The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-14
WORK WELL DONE.
Annual Meeting of Commercial
Club Qualification.
Members Discuss Means to
Further TOpeka's Welfare.
TALK OF WATERWORKS
Mayor Pledges Himself TO Help
Keep Out Politics.
Washburn College Is Given
Vote OF Endorsement.
OF WATERWORKS

The Topeka Commercial club added
another year to its numbers Wednes-
day night. The annual meeting
brought out a more nearly full attend
ance than have any of the regular
meetings for months past and the pro-
ceedings were participated in with an
interest that promises well for the year
commenced. Appropriately for the mi
tiation of new year the club made
number of good resolutions-plans for
the good of the town. The purport of
these resolutions was brought out dur
ing the informal talks for which the
programme provided under the subject:
What we can do during the year 1904
to help the city,
Enthusiastically, business men are
not quick to divulge their ideas on such
a subject before an audience Of uncer-
tain temper, and consequently the OPP
portunities to get on the floor were
not taken up rapidly at the first. But
when the subject had been fairly open
ed by the reading of a communication
from John V. Abrahams, many of the
members found themselves ready TO
make speeches of from one to five min
utes duration. Mr.. Abrahams suggest
ed, among other things, that the Com
mercial club devote it's attention TO
the manner in which the city assumed
new obligations for pavement and other
public improvements, to keep in view
the economic deSirability of low rate
of taxation and to guard the STAB MY
of the city's credit on the financial
market. This idea was endorsed by
many who subsequently, spoke.
George NJ Noble was the first who
spoke. He said: II think the CONNER
cial club should bear in mind the power
that it can exert by united effort for
whatever is undertaken ana that me
members want to realize more fully that
they are able to accomplish important
things by uniting their Individual inf1u-
ences for the good of Topeka. We are
able to push Topeka forward toward
commercial Importance by that kind or
work. We can get things in the way
of city improvements as we have done
in the past. We want to make every
citizen of Topeka feel that this is a
good town to live in and that it is get
ting better all the time. Let us speak
a good word for our home institutions
and patronize them ourselves. 1t is the
only way to build them up and in help
ing them we help the whole com
nunity."
Bergundthal was not inclined to be
communicative. He had no suggestions
to make further than that as he saw 1t
the Commercial CluD members ought W
feel their responsibility of maintaining
a businesslike, and conservative interest
in municipal affairs and of getting be-
hind movements for the general good.
Later in the evening when the sugges-
ton had been made by P. H. FORBES
that the Commercial club should set
itself as a guardian over the water
plant which is about to be transferred
Into the city's hands, with the purpose
of keeping the utility out OF pontics'
n al
Il believe that with the present ad-
ministration there is no danger that the
waterworks will be turned over for use
as political spoils. My position on the
subject is fixed and I feel no danger of
being Influenced by political motives OF
my own or of any other persons. what
future administrations may do l. of
course cannot forecast. But II l am
in office, and with the present support
of the council 1 will guarantee that
the era of municipal ownership Will be
started off right. I want to announce
right here that the ward heller has no
terrors for me-"
GOOD WILL FOR WASHBURN.
There was a demonstration of good
will towards Washburn college at last
nights meeting such as has never been
accorded to that institution by this or
any similar organization in the past.
The expressions of appreciation for its
services in Topeka were frequent and
enthusiastic. For a few minutes the
meeting looked like an educational
rally. The comments of approval upon
the growth and usefulness of Wash
burn came as an unexpected testimo-
NAL of the esteem in which she is held
by the merchants of the town. In the
early part of the good resolutions" dis
cussion, President PlasS was called
upon for a speech. After several efforts
to excuse himself he rose and made a
few general remarks upon the purpose
of the Commercial club and upon its
probable ability to help make the town
grow commercially.
s"Topeka,' he said, stands high
among the other cities of her claVk in
the United States in every particular.
In my residence here 1 have found in
creasing reason to be proud of the town
and of the people. Especially have 1
admired the way in which her citizens
pushed for the things worth having to
the town. But I have wondered if we
have been doing everything that we
could to place Topeka in the first rank
commercially. 1t seems to me that To-
peka ought to be a town of great whole
sale houses. l know we have some OF
the most important concerns of this
kind in the west but it seems to me
that we ought to have more of them.
I do not believe that the proximity of
down commercially. There is a vast
field which Topeka should be the dis
tributing point for. Yet think that in
this particular we are outstripDed by
the little town of Wichita. Some of the
other cities in the state are growing
faster than topeka. / think I will be
pardoned for speaking, while I am on
my feet. of the value that Washburn
is to Topeka. The school brings into
this city annually more than 500. 00O