The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-07
His Resignation I'm Hands OF
Mayor.
Attempt Made to Keep With
drawaf a Secret.
WILL NAME SUCCESSOR
Mayor BergundthaIWill Present
Name to Council.
Several Candidates Ready to
Fill the Vacancy.

]. w. Blossom has resigned his posi-
ton as councilman from the First
ward. The resignation was placed in
the hands of the city clerk several days
ago, with the expectation that it would
be presented to the council last Mon
day evening.
City Clerk Squires told Mayor Ber-
gundthal that the resignation was in
his hands, and the mayor "copped" the
document, and gave strict orders that
no information be given that any such
resignation had been received Since
then, Mayor sFergundthal ana City
Clerk Squires have been laboring to
keep the matter secret. and they have
succeeded pretty well for the informa-
tion of the resignation leaked out from
an entirely different source.
Mayor Bergundthal expects to ap-
point a successor to Mr. Blossom at the
time of the council meeting on Octo-
Der 10. He is now hunting for good
man upon whom to bestow the honor
It is known that he offered the place
to D. J. Hathaway, the secretary and
treasurer of the ]. Thomas Lumber
company, and that Mr.. Hathaway de-
clined.
Today Mayor Bergundthal was asked
to make statement regarding the
resignation. He said:
It's true that Mr.. Blossom has re-
signed. 1 have not talked to him about
the matter, nor about city politics for
a long time. He seems to be in rather
bad shape physically. L don't know
who will be oappointed for successor.
The only reason I have had for sup-
pressing the information about the res
ignation is that I didn't want the poli-
ticians climbing on my back and BOTH
ering me about a successor.
I have not selected anybody yet. 1t
is true that I offered the place to D.
j. Hathaway, ard he absolutely de-
clined. I have not talked to anybody
else about it. l viii certainly appoint
i Republican to succeed Mr.. Blossom =
Jack" Blossom IS .. Democrat, and
is the only one who was ever elected
10 the city council from the First ward.
In anticipation of Mr.. Blossoms res
ignation. which has been expected for
some time. there has been considera BILE
gossip about a possible successor.
Among others. the following candidates
have been suggested:
a. M Baird
NJ. c. Holman.
DR.. L. A. Ryder.
Hollis Williams.
H. w. Euler.
S. C Miller.
ing, both among the present members
of the council and from North Topeka
people He is seriously handicapped,
however by the fact that he is the
chief man in the Topeka Manhattan
electric railway which is now seeking
franchise from the city council. 1t
would not look well for Mayor Ber-
gundthal to appoint Mr.. Baird under
the existing circumstances.
M. c. Holman and l.. A. Ryder are
! believed to be the most likely candi-
dates. Il is not known whether either
one would have the position, but either
Holman is q lifelong resident of North
Topeka. and is prominent in the To-
peka Commercial club and in the busi-
ness life of the city.
Hollis Williams. former deputy sher-
iff. is now a resident of North Topeka.
He has gone into~the real estate busi-
ness and would no doubt like to get
a seat in the council.
H. w. Euler was a candidate for the
Republican nomination against s. r.
Kutz at the last primaries, and it
would please him to get the place.
s c. Miller is a former councilman
from the ward. who was defeated for
reelection two years ago by Mr.. Bios
SOM
The man who gets the appointment
as successor to Mr.. Blossom will hold
office by virtue of that appointment
only until next spring. Mr.. Blossom s
the appointment will of course be mere
ly for the unexpired term. 1t is alto
gether probable, however. that whoever
gets the appointment at Mayor Ber-
gundthafs hands will be elected for the
position at the spring election provided
he wants to run for the office.
Councilman Blossom will be missed
by his associate aldermen and other
city officials. He was chairman of the
committee on health and sanitation
and a fapr of the nd
and public buildings committees. His
sickness dates from about the time of
the June flood. He lost heavily by the
flood, and it is thought that brooding
over this loss has had considerable to
do with his condition. For some time
he was at Christ hospital but for sew
eral weeks he has been at his home.
He has not been able to attend council
meetings for a month While his con-
dition is now improved, he still seems
considera bly, depressed at times.
KANSAS MAN KILLED