The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-23
Democrats Planning to NOmin-
ate Mayor.
May Head Off "LiberaI Repub-
Tican" Candidate.
MEETINGS TONIGHT
Law and Order Committee VIII
Endorse Somebody.
Democratic City Central Com
mittee Will " Discuss"

Tonight the Democratic city central
committee will meet at 222 Kansas ave-
nue. to discuss the advisability of call
ing a city convention to place in nonni-
nation a Democratic candidate for
mayor
Another meeting will be in progress
at the same time at Unity church. held
by the Law and Order committee, for
the purpose of endorsing a prohibition
candidate for mayor.
At present. the trend of the local po-
litieal situation seems to be toward a
straightout Democratic candidate. either
L. NJ Penwell or Albert Parker, against
a radical prohibition Republican candi-
date, either J. W. F. Hughes or ". S.
Bergundthal
Several Of the Democratic leaders have
put their heads together, and have fig
ured out that by getting the Democratic
machine into motion at once, and plac-
ing a strong Democratic candidate in
the field on a business mans plat
form, they can head off the scheme
which some of the liberal Republicans
have of trying to nominate a Republican
at the primaries over Hughes and Ber-
gundthal. or either of them
Much depends just now on the action
which the Unity church meeting viii
take. If Hughes is endorsed. as it
seems almost certain he will be- then
the question is, will BergundthaI get off
the track2
In one sense. the meeting tonight at
Unity church is a caucus, and BY seek
ing the endorsement of that caucus,
both Hughes and Bergundthal have TO
some extent bound themselves to abide
by its decision. But Mr.. Bergundthal
has plainly intimated that he does not
nTODOSR he showed off the
Hughes sentiments on that question are
very similar Both candidates are liable
to adopt the rule or ruin policy. If both
men stay in the race, regardless of the
fact that one of them is endorsed by the
Law and Order committee, the so-called
liberal Republicans will no doubt
agree upon a third candidate And such
a third candidate would have the best
chance Of the three. The unpopularity
Of Hughes would cost him enough votes,
in spite of his endorsement by the Law
and Order league, to enable a third
candidate to slip in Bergundthal would
have just about enough ba cking to beat
Hughes, as he would get practically all
the votes Hughes loses, and it is con-
coded that so far as the interests of the
city are concerned he would make
much better mayor than Hughes
The general belief is that Bergundthal
will retire from the race if he is not en-
dorsed, and that Hughes will have easy
picking at the primaries
lis
when all the liberal Repu blicans. will
throw their strength to a Democratic
candidate instead of to Hughes.
As to relative strength of PenweH and
Parker as Democratic candidates. there
is considerable division in the Demo-
cratic ranks. Parker has many friends,
especially among the present incumb
ents in city Offices But in conversation
with his friends, Mr.. Parker says: 7
can conceive of no circumstances which
would arise which would make it desir-
able for me to be a candidate. This job
of mayor ought to be passed around to
some Of the other people who think it
is such a good thing to have"
If Hughes should be the Republican
candidate, however, Mr. Parker would
be greatly tempted to get into the fight,
because he has a deep and abiding con-
victiOn that he could beat Hughes again
and beat him so bad that the courts
will not have to decide the case.
GET OUT REGISTRATION
Several of the Democratic leaders
have a scheme to get out the full Dem
ocratic registration They will offer
prize of "a gOOdly sum of mOney-Say
$100-tO the ward worker who brings
the most voters to the registration Of
fee. Of course the worker is supposed
to cOnflne his attention to probable sup
porters of the Democratic nominee.
Give US time to organize our
strength said a Democrat today. "and
we will beat the Hughes people. We
don't care how squarely the issue is
brought. We Will have to get to work
on our registration at once, and keep at
it from now until the books close. The
law and order people have their organi-
cation all ready for business. and they
will get out their registration without
trying. Their voters will come and reg
lister without being told to do SO. It's
different with out people. We have to
bring them out every election
1t might be added that this is exact
" the way tho law and order leaders
talk too. only they apply the story to
the other side.