The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-10
TALK IT OVER.
Mr.. Lewis Has a Debate With
Street Force.
Commissioners Griggs Tells
Where He Stands.
is FOR BERGUNDTHAL.
Why He Would Make a Good
Mayor.
Final Meetings Of the Republi-
can Contest.
is FOR BERGUNDTHAL.


street Commissioner Griggs and Can
didate Frank Lewis had a joint debate
early this morning before an audience or
forty men who work on the Topeka
street force.
Mr.. Grggs came out strongly in favor
Of w. S. Bergundthal for mayor, ana
urged his men to work and vote for
BergundthaL Mr. Griggs is a Parker
appointee. who supported James S. War
ner two years ago
Mr.. Lewis urged the men to vote for
him, but he didn't say a word about his
pledge to appoint d union man street
commissioner and employ none but
union men on the streets 1t happens
that only four or hve Of the street force
carry union cards. so it is evident wh,,
AIR Lewis didn't make union
speech
Mr.. Lewis was in a delicate position
He is having trouble to prove that NJ
is the friend o. all labOring men, and
at The same time pose as a union labor
candidate 1t was especially trying, be,
cause MI Lewis has been making some
severe criticisms of the work done by
the street department and the members
oL the street force are not very happy
about it.
IL was queer time and a queer place
Tor political meeting. The mists wers
pioWlng UP over the river bank and
setting down into their place was the
smoke from numerous cook stoves where
breakfasts We're being prepared. The
shadows Of early dawn still chung to tbs
massive curves of the Melan bridge and
the big chimneys OF the Wolff Packina
company plant a few steps to the east
We're pelching out pillows of black
smoke. getting up steam for the DAYS
Wol < Ine street laboreTs. with their
IN tLl Duekets. were dropping into the city
TOOL yard on lower Kansas avenue
Where the men gather every morning he
1ofe starflng out for work. Shortly be-
Av.e lle time came to begin the days
sIIna FRANK Lewis came in and com
Inenced shaking hands with the men.
W men an had assembled Street Commits
sionef E1ggs climbed on a box and
commenced to speak
Men, ne said, tomorrow is election,
gay ana suppose that some of YOU wiz
want TO knock off for the day I want
L" ma out how many of Won are Demo
cLals and want to work. and how many
OF the republican members of the force.
are DESTROYS of getting out at the noils
ana working there during the daV
,9.i nose VINO want to quit for the day
would let me know.
7Olue OF you have asked me to make
q speech this morning. and ten 7-ou
where stand on this MAYOR nror,1sf-
.lgH VIII simply say that I am for
W. p bergundthal heart and soul
e'li' VIII 90 Nerythtng I can to secure
mas nomination. He is q law and order
man, and is the friend of the laborer
see that Nr. Lewis lis here. and
as inns seems to he sort of a political
ing, VIII ask him to make a
speech"
Mr. Lewis then addressed the men
briefly He said in part.
appreciate the manly stand which
AiF- Grlggs has taken. and believe
mat lt ] am nominated he viii be one
ol the first to come to my support in
lue election. The present street force
mas done as good work as it could with
lne equipment mt its disposal But if
] am elected mayor. we will brv new
equipment for this departing emit and we
VIII nire more men, and viii do every
tnlng we can to keep the streets clean
MI GIlggs then made q short replv
To Alr Lewis. He said. Il wish Mr.
Bergundthal We're here this morning.
am confident that he would give voE
the same assurance of fair treatment
which MT. Lewis does And anofhpr
thing you should RENE mber, and thar
ls tnat if we nominate Mr. Rergund-
thai it Will not be necessary for every
man to show his little union card be-
IOge me can get q lob on this force
Every man will be given the same
cnance, and union men and nOn-uniOn
men VIII all look alike. I don't know
To-Day now many union men there are
on this force I don't know how many
Democrats there are / have tried to
organize this force without reference
to these things. and I believe that Mr.
policy"
Out of the 40 men about 20 signiaed
desire to quit work Wednesday to
work at the polls.
An Informal poll shows that about
eight or ten of the force are Democrats
and of the remainder % viii vote for
BerguudthaL The street force is larger
than usual just now, as there is much
work TO be done on account of the
mud.
COMMISSIONER GRIGGS' STATE
MENT.
Street Commissioner George II. Griggs
today gave cut the following written
statement of his position ia the present
contest for mayor, and accompanied it
by the statement that he believes Mr..
Bergundthal viii be nominated
Mr. Bergundthal should be elected
mayor of Topeka for the following rea-
sons.
First. lie is absolutely unpledged as
to patronage. except to enforce the laws
and represent the whole city. White
and black win be treated fairly and
squarely, as an unpledged man only
can do.
Second Because every charge