The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-12
CHANEY NOT RESIGNED j.
COunciImen Are Wondering If
He viii Name His Successor.

There is tool be a conference tomorrow
of some of the leading Republican poll
ticians of the Fourth ward for the pur-
pose of talking over the question of a
successor to Councilman w. S. Clancy.
The object of the conference IS to agree
on some Republican candidate to vi sc
as a successor to Mr.. ChaneS-
It was rumOred this morning that
Councilman Chaney's brother, John
CLANCY of this city, now has in his pos
session Mr. Chaney's resignation from
the council and that he is holding it
back at present for the purpose of fore
ing Mayor Parker to appoint q success
sOr who shall be selected by Councilman
Chaney's friends. When questioned in
regard to this matter, John CLANCY said
this morning:
Il have not my brothers resignation.
He has decided to resign. that is true
but I believe that he has not yet sent
his resignation. He will PROBABLY do 50
within a very short time. think that
all he wants is that Mayor Parker shall
appoint d Republican to succeed him.
He believes that it is his right to in
sist that a Republican be named. do
not think that he is trying to advance
the claims of any special Republican.
We have talked of hale a dozen who
would be satisfactory"
In spite of this positive statement.
there are several mem 5ers of The coun-
Gil who insist that Mr. CLANCY has Sc
46ClGQ d man 10 iii MS pldCCs ana THAT
he viii not resign until he has the pledge
of the mayor that the appointment Will
be made as he dictates.
One faction of the council claims that
Frank Blanch has been selected by
Councilman Clancy to take his place.
Another is equally positive that Clancy
is trying to force the appointment of
c. 0. Knowles. Both men have strong
Endorsements for the place.
The friends of Frank Blanch are
Councilman Weber the senior her
from the Fourth ward, and several other
Republican members of the council who
are classed with the administration
forces These councilmen are now try
ing to line up the Democrats with them
and thus bring the support of the may
Or's own party to their side. Blanch is
a well known contractor and builder
and has taken an active part in the Re
publican politics of the ward. He was
one of Councilman Weber's friends in
the last election. and would if appoint
ed be friendly to the policy of the ad-
miuistration
The strongest argument in favor of
Blanch is that he is from the west end
OF the ward, which is by precedent en-
titled to the place, as Councilman Web
er represents the east end.
c. o. Knowles has probably a stronger
personal pull with Mayor Parker than
any man that could have been selected
He is one of Mr. Parker's old-time
friends, and the two men are very close
III q personal way lIOuSA l4GY Q2lGI
widely in politics. Mr.. Knowles is too
we'll known in Topeka to require intro
duction. He is in the real estate busi-
ness, and has lived in Topeka since the
early days. He would be a very able
man in the council and Mayor Parker
would no doubt rather appoint him
than any other Republican, if allowed
to act entirely according to his personal
wishes. Mr.. Knowles, however, lives
in the east end of the ward, which al
ready has one councilman, and this fact
may beat him for the appointment.
Everything indicates that Councilman
Clancy holds the whip hand. It has been
stated that there is a law providing that a
councilman may be removed from Office
after absenting himself from certain
number OF meetings. but NO authority
can be found for such a statement. At
torneys we'll posted on the ordinances OF
Topeka and in municipal law, stated
today that appOintive officers might be
removed. but that elective officers can
not be removed. II this is the case, MI
Clancy, as an elected officer. can con-
tinue to hold his office until the next
election, unless he can compel Mayor
Parker TO appoint man Of his choice.
If Mr.. Clancy can get the majority of
the council back Of him in the selection
of some man for the place. the mayor
would be obliged to appoint that man.
for the majority would prevent the con-
firmatiOn of any other.