The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-09
KEEP POLITICS OUT
Commercial Club Expression on
Conduct of WaterwOrks.
Asks the Council to Run 1t as
Business Proposition.
ABOUT THE BUGABOOS.
Effort to Discredit Majority Re-
ceives Setback.
Lawyers Appointed to Help
Straighten Out TangIe.

The effort being made by enemies of
municipal ownership to discredit the
enormous majority by which the water
works proposition was carried received
a prompt backset from the Topeka
Commercial club last night.
Attorneys and officers of the water
company stated yesterday to members
of the Commercial club that the ma
jority required was more than 80 per
cent of the total registration This
question has been settled so often by
high courts. including the United States
supreme court. that there seems to be
no reasonable doubt but that the ma
joriy required is only Of the votes cast
upon the specific proposition in Ques
lion.
G. c. Clemens. who has always inter
ested himself in the purchase Of the
waterworks. introduced a motion last
night for the appointment OF a law
committee to cooperate with City At
tOrney Spencer, If he desired, and to at
least be present in the city council Fri
day night in the interest of the club 10
watch the canvass of the vote Ii IS
anticiOated that enemies of the bond
proposition will endeaVor to persuade
the members of the council into d
wrong conclusion as to the majority re-
qulred by the bond proposition. The
law committee is T. F. Carver. a. L.
Redden and G. c. Clemens.
The vote for the waterworks bond
proposition was $3.50, against 4,322- The
vote upon mayor was 49, ,307 leaving the
waterworks proposition a majority of
about fifty. according to the sOphistical
theory advanced by the opponents of the
proposition. These figures are not from
the official count and may be slightly
altered next Friday night.
KEEP IT OUT OF POLITICS.
In connection with the discussion of
the waterwOrks proposition Judge A. L.
Redden introduced resolution prepared
by the committee on municipal legisla-
ton This resolution, which was unani-
mously adopted, was as follows:
Whereas, This city has by its vote
of yesterday declared in favor of the
purchase of the Waterworks at q price
which the owners have agreed to ac-
cept and in the near future the city wilt
become the owner thereof and belieV-
ing that It depends greatly upon the
plans and methods that may be adopted
at the inception of the city's manage
ment as to the future success of the
municipal ownership of this important
property, and believing there will not
and cannot be a proper economical and
successful mana cement except upon 4
business basis and entirely separated
from political influence and manipuIa-
ton: therefore be it
Topeka:
First-That we are unalterablv op-
posed to political control of the water
works plant and system and unequiv-
Ocally favor and urge upon the city
council to adopt q plan that will have
in view the conduct and management
thereof in the most prudent economic
al and busineSs-like manner, having re-
gard for the convenience and accom-
mediation of the public and patrons at
the lowest price possible consistent with
effective service and proper expansion
of the system and the making of the
1 proper provisions to meet and redeem
the obligations assumed and created by
reason of the purchase of the plant
/ Second-That the secretary of the
/ club be and he hereby is, directed to
forward a copy of these resolutions du-
I " certified, to the mayor and council
of this city.
THEY LIKED THE CAMPAIGN
Although the Commercial club keeps
t its hand strictly out of politics as such,
/ it is in no way bound not to express
its opinion of a political campaign such
as the one just closed. with which its
members were particularly pleased In
accordance with the feelings of appro-
val in the minds of some of the mem
bers at the peaceable way in which the
newspapers handled the campaign, the
I following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the thanks of the
members of the Commercial club are
due and are hereby extended to the
daily papers for the cOmmendable man
ner in which the campaign for the cleo
ton Of the city officers was conducted.
The absence of personalities and vi
tuperation in the canvass just closed
demonstrates that a political campaign
can be conducted with due respect for
the opinions of all parties however
much they may differ. and tends to the
unifica ton of sentiment and work in
one common purpose. that which is the
sol
club-the growth and prosperity of To-
peka.'