern
ed L do not consider 1t worth talking
about. If this was the only feature of
the case I had to consider, would have
been willing to sign the ordinance be-
fore it was passed. If the franchise is
not what the business men want, it is
their own fault It viii be a lesson to
them, perhaps, not to sign any sort of
a petition which comes along. The bus
mess men did not have the nerve to
come out and fight the ordinance. The
only fighting was done by the attorneys
for the Vinewood company, and the 9th
er side was not represented in the
struggle. If the business men were sin
cere in their opposition to the ordinance
they should have made fight against It.
They could have beaten it if they had SO
desired
Mayor Carter Harrison Of Chicago.
and other mayors Of big cities have
made regulations for themselves by We
toing ordinances which granted valua-
bic municipal franchises for a mere
song. The signature of the mayor is
! supposed to be the main check on hasty
and improper action by the council
People win await with interest the ac-
ton of Mayor Parker on the VineWood-
Kansas City railway franchise.