The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-29

bitterness had been SO long drawn out
because Of the legal proceedings, that
Clay Center people could not let the
matter drop with political Issue. The
banks were drawn into the melee.
The First National bank is owned
by friends Of Williamson. It is one
of the strongest and Oldest banks in
that section of the state, and by itself
was able to make a stiff fight. But 1t
had for its ally. the local Savings bank.
Of which Williamson himself was
president. The two made powerful
ombination.
Opposed to these banks were the
Peoples National, the Union State
and the Citizens bank. George Han
ma, the mayor, and head of the anti
Williamson faction, was president of
one of the rival banks 1t was the
most natural thing in the world that
the banks, which must be relied upon
to finance the enterprises of a COM
munity, should be drawn into a COM
munity struggle. The friends of VIII
hanson, Coleman & Williams. gave
their assistance to the Williamson
banks, and the Hanna crowd" rush
ed to the support of the other three
banks.
Next Was . Rival Newspaper.
There are two old newspapers in
Clay Center-the Times and the Dis
patch. NJ. A. Southwick runs the Dis
patch and Del Valentine is editor of
the Times. The Dispatch is Demo-
cratic, and the Times Republican, but
the two papers were in harmony on
the city ownership issue; Both Beth went
was left without an organ.
The Clay Center Republican was
started. It has a capital of $50
and Williamson does not appear in
the list of shareh OlderS. A man name ed
PARROT was secured for editor, and
about 81 out of $50 shares are credit
ed to him. People say that this block
of stock is really owned by William
SON However, the stock OF the Re
publican is oWned@ by Williamson s
friends and so the question of wheth-
er Williamson himself owns any is not
material. The paper Is friendly TO
Williamson. and opposed to city own
ership.
Up to the present time. the rival
newspapers have been making faces
at each other and waiting for some
hOdv to touch off the fuse. This Is
bound to occur before long. and then
there will be a newspaper scrap which
will be worth coming miles to see The
new paper has a good equipment, and
apparently has come to town to stay.
Needed a Lawyer.
The Hanna crowd" felt the need
of a lawyer. 1t was unable to find
anybody in Clay Center who quite
measured up to the strength of the
Coleman & Williams firm: When
Hanna's people wanted a lawyer TO
fight the Coleman & Williams legal
proceedings in the bond business they
had to send away to get one Ihey
selected F. B. Dawes of Leavenworth,
one of the foremost lawyers or the
state a former attorney general, and
a man who justified the confidence
which had been placed in him by
beating Coleman & Williams thus rar
IN the legal battle.
Dawes was just the man the Hanna
crowd needed. He lived in Clay Cen
ter about ten years ago Then he was
elected attorney general and came
wider field for practice, and moved to
Ieavenworth Now 1t is announced
that Dawes is going back to Clay Cen
ter to live and Will probably put In
his time fighting Coleman & Williams
Now They Have a Mil.
f. L. Williamson & Co not only fur
nfshed electric lights for the whole
town of Clay Center at their dam at
the river. but they made enough cleo |
tricitv to run a huge flour mill with
a capacity Of 500 barrels a day. This !
-four mill is doubtless one Of the best |
equipped plants Of the kind in the
state. The Hanna crowd" conceived |
the idea of hitting a body blow at |
by getting control of the |
rival mill, also a big ESTABLISHING nt, |
owned by the Smell Milling company.
The Smell mill is run by steam. and |
has a capacity Of 800 barrels day |
Mr. Smell was DESTROYS of retiring from |
business, and Hanna, Valentine man |
named Pinkerton, miller. H H.
Starkw Gather, and other Clay Center
men friendly to the Hanna interests. /
put up the money to buy the mill. It /
is evident that the Williamson mill |
and the new milling company won't |
conduct their affairs with utter disre-
gard of the fact that their respective |
owners are fighting each other all |
along the line.
Has Reached the Free Stage.
oil
sents Itself in the Clay Center town
row: one of the most formidable rows
which has ever started in the state
The city and the Williamson com
pany have already quarreled about
rates on electricity for street lights
and the city ordered all the street
lights Of the Williamson company to