The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-01

While it is true. as claimed by his
friends, that S. R. Kutz, the Repub-
lican candidate for councilman in the
First ward, has never done anything
at all conspicuous since he became i
member of the council in 1903, it
seems to be the case that Kutz has
managed to vote on the wrong side
about as often as any other member
of that body.
Perhaps the most conspicuous mis-
take which kutz made was when he
tried to defeat city ownership of the
be in favor of city ownership, though
he was elected by the people of North
Topeka on the suppOsition that he
would represent their interests On
Oct Is, 1904, when all the prehTni-
naries to the purchase of the water
works had been completed, and moth
ing remained to be done but invesU-
gate the title to the plant, and carry
out the will of the people. Mr.. kutz
was the first man in the Immortal
eight to vote mo" on Samuel T.
HOwe's resolution providing for an in
vesdgation of the title.
Kutz again went on record against
city ownership on Oct. 25, when he did
his best to drive a nail in the city
ownership coffin by voting in favor of
Holidays resolution which virtually
pledged the city to continuation Of
the endless WaterWOrks litigation.
On Nov. z, Kutz, along with all the
rest of the members of the council
who had fought city ownership,
Chopped" because they could no
longer withstand the pressure of pub
lie opinion. If the city election had
been held at that time, Kutz would not
have received more than enough votes
to form medium sized wad for a
shotgun
city ownership that Thomas Page.
Jonathan Thomas and several other
we'll known North Topeka property
holders and residents, lost much Of
their confidence in him North To-
peka business men, whose position in
the WaterWorks controversy, it is
claimed, was deliberately mlsrepre-
scented by Mr.. Kutz, are also opposed
to the reelection of Mr. Kutz to the
council. The sentiment of North To
peka people is that they prefer to
/ have an active, progressive representa-
/ tive in the council instead of a man
who very rarely does anything but
/ vote. and usually votes wrong
Mr. Kutz was also one of those
who voted to give away a 80 year gas
franchise, six years before the old
/ franchise had expired. The people OF
/ North Topeka have not forgotten that
little affair. The gas franchise was
1 introduced, considered" in commit
/ tee, and passed by the council all
within % days The final passage OF
the ordinance was on August L. kutz
Mayor BergundthaI then vetoed the
ordinance, and on September hutz
was one of the councilmen who voted
to pass the franchise ordinance over
the veto.
The Labor Champion, organ of
union labor in Topeka, endorses the
candidacy of Frank Simms. the candi-
date for councilman in the First ward,
as follows:
prank B. Simms. Democratic nonni-
nee for the council from the First
ward. was chairman of the Journal
/ chapel at the time machines were in
/ stalled in the Office. He learned his
trade at Allen, Madison county, Ill,
/ on the Democrat. going to St Louis
where he held cases on the Globe
/ Democrat for a number of years His
health failing. through the advice of
/ physicians he took M railroading,
I commencing as a fireman. He con-
/ tinued raiIroading until he became an
engineer. and worked at the throttle
/ for several years. After he married,
his wife objected to the dangers OF
1 railroading, and he again took I'D the
stick and rule. and worked at printing
until he thought the machines would
run the old hand man from she bust
ness. when he was appointed manager
of the laundry at the Santa F'e hos
pitaL He held this position for sew
] ersI years. when he decided to embark
/ in business for himself. He started a
steam laundry in North Topeka where
he is still located Frank has been 2
! staunch union man all his life, hold
/ ing an T. T. q. card for SO yeavs. He
also held mem bershiD IN both the fire.
men and engineers brotherhoods.
) When he worked at printing he travel