The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-18
MAY HOLD FORT.
RumOrThat Ramsey Will Retain
His Position.
Claims Right to Keep Place
Under Old Soldier Law.
HE WON'T DISCUSS 1T.
Too Early to Talk About the
Question.
Mr.. Green Still Confined to His
Home.
HE WON'T DISCUSS. 1T.

James Ramsey. street Commissioners
may resort to the old soldier prefer
ence act in order to retain his position
with the city. The politicians say Mr..
| Ramsey stands to lose his office be-
cause he got on the losing side in the
municipal campaign. 1t is claimed
| that he sided in with the forces back
of c. K. Holiday and by that act of
course forfeited his reappointment
under normal conditions.
But he still has a good foothold on
his position. In 1901 the legislature
passed an act giving an honorably dis
charged soldier or sailor of the war of
the rebellion the preference to an ap-
pofntment in every public department
in the state where he is equally COM
petent to perform such duties as any
other citizen and no one will deny that
Mr.. Ramsey has made good street
com missioner.
This last legislature amended this
further and made it more sweeping.
Tt cuts out the word equally and
simply states that such person shall
be given the preference if he is COM
petent to fill the duties of the office.
H. K. Goodrich, superintendent of
the city electric light plant, holds his
present position under this act. In
1903 Mayor Bergundthal who assum-
ed the chair appointed Porter Mitchell
superintendent. Goodrich refused to
step down or resign. He claimed that
he was at least competent as the
new appointee and took refuge under
the act of the legislature.
Quo WarrantO proceedings were
brought and the case was tried in the
supreme court. The attorney NJ T.
Campbell, for Mitchell acknowledged
that Goodrich was as competent as his
client and the court held as conse-
quence that Goodrich had the clearest
title to the position. With the further
amendment to the act by the last leg
islature the claim that Ramsey can
lay to the position of street commits
sioner is stronger than ever. Ramsey
is a veteran OF the. civil war and a
nFember OF Lincoln Post e. A r.
Frank Snyder who it is said can have
the appointment of street Commission
er from Mr.. Green if he desires it, is
on the other hand a younger man than
Ramsey and did not serve in the civil
war. VIM. Green stated that if elected
to the office of mayor, Snyder could
have any appointive position that he
desired. Snyder was Mr.. Green's
campaign manager, and was respon-
sible of course for considerable of the
success of the nomination of the latter
Understand though said Mr.. Green
that Mr.. Snyder has not even mem
TONED ABOUT Wishing any
position. That subject has never been
brought up in the course of our con-
versation SO far, and 1 don't know that
Snyder would care to accept any,
thing from me-"
Mr. Snyder occupied the position of
street commissioner under the Ber-
gundthal administration and has since
been engaged in the hous moving busi-
ness. He was good official
I really don't care to discuss the
tor r1id ATV~ Dor sGT
have thought of it some but I have not
made up my mind. 1t would not be
right for me to say anything about it.
In the first place 1 don't know what
reappoint me if he is elected for all
I know. In the view of all this il
would be dtscourteous for me to say
that intended to take advantage of
that law. l want to do the square
thing and that would not be quite
the square thing would it? 1 want to
say this much. I have not used the
office as political club. I let the men
in my department voted for Green and
still others for Swendson. 1 myself
voted for Holiday. However, 1 never
tried to force any of the men to vote
as I did. 1 let every man do as he |
thought best. 1 presume that there is
no question but I could hold the posi-
ton under that act but I am not anxi- |
Gus to resort to that. Naturally it ism t
but I don't care to discuss it any fur |
ther."
If such a thing should happen that
the Democrats should be successful in !
electing w. H. Kemper as mayor. which
it is not expected will take place, no |
doubt Ramsey would insist on holding
to his position under the old soldier
preference act.
Mr.. Green Still at Home
William Green, the Republican nonli~ |
For tn nj
home and there is no prospect that ne
will be we'll enough to get out of doors |
until the latter part of this week. He |
was up Saturday and moved about sew
eral of the rooms at his home, 921 Quinn |
cy street, but Sunday evening and this
he did not feel so we'll. He |
is troubled with insomnia.
A meeting of the Republican candi- /
dates for office was held Saturday even |
ing and as a result committee of /
three was appointed composed of Frank |
Snyder, Ernest r. Simon and c. H. |
Kutz to meet with the Republican city |
central committee and arrange for the |
campaign which will open up actively |
by the middle of the week. The Repub- |
Iicans will open headquarters immed-
lately though the location has not been |
fixed upon yet.
The city central committee reorgan-
ICES this evening and it is expected that
H. G. Larimer will be reelected chair
man.
The Democrats are preparing for i
luite a contest on the office of city at
Lorney and the councilmen in the First |
and Second wards. They have good
especially in these three par
tieulars and realizing this they will con-
eentrate their strength there.
The registration books for the cleo /
after the Republican pri-
mary The registration continues light