The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-09
Commercial Club Fund Has Not
Reached Flood Sufferers.
Mayor BergundthalStiIl Refuses
to Call Committee Together.
LETTER WRITING TIME
Messages Pass Between Presi-
dent Frost and Mayor.
In the Meantime Needy People
Receive No Aid.

While President ]. E. Frost of the
Topeka Commercial club and Mayor w.
5. Bergundthal who has, unwillingly,
been named chairman of the committee
to distribute $1,000 in North Topeka,
are playing ball with the $1,000 check
and the craftsmanship, the would-be
beneficiaries of the money are patiently
waiting for the distribution to COM
mence- President Frost insists that
Mayor Bergundthal should take the
craftsmanship or at least call the COM
mittee together in order to start things
going. Mr. Bergundthal says he is not
chairman of the committee because he
never accepted the appointment and
that he has no business to call the COM
mittee together and, moreover, won't
do it. He says he has too much else to
do.
1t is not probable that Mayor Bergund-
thai will be further urged to act upon
this committee. Thomas Page, who is
out of town, has been suggested as
chairman of the committee.
President Frost will call the commit
tee together himself. He said this after
noon: LAS Mayor Bergundthal has de-
clined to accept the craftsmanship of
the distribution committee / shall be
Obliged TO call IL tOReIner IN a DAY or
two. Some of the members are out of
town and 1 am uncertain when it will
be possible to have the meeting
shall, of course hunt up another chair
man"
Wednesday noon Mr.. Frost and Mr.
Bergundthal talked the matter over at
the Commercial club rooms. In the
morning before the meeting Mr.. Frost
received a letter from the mayor which
courteously stated that the chairman
I =. ffnv~
dinner Mr.. Frost sent a letter pressing
the need of starting the committee to
work and enclosed the $4,000 check.
Mayor Bergundthal sent the check back
by the messenger with a verbal message
to the effect that his declination was
positive and final Since then nothing
has been done. 1t begins to look as
though President Frost would have to
call the other members of the committee
together himself and name new chair
man.
Mayor Bergundthal stated his reasons
for not accepting the Craftsmanship, in
an interview yesterday. On the same
subject he said this morning: Il can't
take that work If l took it I would be
rorced to turn the burden of it over to
some one else and I decline to accept
such a responsibility when I can not
personally attend to the duties There
is bound to be dissa tisfaction with the
Way the work is done and / do not
want to answer for it if l am not engag-
/ ed in it's performance. / was in no way
consulted in the appointment and knew
I othing of it until 7 read it in news
! paper I was not asked if it was con-
venient for me or agreeable to under
take the work I think that as long
as was not consulted the Commercial
/ club should not he so insistent upon my
acceptance of it,
The following are the two letters
| which passed between Mayor Bergund-
thai and President Frost yesterday:
u E. Frost. Esq, President CONNER
cial Club, City.
Dear Sir:-I am in receipt of com
! municatiOn from IT. J. Anderson. secre-
tary notifying me of my appointment
as chairman of committee named for
purpose of expending $1,000 in Topeka,
etc regret that the pressure of other
business Getty and DersonaD prevents
me from accepting such appointment. 1
! simply am una BILE to give it attenTio l
and must in Justice to the business af-
4 fairs of the city and my own arIvate
/ business which is sadly in need of at
tention, decline to serve on the commit
tee in any capacity. The mere fact that
I happen to be the mayor of the city
should be no reason why I should act.
but rather an argument that l should
rot as under existing conditions, the
labor of the Office has been increased
at least four-fold.
Sincerely yours,
July Z. 19OS.''
Hon. w. S. Bergundthal mayor.
''Tooeka. Kansas.
Dear sir
I'm reply to your favor of July 7th.
at hand today, 1 beg to ask that you
call your committee together and lay
the ma tier of distribution of this fund
before it and effect such organization
of the work as will relieve you as far
as possible of giving personal atten-
tion to the details. 1t will be all right
for your committee to employ such
help as you may deem necessary.
Il enclose check for $1,000 appropri-
ated for the committees use and trust
that ssr viii arrange for prompt ac-
tion. Our suffering townS-people in
the flooded district are needing it.
| 'I will hold myself in readiness to
meet with the committee at any time
you name if you desire to confer with
! ia
VERY Respectfully.
JOHN E. FROST, president"
PIT COMPANY CHARTEREn