The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-09
He Talks Freely About Wednes-
days Election.
Sarcastically Says That lie Was
the Issue.
BLAMES THE JOINTISTS
Says That They Were RespOn-
sible for Result.
Sorry He Dragged Bergundthal
Down TO Defeat.
BLAMES THE CONTESTS

81 know that I was the main issue
in Wednesdays primary, said Chief
of Police Frank Stahl this morning.
1.-Two months ago / offered Mayor
Bergundthal my resignation, for 1 felt
what was coming. He refused it aad
said that he would rise or fall with
me-"
why do you say that you were the
main issue?" was asked of him.
I hate to say it," he replied ''but
Dick Hodgins told me himself this
morning that I was. He said that 1
hampered and harassed the joinrsts
and that they wanted me out OF the
way He was right I guess. 1 both
cred those fellows evidently and kept
them in hot water and they could not
get the same revenue that they could
nave received from regularly Iegalized
saloons OF course don't know that
Davis viii allow them to run that
way, but that is what his supporters.
his hackers, and his crowd want
why was Bergundthal defeated ~
he was asked
ct was com bination of circu.n-
stances" Svas the answer. I'm the
first place harassed the jointists too
much Then the talk was made that
without revenue from some source
the city viii go heads over heels into
debt Recently a number of murders
occurred and the Davis supporters
said that I had but one idea namely,
State Journal. about Harold T. Chase's
trip through the city on last Saturday
night was can Sheaf on the whole
business. They had the matter going
in two directions. On one hand they
said that 1 was harassing the joints
and keeping them from doing business
and on the other hand the story went
out that the city is in a worse cOndi-
ton than ever before. All of that
stuff piled together did the business.
knew perfectly well that the fight
was made on me and what I have
been doing. / understand that. I am
sorry if Bergundthal lost because of
me-if I carried him down, because of
the hostility of the joint interests in
the city to me. Bergundthal is a
mighty fine man. Nobody can say
anything against him. He treated me
mighty we'll"
What kind of a mayor do you think
that Mr.. Davis will mal1e2'' was asked
I am unacquainted with him. was
the reply He bears a good reputa-
ton If he has the nerve and follows
the dictates of his own conscience he
will make a good mayor. If he follows
the ideas of his supporters he will make
q bad mayor"
''Will you resign now or wait until
Bergundthal goes out?''
I will stay until the last dog is
hung" was his answer. 4 am going
to do the business of this office the best
of my ability until the very last min
ute. When Davis wants my resigna-
rass his administration by getting out
now"
do you think. chief" was asked,
that the joints in Topeka can be
closed2"
Yes. indeed was the answer. IF
the city and the county co-operated
with each other there would be no diff
ficulty- 1t would be easy sailing all the
way through. But they do not want to
do it They do not get together A
man who says it cannot be done is a
coward The jOintists say that the
county officials are friendly to them
and they say they cannot be stopped.
This morning Dick Hodgins," con-
tinued the chief, met me on the street
and called me a bood1er, a rotten chief,
and said that my police force was the
worst ever and had boodlers on it.
He said that both Hutton and Small,
the two North side officers are hood
lers. I told him that he was a liar and
a dirty dog. He didn't deny it. He
walked away and that ended the Incl
dent
what condition is the city in today?'
was asked.
Very good" was his answer. There
are only about 90 places in the whole
town where known drinkers can get Ii
quor- On. the North side are but four
places. There are quite a number of
hop-tea joints. legaIized to sell the stuff
by law They do slip in little beer
and whisky once in a while, but are
very hard to catch"