The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-24

when David Overmyer declined the
honor though he was an active cand1-
date for the place. He has not been
known in state politics until year ago
when he was elected mayor of Kansas
City on a taxation of franchise issue.
William Henry CraddOck is now ac-
counted one of the best politicians in
the state-and he has been in politics
less than two years. Craddock was
nominated for mayor of Kansas City,
Kan, in much the same manner as he
was nominated for governor by the
Democratic state convention He had
never figured conspicuously in politics.
CraddOck has a fine personality and
is great mixer and makes friends. he
entered the mayoralty campaign a year
ago knowing not a great many people.
On the eve of election he knew nearly
every voter in the town. He is credited
with never forgetting face or name.
He has the same cOngenial smile for
everyone. He takes care of his friends,
whether they be Democrats or Republi-
cans and in the management of city
patronage in Kansas City, Kan. he has
practiced a rigid policy of standing by
those appointees who have done meri-
torious work.
Mayor Craddock is in the real estate
business in the New York Life building,
on the Missouri side. He has lived in
Kansas for the last twenty-eight years.
with the exception of few months
spent in Kansas City Mo. He first To-
Gated in Wichita and was proprietor
of a drug store. When he left there he
went to Kansas City, No, and later
moved to Kansas City, Kan. He has q
fine residence on Lafayette avenue, near
Walnut street, and his family consists
of q wife and three children The mayor
is 81 years old.
When the announcement was made IN
Kansas City. Kas., yesterday that Grad
dock had been nominated for governor,
more than one person remarked: If
! there is a Democrat in Kansas who can
I =, .o11a ic
Craddock is a native of Kentucky, but
he is a typical Kansan. He is not an
orator, but he makes the sort of a talk
that the common. everyday folks like,
as his friends say. When Craddoek
talks he points his finger al his audience
and talks from the shoulder.
Craddock has been mayor of Kansas
/ City Kas., for a year, and it is said Of
I him that he is the only mayor the town
( has ever had who has more friends after
a years service than he had before his
election. This fact is attributed to the
mans tact AS an example, an Ordi-
nance renewing all Metropolitan fran
! chises, was introduced in the council
about three months ago. The public
| was much concerned over this ordi-
nance. They didn't think it demanded
| enough Of the railway company. In
stead of having his administration take
1 the bull by the horns and attempt to
I revise the ordinance to the liking of the
l public, Craddock named a committee
/ composed of fifteen of the substantial
citizens Of the town, and entrusted the
revising Of the ordinance to this COM
/ mittee.
| This piece of work was considered good
/ politics, because the mayor practically
gave the street railway ordinance to the
/ people for them to do with it as theY
saw fit. No matter what kind of an or
! dinance is framed for the Metropolitan,
so the wise ones say, it cannot be said
that the mayor did not do the right
thing. He picked special committee
/ of Is men If there is any kicking to
do it will have to be directed toward
the citizens committee, not the mayor.
Mayor Craddock is a tlirty-second de-
/ gree Mason and his connection with this
order gained for him a wide acquaint-
ance in every part of the state. At the
last session of the grand lodge of the
I Scottish Rite Of America. Mayor Grad
dock was recommended for the thirty
third degree in Masonry