The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-05
NOT APLEDGE OUT
Mayor Elect Davis Says Jointists
Won't Control Him.
He Proposes to 'sClean Up the
Town"
NO MEN FOR OFFICES.
Doesn't Know Who win Be
Chief of Police.
Mr.. Blair Says the Republicans
Spent $4,000.
Blames His Defeat ON the Second
Ward.
70 MEN FOR OFFICES.

Parkhurst-Davis, one Of the leading
wholesale grocery firms in the state,
did not do much work this morning,
though he was at his desk as usual.
His telephone kept up q disturbance
like one Of the new tangled repeating
alarm clocks, and when he was not
busy answering the telephone congrat-
ulations, he was shaking hands with
people who dropped into his big store
to tell him how he won.
The usual large delegation of patriots
was on hand to remind him that they
had contributed largely to his victory,
and were now on the waiting list. Mr..
Davis is not telling what he viii do
about his appointments, however.
/ When the council meets next Friday
night, and officially counts him into Of
fee, Mr.. Davis will get busy and select
the men for the important positions
which he has to fill. Probably the IN
tereSt of the public centeTG most strong
~ in the question of who will get the
JOB OF chief OF police. Tim Donovan,
John Gardner. Carl Golf, and Henry
Steele have all been mentioned. Mr..
Davis said this morning:
I don't know who I Will name for
chief of police; I expect to investigate
the qualifications of these men who are
] talked Of, and get somebody who can
run the thugs and crooks out OF town.
I don't know exactly what course i viii
pursue in regard to the joints; 1 Will
have to see what can do. and what the
members Of the council want me to do.
I believe there are more joints in this
town right now than there have been
before for years. I am informed that
there are IS places where liquor can be
bought between my store and the Santa
Fe shops, north of Second street. The
| condition of things down there IN the
| bottoms is horrible.
Il want to say this right here, now
! that the election is over and L can't be
accused of talking for political effect,
/ that I have not during all my cam
/ paign for mayor, made a single prom
| Use to anybody that ( would allow joints
/ to run. Some very dirty charges have
| been made by the opposition during the
campaign. It was stated that 1 would
/ turn the patronage of the police de-
partment over to Dick Hodgins and
/ AL Bauer. 1t was charged that L would
| do a great many other things which [
never had any intention Of doing. Great
| pressure was brought to bear to get me
to commit myself; a representative OF
the liberal element came TO me shortly
/ before election and said: Now, Mr..
I Davis, we supported you during the
1 primaries, and we want you to give US
some definite assurance Of what you
are going to do I told the man that
was not making any promises. AS
result of that, q good many of these
z
the election Another man came to me
and said, I can do you some good in
| this election, and 1 want to know
whether you will let me run a place
when you are elected I asked him
what he meant by place He said
he meant a place to make some money.
I told him to come right out and say
! what he meant He said, I mean sa-
| LOOM I told him that he had come to
the wrong place to talk that sort of
business.
Il am absolutely free from pledges.
and I propose to clean up this town,
and do my duty as far as [ can.
I'm regard to the waterwOrks, viii
say that I must talk to the mem bers of
the council, and see what they think
about the management of the plant. I
presume that it will be managed in the
| same way the fire department is man
find the right kind OIL a board to serve,
if there is no pay attached. But the
management of the plant should be kept
out of politics, and if the best way is
by q board of trustees or commission
ers. I suppose We will adopt that plan.
There has been q lot of talk in the
campaign about the electric light fran
clise. I have never read this fra9chise;
I don't know it's terms. Some of the
councilnnen have told me that the coun-
ell is in favor of a franchise for the
Edison company, and if the council is
in favor of a franchise that will settle
it.
'I realize that I am new to this BUSH
ness; [ have a. lot to learn, and I must
depend upon those who have been IA
miliar with the situation for a long
time for advice. The position of chief
of police is going to be hard one to
fill. It requires a man of great capa-
bilities. and I think the city ought to
pay more money, if necessary, to get
the right kind Of a man. The present
salary of 81, 900 is too small for that job.
I expect to announce my appointments
as soon as possible after being installed
into office. Until that time, the pres
ent officials will Of course continue to
serve"
Blair Is Not "Sore."
Bob" Blair seemed to be just as good
natured as ever when State Journal
reporter called upon him this morning.
The wear and tear of politics does not
seem to have told on him very severely
TELL all my friends" he said, that
thank them for their support; I apprec-
late what they have done for me, and
for the ticket. I also appreciate the
kind way in which the newspapers have
treated me. I really believe that If
the newspapers had talked the way
they felt, they would have come right
out and supported me- Why doesn't
newspaper have the courage to stand up
for what it thinks is right, even If it
isn't the popular side2
Il have learned some things about
pfacJlcal pOlillcS IN TINS campaign. ana
want to say to you right here that I
wouldn't take the office of city dog
catcher if had to be elected by the
class of votes which the Republican
party mustered in this campaign. There
was not a single jointist or ultra-liquor
man in Topeka that supported me for
mayor. There was not single negro
crap shooter or bum on my side.
But did get q lot Of the better class of
eolored voters. There was also some
Democrats who would not vote for me
because they wont vote with any side
that is getting the sO-called law and
order support.