The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-01

good public service: I have heartily aid
ed and co-operated with cur schooI
board, in all the many matters Of com
mon interest, as to the welfare OF eur
schools. and requiring action by the
council; I have aided in every possible
reasonable way, in all public improve
ments, such as pavements, public parks,
sewers, sidewalks, bridges and public
buildings; I have encouraged and help
ed in every right and reasonable way,
in rebuilding, charging and extending
the service Of public service corpora
tons, such as street cars, electric plants,
and many others, while at the same
time endeavoring to protect the in
terest of the city and safeguard the
rights and interests of the people.
I have. in accordance with the ex-
pressed will Of the people, steadily and
uniformly pushed and aided the city
in every reasonable way in the acquisi-
ton Of the water plant and in estab-
fishing its operation on a good solid
business basis. I have once aided in re-
pairing and extending the city electric
lighting plant, making it adequate to
the demands of the city at that time;
1 presented to the council and secured
the adoption of the present reQuis1tlon
system Of ordering and purchasing sup
plies for the city, by which the mayor
has close supervision Of all purchases
OF material and supplies for the use of
the city, and by which many dollars
have been saved to the city. I prepared.
submitted and secured the adoption of
the present form Of city financial re-
port, showing current and comparative
receipts ana operating expenses of the
city. / have prepared introduced and
have now pending before a committee,
an ordinance providing for the testing,
and inspection Of gas and gas meters in
use in the city. I have made several
efforts, by resolution and otherwise, for
a more definite and complete system Of
accounting for the city, that our rec
ords may be in better form, and all
the interests of the city thus duly and
more perfectly safe-guarded and pro-
tected. I have made every reasona bic
and possible effort to keep our taxes
low, and that some success has attend
ed the work of the council, IS evident
from the fact that Notwithstanding We
have kept some public work is progress
each year, that our labor might be en-
ployed and our city improved, yet our
tax rate has been for several years and
is now, lower than that of any other
city of the first-class in Kansas, with
the possible exception of Leayenworth.
L have steadily supported a civil service
policy, for all departments of city
work, all positions to be filed on basis
of merit only ana no employe to be
removed except for good and sufficient
cause, and have mace an effort to have
a civil service department created, but
it was found necessary to postpone
such action, as the present statutes do
not authorize the same. I have en-
HeaFOEeO, IN accordance with the Te16r-
endum provision of the law of 1905, to
have submitted to a vote of the peo-
pie, the question of the permanent con-
troll and operation of the water and
city electric light plants by q water
and light commission, with all the en-
plOyes of such departments under civil
service rules. on a solid business basis,
and removed entirely from all possible
political Interference. I have become
fairly familiar with the statutes, as to
cities of the frst-class, and ordinances,
have served on all of the council COM
mittees, and am familiar with the man
ner and scope Of their work and with
the rules of the council and ordinary
parliamentary procedure. I have indi-
Gated a proper regard, consideration
and appreciation Of the soldier and sail
or in many Ways,-in introducing and
securing the passage of an ordinance,
granting favor to the soldier and sailor.
and in other matters of record; and !
have in all other matters, belonging to
and coming before the council, epdeav-
ored faithfully and conscfentiously. to
the best Of my ability. to be guided by
the expressed win Of the people,-ths
law.
ours, founded on the propositions that
all men are created equal and. that all
governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed, it is
clear, that. all men being equal in the
rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness, and all the powers of our
government having been secured from
the consent of the governed. our gov
eminent, national, state and municipal, |
is truly, in the words of the immortal /
Lincoln. a government of, by and for
the people; and as such, every citizen
is under bounden obligation to obey
the law IS the will Of the people, and |
to respect and honor the flag. as the |
symbol and emblem of our govern |
ment. The people, in order to accom-
plish the ends of government. that is /
the protection and Improvement of so
cietv have, through their duly cOnsti- |
tuted, elected and accredited repre- |
sentatives. and in accordance with /
esta blished customs usages and forms
made our national and state !
constitutions and statutes and the
ordinances Of the city. and have there
in named, defined and outlined the |
qualifications, conditions, obligations |
and duties of each legislative. execu-
tive and judicial officer I have uni I
formly, and consistently with the ex-
pressed will of the people, supported |
all laws as such, and have as faith |
fully and determinedly opposed any and /
all policy of evasion, violation Of law |
or license of vice. as destructive Of the /
purposes of government and contrary /
to the true interests of the people, as
we'll as being, on the part of any Of /
fcer, an infraction of the official obli- /
CATION, on the part of the citizen an
act of disloyalty, dishonor and disre- /
spect and on the part of both and all, /
a step in the direction of anarchy and |
treason. I have not and do not rep |
resent the policy of any class, faction |
or interest, but the policy Of our gov /
eminent. national, state and municipal |
on all questions-that policy, which is
an embodiment in government. of the /
spirit and genius of our American peo- |
ple-that policy denOminated BY one /
writer "Anericanism. and which is /
and symbolized in our gIori- I
Gus stars and stripes. To such policy /
alone have or do I accord any reeog-
milton or acknowledge any obligation /
Further, the press of our state and |
this city with our own official city pa |
per. the Journal IS a representative /
is practically a unit and strong in /
pleading for the proper consideration |
of al laws as such and for the filth