The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-21
IN FIRST WARD.
Local Politics Is Warming Up
Over There.
s. r. Kutz Has a Hard Fight for
Councilman.
PEOPLE NOT SATISFIED
PEOPLE NOT SATISFIED
His Anti aterWorks Vote
Causes Opposition.
Frank B. Simms, the Other
Candidate, Is Popular.

North Topeka, otherwise the First
ward, is the center of attraction in the
coming city election. The public and
the politicians share alike in interest in
the outcome of the political battle now
being waged on the other side of the
Kaw.
In the first place, nobody knows ex-
actly what effect the change in North
Topeka's population due to the flood
will have on the political complexion of
the ward. Before the flood, North To-
peka was always a fighting community,
where the Democrats had a fair show
to win at almost every election, and did
now and then succeed in carrying the
ward. If it has happened that in the
departure of former citizens of the ward
and the arrival of new ones in their
places the Democrats have made even
small comparative gain, they may now
be in a position to control the political
future of the ward.
1t is hardly expected, however, that
there will be much change in the rela-
tive position of the two parties. But
there are scores and hundreds of voters
whom the politicians do not know, and
who have not been lined up with any
north side faction. These are the ones
who add materially to the gaiety of the
situation.
During the course of conversation
with number of prominent and active
North Topeka people yesterday after
noon, State Journal reporter discov-
cred that the sentiment seemed to be al
most unanimous on one point namely
that things are terribly mixed.
Go up and down Kansas avenue
said prominent Democrat, land you
Will find that there are a large number
of Democrats who declare that they are
going to vote for Davis. On the other
hand, there are many Republicans who
will vote for Blair. I figure that a good
many people who were very friendly to
Bergundthal will vote for Blair. When
70 - !
Blair Will get the Russians as they are
naturally Democratic. The riff-raff of
The colored vote viii go where there is
the most money and liquor. Some of
the Russians will take all the money
and liquor in sight, but they generally
vote Democratic. I believe that Kutz
the Republican, is already beaten for
councilman. North Topeka people have
had enough of Kutz; he is no better
than lamp post in the city council.
republicans and Democrats alike are
tired of him, and win vote for a change.
Slnms, kutz's opponent, is a popular
would represent the ward WELL
Republican Prophecy.
A Republican who lives in North To-
peka and ranks as a leader in city poll
tics and whose name, as the ST. Peters
burg correspondent says, would produce
says:
Il am out among the people a good
deal; / know what thew are saving IT
would not surprise me If so per cent
of the normal Republican vote should
go for Simms, the Democratic candi-
date for councilman. L believe that
Davis will carry the ward by a COM
Portable majority
Another man who has voted the
Republican ticket for the past forty
years without q skip says:
Il am one of the people that was
for Bergundthal; 1 believe he was a
good mayor and should have been
given second term. However. am |
going to vote for Davis unless Blair
will come out with a fair and square
agreement to close the Joints. I shall
certainly vote against Kutz, and i'll
everybody in North Topeka knew him |
as well as 1 do. he would not get a
hatful of votes in the ward"
Some of the people who are fighting |
Kutz are doing so because they believe I
that the conduct of certain mem hers /
of the council in regard to franchise
matters has been questionable. One I
Republican told the State Journal re- /
porter that he had reason to believe
that certain city officials-and he
named them-had received Doodle in
connection with some of the franchise
deals. They think there ought to be
general house cleaning in the council, /
and propose to do their part by turn
ing out the first man they can get
action upon.
Reasons for Fight on Kutz.
Opposition to the reelection of I
Councilman Kutz seems to be based on
a number of different grounds. There /
are some who criticise Kutz bitterly I
because he was an administrations
man; because he sustained Bergund-
thai at almost every opportunity. /
Bergundthal has lost his grip with the
people of his ward, as is shown by the
result of the Republican primaries
and Kutz is considerably worried for
fear he will be engulfed in Bergund-
tha1's catastrophe.
There are others who have it in for
Kutz because he fought city ownership
of waterworks after the people had
voted the bonds to buy the plant
Kutz was one of the most stubborn of
the CLIQUE that tried to defeat the will
of@The people of the city in this mat
ter. Kutz called w a number of