The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-25
TURNS IT DOWN.
Coleman and Triclzett Can Not Force
Election at Kansas City.

ElCCNlOA 1AdDSttS lily.
Late Monday afternoon, the Kansas
supreme court after being in consulta-
ton on the case for about two hours,
denied the application of Attorney Gen
eral c. c. Coleman and G. W. Trickett
Of Kansas City for writ of mandamus
to compel Acting Mayor J. c. Laughlin
OF Kansas City to call a special election
on October Is or 16 for the purpose of
electng a successor to fill out the I'M
expired term of Mayor Rose.
The application for the writ was made
to the court at noon last Saturday, and
at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon of the
same day, Acting Mayor Laughlin call
ed the special election for December IL.
This date, however, was not satisfactory
to Coleman and Trickett, and they in
sisted that the mayor be mandamused
to call the election prior to the general
November election.
Arguments were made before the
court by c. C. Coleman and c. W.
Trickett on behalf of the state. and by
T. A. Pollock and Ralph Nelson on be-
! half of Acting Mayor Laughiin. Pollock
is former city attorney of KanTas City,
and Nelson is the present city attorney.
Trickett charged that the scheme to
hold the election on December IL was
Matched up by O. ]. Peterson and some
other Kansas City politicians who are
interested in the passage of a water
works franchise in Kansas City. The
old franchise expires in November, and
Laughlin, it is claimed is very friendly
to the Peterson crowd.
The supreme court, in deciding the
case, gave no written opinion. Word
was simply sent in to the clerk Of the
court that the writ was denied.
The speeches which were made in
the argument were interesting and
those of Trickett and Pollock were
rather personal.
Mr.. Pollock said that the reason
Acting Mayor Laughlin had not called
a special election before was because
he was so busy reorganizing the police
department.
1T wasn't necessary, said Mr..
Trickett in reply, that Mr.. Laughlin
should reorganize the department.
Every appointment he has made has
been an ex-saIoon keeper or ex-gam-
bier.
Il wish the gentleman would conhne
himself to the facts" said Pollock
holly.
Il have stated the exact facts and no
more" replied Trickett.
A letter was read by Mr.. Pollock
from .. J. Peterson, chairman of the
Republican central committee Of
WyandOtte county. The letter urged
Mr.. Laughlin not to call the special
election prior to the November cleo
ton.
Il want to say few words about
that Peterson" said Mr.. Trickett.
peterson, and four or five others, are
the owners of a certain water fran
anxious to have amended so that they
can sell it. They have been offered
500, 900 for the franchise if they can
get 1t in shape to sell This man
Laughlin. now mayor, was one of their
staunch friends in putting that fran
chise deal through, and they want to
keep him in the mayors chair until
after November. when the franchise OF
the old water company expires
Mr.. Pollock then denied that any
such motive actuated Mayor Laugh1in
in calling the special election for
Dec. II.
Attorney General Coleman called at
tention to the fact that the salary OF
the mayor of Kansas City is $4,000 a
year, and that Laughlin might be
hanging onto the office for the purpose
Of collecting the pay.
Mr.. Trickett asked the court IN the
course Of his argument, to make rul-
/ ing on the question of whether or not
! people who do not vote at a special cleo
/ ton are obliged to reregister for the reg
ular elections. Mr.. Trickett held that
I the new registration law should be in
! terpreted to exclude all bond elections
/ and special elections He held that the
court should make this ruling in the
| pending case, so that it would be dis
/ tinctIy understood that people who fall
/ ed to vote at the proposed special cleo
/ ton on October Is or 16 would not be
! disbarred from voting at the regular
/ election through loss of their registra-
ton.
Evidently the court did not care to go
/ into this matter, as it was a little ex-
traneous, and would have involved the
court in uncalled for difficulties.
Mr.. Trickett expressed himself as
greatly disappointed at the ruling, when
| it was announced. He had felt confident
! that the court would allow the writ, and
require that the election be held on Oc-
tober Is or Is. He said:
1.-The court must have thought that
there would not be time enough to regis
! ter between the special election and the
/ regular election I am very sorry the
! case has gone this way, because the
chances are that 1t viii cost the Re
publican state ticket about 1900 votes
! in the November election"