The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-14
WON'T BE TIED.
Candidates for Mayor Are Some
what Cautious.
Even Hughes Says He Won't
Promise Anyone.
WILL CALL TWO UP.
BergundthaI and Hughes Are to
Be Questioned.
WILL CALL TWO UP.
Refuse to Say if they Will Be
Governed by Committee.

W. S. Bergundthal and j. W. F.
Hughes, the two men who are rival
candidates for the Endorsement of the
law and order fac ion as the candidate
of that faction for mayor, win both
refuse to make any promises to the
committee concerning their policy if
elected mayor.
Col Hughes was asked today, viii
you make any pledges to the committee
this year," He said:
Il do not propose to make any prom
Uses to anybody. I win not be tied up
to anybody. I have not seen the COM
mittee, and have not had time to think
about politics.
"Will you abide by the decision of
the committee, and withdraw if not
Endorsed? '
4 don't know. I don't think I should
say anything until I have been seen by
this committee"
In response to the same questions,
Mr.. Bergundthal said:
I will not make any promises. l
will simply say that I am in favor of
enforcing the laws. But as to making
any promises concerning appointments,
or anything else which might interfere
with a conscientious discharge of my
duties that I viii not do.
Il can't say that w2l agree to abide
by the decision of the committee. L
have not decided about that"
The general belief is that the COM
mittee is favorable to Col Hughes. It
is composed largely Of people who were
hackers of Hughes in the 1901 cam
paign Such men as Frank Snyder,
Frank Lindsay. DR.. c. z. Judd, DR..
K. 0. Brown and a number of others
are radical supporters of Hughes. Thos.
Page, who is chairman of the whole or
ganization, is a friend Of Bergundthal,
but it is said that he was put in the
position of chairman for the. purpose of
conciliating the Rergundthal forces, and
making hem think that everything was
going to be fair and square.
The method of doing the work in Sc
cret is also not meeting with the ap-
prevail of many law and order people
of the city They think that the COM
mittee should do its work openly. Even
the friends of Col. Hughes have ex-
pressed themselves as opposed to the
star chamber system of politics.
The report which was printed in the
State Journal some time ago to the eff
feet that the anti prohibition people are
working for Hughes in whatever way
they can, in order to get him into the
field as candidate is receiving fresh
confirmation. The "antis'' think that If
Hughes is Endorsed. the chances are
that Bergundthal will also get into the
race, in which event. a third candidate
on a liberal platform would have easy
picking. They also think that even if
Bergundthal gets out of the race in
case he is not indorsed. Hughes will be
an easy man to beat. A well known
politician said today:
Hughes is not as strong as he was
two years ago, and while he might aD-
parently command the united SUPPORT
of the law and order people. he would
find that many law and order votes
which he received before would be stay
at homes this time The fact that there
are a larre number of iointists, gam
blers. ? people of that ilk in town
would several hundred votes to the
anti-Hughes candidates strength