The Topeka state journal., 1905-03-13
C. H. TITUS GETSIT
Appointed Commissioner of
Elections by Gov. Hoch.
Now Register of United States
Land Office.
WILL RESIGNHTSPLACE
An Old Soldier Who Has Been a
Candidate Before.
Gossip of City Politics and
Candidates.
RESIGN MISPLACE

Governor 1Ioch this morning settled
the big Topeka fight by appointing
Capt. c. H. Titus. register of the United
States land office, as election commits
sioner to succeed T. S. Williams. The
appointment takes effect April 1, and is
good for four years. It pays $100 a
month, gives the commissioner an as
sistant at $50 a month, and is the soft
1 est snap in the state.
Capt. c. H. Titus was selected by
Governor Hoch from the following list
of applicants: T. S. Williams, Fred
Jewell, James Ramsey, John Alexander
| (the present Deputy, J. D. Coddington,
! NJ. J. Burdick and c. H. Titus.
Titus old soldier friends lined up be-
| hind him four years ago, and tried to
force Governor Stanley to appoint him,
but T. S. Williams had the strongest
endorsements and finally got the place.
Williams has made a good election COM
missioner. He has kept himself posted
on the election laws, has been accommo-
| dating about the use of his books and
the registration of voters, and has made
no bad breaks. But he apparently did
not have as good a standing with the
present administration as he had with
the former governors.
Captain c. H. Titus has been a prom
inent figure in local politics for many
years. He has served as chairman of
the city committee, and has been COM
mitteenan from the Fifth ward for
many years. He is at present register
of the United States land office, which
position he will resign to accept the
position of election commissioner.
1t has been thought for some time
that Fred Jewell had rather the best
show for appointment. He had the
backing of the politicians in the city
and county, and was befriended by
some of Hoc1'S right hand men. James
Ramsey was also considered a strong
factor in the race. Ramsey is a paw
ing contractor, and has been street COM
missioner for the city for several terms
in past years.
There is now considerable speculation
as to who will be Titus assistant. Some
say that w. c. Ralston, at present the
assistant city attorney, will take this
place. Ralston is secretary of the Re
publican city central committee, and is
a lawyer. He would be a good man for
the Job. It is possible that John Alex
ander will be retained, though Alexan-
der has not lined up with the hoch
faction at all times. H. Ward Page,
the present city license collector, may
be given this. place.
There is to be meeting of the ex-
ecutive committee of the Republican
citv central committee on Tuesday af-
ternoon at o'clock for the purpose of
organizing the battaliOns for the city
campaign. Headquarters will be opened
up, probably in the Webb building on
Kansas avenue between Fifth and
Sixth. and somebody will be placed IT.
charge to look after the registration
and the political speaking. The COM
mittee will select a man to nave chafSe
of this work. There are several being
considered but it seems likely that H
w. Page will get the place if he wants
it He has had a lot of experience with
that kind of work.
1t is proposed that the committee will
this year raise q considerable portion or
the campaign fund by donations from
Republicans generally, not cOnfnlnS
the collection of the fund to an assess
ment on the Republican candldates.
Last year there was a good deal OF
complaint about the size OF the assess
ment. Some of the city officers had to
out up over $50, and the general plan was
to assess about per cent on the salary.
This year the committee Will TX an as
sessment on the Candidates, ana VIII
then try to raise an additional fund by
donations from both wet and dry
Republicans who are interested in the
success of the ticket
The campaign fund which the Re
publicans are planning to raise VIII pe
expended in getting out registration.
The registration is now only apout
600. in order to insure a Republican
success it will have to be at least
twice this figure. In some campaigns
it has gone as high as 5000. But the
Republicans believe that If they can
get out a big registration they are
nearly safe.
Carriages will be put to work as
soon as possible, and the committee
will devote itself to the task of putting
every unregistered voter on the books.
There are only ten days left for this
kind of work. and it will require ener-
refic hustIing to get things ready by
the time the books close at the end OF
next week.
There is bound to be more or less
gossip about the prospective appoint
nents of the prospective mayor 1t
seems to be as good as settled that
some important changes are TO De
made. though Mr.. Davis refuses to say
a word about appointments until he is
elected.
There is a lot of interest in the po-
sitfon of city engineer. and there seems
to be a general opinion that James f.
McCabe will be superseded 1t is said
that County Surveyor Rogers has a
good chance to get the place If any
change is made, Rogers is likely to be
the man. He is well qualified There
seems to be nothing particular against
McCabe except that he was a Ber-
sundthal man and has been active in
outside politics.
It is likely that Fire Marshal G. O.
WiImarth Will be retained The state
rnent was made before the primaries
that Davis would. if elected. turn out
hurst-Davis fire. This was a cam
paign yarn. The people of Topeka
are with Wilmarth- and there is not
likely to be any change in that depart
ment.