The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-11

rumblings of what developed into one
of the most remarkable political strug-
giles in the history of the municipality.
Strange forces were at work. Ire
mendous public interest and excitement
was aroused. over 1900 votes were
cast, and the result was SO Close that it
has taken a year to decide who really
was the winner.
The election was for the purpose of
electing city officials, and voting bonds
to buy land for the proposed Santa Fe
mount, and the one where every ballot
was counted with jealous care, was the
selection of a man to fill the Office of
mayor of the city of Topeka
1t cannot be denied that one of the
factors which added a peculiar Zest to
the conflict was the strenuous life
which the celebrated Carrie Nation was
leading in Topeka just at the time the
s'firing became general" Mrs Nations
smashing adventures, her reckless fan
atheism and her ready tongue fired the
lazy spirit of prohibition in Topeka,
and perhaps gave the cue for the whole
campaign.
The first man to get into the race for
mayor was Col John White FrierSon
Hughes, a Topeka coal dealer, who had
been member of the council from the
Sixth ward, and whose appetite for Of
flee was well whetted by a term or two
as mayor of the town of Potwin, now
the Sixth ward. Col. Hughes had
wide acquaintance in Topeka, which
with the advantage of his early start in
the race, made him formidable candi-
date, though the fact that he had been
a radical resubniSsionist weakened
him.
About that time, the aroused prohi-
bition elements of the city had mani
Tested their political life by appointing
a committee for the express purpose of
selecting law and order candidates
for mayor and city attorney J. Willis
Gleed was the first choice Of this com
mittee for mayor, but he refused to ac-
Ia q long
and stubborn caucus, lasting through
several sessions, the committee agreed
to back Col Hughes boom, after they
found that they could not get rid of
him. Chas. f. Spencer was Endorsed
for city attorney.
In compliance with the demands of
Hughes pledged himself to enforce the
prohibitOry law, and appoint radical
temperance men to office, even to
splitting the last drop of his blood
Meantime another strong candidate
had entered the race for the Republican
nomination for mayor, in the person of
James S. Warner, the councilman from
the Fifth ward Mr.. Warner did not
pose as the candidate of any faction,
but made his race simply on his excel
lent record as a citizen and member of
the city council. He announced himself
as being in favor of enforcing the pro-
hibitory law, and was the especial adj
vocate of a business administration.
The campaign preliminary to the pri-
mary election commenced act1Vely
about the middle of February, 1901, with
Hughes and Warner as the opposing
candidates. for the Republican nominal
ton. The city never experienced a more
bitter political contest. Political prin-
ciples were lost sight of, and personali-
ties comprised the campaign ammuni-
ton. The law and order" clubs were
lined up for Hughes, and used every
means to arouse the women voters, on
whom they depended mainly for sup
port.
The primaries occurred on March 9.
ana resulted in the nomination of
Colonel Hughes by majority of 797
votes
MIR PARKER NOMINATED.
On March IL the Democrats met IN
primary convention and nominated
A lbert Parker for mayor, together with
a complete list of nominations for all
the other elective city offices. A very
pronounced anti-prohibition platform
was drawn up by David Overmyer and
adopted. This platform proved to be Il