The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-02
EXPLAINS POSITION.
Tells How He Was Induced to
Enter Politics.
Mr.. KimbalI Made Straight Talk
About Hughes.

At the meeting held in the North To-
nel.a fire station Saturday night w. s.
Hereandtbai agreed to submit to an ar
bitration board his claims to the sup
port of the law and order people Of To-
pelca the plan which was suggested by
Hughes supporters a few days ago.
This action was taken at the recon-
nendation of a number of Mr. Ber-
rundthaTs leading political friends. The
question was submitted to a vote of the
meeting in the first place and lost. by
vote of Is to Is. A little later. however,
the question was reconsidered. and the
friends of the proposition succeeded In
whipping the meeting into line the vote
standing "a to 2 jim favor of arbitration.
1t was evident as soon as the meeting
Eot down to business that it was not
there for the purpose of standing pat
with Mr.. Bergundthal in his positive re-
1usal to submit the question Of his can
didacv to arbitration. Most of the lead
ers had come to the conclusion that IT
would be the best policy 10 call COL
Hughes bluff. and agree to the arbitra-
tion proposition. They believed that by
so doing they would discOncert Mr.
Hughes much more than by prejudicing
the interests of MIR. Bergundthal by a
fat refusal
A refusal it was urged. would make it
appear that Mr. Bergundthal was trying
20 avoid a fair hearing Acceptance of
the proposition. which Mr. Hughes evil
IDENTITY thought he had made too late for
acceptance. would probably give MI.
Bergundthal a better position in the
contest.
President Thomas Page. Of the North
Topeka Bergundthal club, presided at
the meeting. He said i'm part.
AT the last meeting 1T was decided to
appoint certain committees, one of which
Was TO interview Col. Hughes and ask
him 10 withdraw Mr.. Holman and I
a
for that committee. and then on Tues
day n committee came over here repre-
Fenting Col Hughes, and asked what
could be done to end the difficulty We
told them we thought the proposition
ought To come from Col Hughes. Then
they made their arbitration proposition
and there are many who seem to think
that Mr Bergundthal should accept it.
That is what this meeting is for to-
uieht7
Dir. Bergundthal said that he could
state his position no more clearly than
1t was stated for him in the State Jour
nal Of Friday evening He read the
state Journals editorial on the arbitra-
ton situation
y don't know as We should pay any
attention TO the comments of a paper
which has never been in sympathy with
the law and order movement" inter
rupted Mr. Page. the chairman. whose
Neracity or stock of Information is fun
That's all right. MI President re-
tqrted Mr. Bergundthal with some
as-ellty the editorial in the State
journal suits me all right and it repre-
aFnts my sentiments exactly. Now 7
BE- want 70 say In regard to my position
IN this whole matter No fair-mindad
person can deny that the committee of
1g3 was packed against me Another
thing which made me slIsricio,,s nj
hughes and his followers was the fact
.iat q prominent member of the league
vent O. ar Euler and Mr.. Kutz and
ing % Withdraw in my favor. provided
"9uld run FOR councilman and ta1a-
lnoned Mr.. Jonathan Thomas. prof,aibj,.
10 ask him to put the screws te mo s5n1
Eft me to accept this plan So when
nus committee came to me with an ar
'.lsatluh scheme L was naturally sus-
want to do whatever Won see fit
Inis IS good representative rnsefi,,e-
AlaAy OF my friends are here. vt.nt
o. TAKE You back two years You ask
.AF 90 pc a candidate for the council
9u saw iit to put me into politics
tell you that / despise it. The noora
oi politics the more I am convinced
.iiit ll IS an Internal lot of business IF
YES our oI ~ you couldn't get me i'm
ret 49, E s"e morse team. If any Of you
eePie ieel that you can't support me.
VIII release you from all promises /
want SOU To feel free to do as t-o,,
please here tonight. IF YOU think if fs
ny auly To- submit to- this arbitration
consider the proposition.
Later ON IN the evening Mr.. Rer-
eundinal made further sfatan,anf or
his position. in which no said fhst he
would withdraw If the ma iorit, az M
du SO.
hen Mr. Bergundthal finished. q
r. kimball introduced eesol5Itior
providing that both Hughes ana Ber-
Suhdtha withdraw. and a new man be
selected lt had evidently not occurred
To Air. kimban that if this should he
done. the Republican law and order
s9pis would have no candidate on the
gfltol at the primaries. as the time
Tor entering candidates has expired
ton.
Ms kimban threw a few hot-shot in
20 the Hughes camp He said. This
man Hughes was once in the emDlo7r az
the santa re railway. He abused his
ll9sltlon. lie wrote insulting letters to
lls superiors and had tie be removed.
lie is by nature dictator He will
rule or ruin He forced himself on the
iaF and order people. AS TO his charac-
tei- ne IS not representative man of
the law and order people Up to the
IfHe OF his nomination two years AGO
Die allowed one Of those helI-holes he
canned 20 be opposed to rent his build
ing ON East Fourth street. The assist
ance which he is receiving from the wo-
men reminds me of women who marry
ofunkards to reform them.
81. 6. Holman said. II am convinced
tnal tne best plan is to accept the pro-
position. and go before this arbitration
board prepared TO show them that Ber-
sundtnal is the strongest candidate.
hughes lost 500 votes after the prim-
aries last election"
Mr Holman and Mr. Page both talk
ed strongly i'm favor of the plan to sub
init to an arbitration and intimated
tnat Mr. Berguudthal would certainly
VIII py SUCH move. MT. Page said
have talked to a great MANY
Hughes people on the other side of the
river and know something of the sen.
iment which exists there concerning
Air. Hughes. ] have talked for i'm
stance. 10 Mr.. Carver EIr T.arimer
Mr. Cs1nnd AIR NTfl1c Az f--.----.1,