The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-18
HARD AT WORK.
Bergundthal Forces Not Neg
lecting Registration.
Realize That InattentiOn Night
Lose the Election.
He HAS TROUBLES.
Election Commissioner Will Ask
Council for Help.
Rum0r of Deal in First Ward
Denied.

Each day makes it more and more inl-
probable that W. S. Bergundthal can be
defeated for election to the Office OF
mayor of Topeka. The fair weather has
been very favorable to getting our
voters to register, and that is what is
almost the crucial test of the strength
of the two candidates.
Out of the total campaign fund of $3.50
the Republicans have appropriated s4O0
for the purpose of pushing registration
Cards are being issued and distributed
to all the residences in the city; car
riages are at work hauling voters to the
registration books the ward and pre-
cinct workers of the Bergundthal COM
nittee are as active as they were be-
fore the primaries. and when the regis
tration books are collected, and the foot
ings made it is believed that the result
viii be much larger than is now ex-
pected.
The week is only half over. and partial
reports from the Bergundthal wards in
dicate that the voters there are being
registered in great numbers.
The Democrats seem to be confning
their attention to the Second ward
They have half a dozen carriages at
work in that ward. and have employed
a number of women to take charge OF
the earria ges. They are hauling women
to the registration places as fast as pos
sible, ana the probability is that in this
ward the Iieery sympathizers have thu
best Of the situation.
The only way to be sure of success.
however. IS for the Republicans to as
sumo that the race win be close. It is
the only way to avoid a repetition of the
Parker-Hughes neck-and-neek race. II
the Bergundthal supporters register,
there can be no question as to what the
/ outcome will be.
WILL COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL
Election Commissioner 7. S. Williams
/ viii tell his troubles to the council this
/ evening, and ask for help. He wants the
council to officially untangle the snarl
of election laws which have been be-
slowed upon the state by a supernatur-
i islatures.
1t is probable that instead of costing
about $1,000 as most city elections do,
the coming city election viii cost about
$1,000 This is all because of the foolish
election laws.
The Interpretation of the laws is so
uncertain that it is not known whether
five, nine, or fifteen clerks and judges
are necessary at each place. Some think
that 15 clerks and judges are required
by the law. They are paid about Sc
apiece, depending on the number of
votes counted.
MI. WlilldDlS makes the IOflOWIQS
statement of the case in a communica-
ton which will be presented to the coun-
ell this evening:
I desire to call to your attention one
feature of the coming election which we
have heretofore not considered of much
consequence.
The legislature, in its efforts to fix
up the laws relative to voting, has
made it necessary that we have six diff
ferent ballot boxes in each precinct. I
believe that you will agree with me
when I say that it is a mere possibility
that one man could preside over six
ballot boxes and keep them straight.
Therefore have this solution of the
problem to offer. as the responsibility
rests largely on my shoulders.
My suggestion is that the council
authorize me to appoint a deputy COM
missioner of elections for each precinct.
who will have charge of the registration
! books, and no other part of the election
paraphernalia BY so doing it will re-
lieve one of the judges SO as to place the
female ballot boxes in the hands of one
and the male boxes in the hands of the
other
I'VE have neglected to divide the pre-
cincts as the law requires and therefore
we are responsible for the very large
vote which will be polled in each pre-
cinct and we cannot by any neglect of
ours retard the voting of the electors
in the different precincts.
The city attorney will bear me out
in what I have to say and I certainly
think that the matter is worthy of your
investigation. Yours very truly,
IT. s. WILLIANS.'
RUMOR OF A DEAL
There is a report today that Matt
Cramlowski. the Democratic candidate
for member of the city council from the
First ward. will withdraw in favor OF
George Young, who was urged to be-
come candidate for the place, and
who refused.
I don't know of any plan of this
sort" said Mr.. Young today. 7 am not
a candidate, and don't want to be. Mr..
Gaml0wski is the man."
The plan to get Gamlowski off the
track is said to have been the result of
the fight which J. J. Schenck and other
North Topeka Democrats are making on
him. It is regarded as a difficult fight
which Mr.. Gamlowski has before him
with the members of his own party
fighting him.