The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-28

the best possible school facilities and
a decent compensation to the teachers.
And while he believes in a strict and
rigid economy in all city expenditures,
he does, not think it wise to let our
streets and public buildings go to ruin
for want of necessary and timely
renovation. 81
He does not believe in hiring cheap
men to do our work and look after
the city's affairs, anymore than in a
private business On the theory that
a cheap man is dear at any price, he
holds that competent men can only be
had at competent remuneration. And
that high grade talent is always cheap
est at its proper value.
AS to public ownership of the COM
mon utilities, he strongly favors mu-
nicipal ownership of all practical pub
lie necessities-the things that we all
need for our comfort, such as water
gas, light, etc. And as to those utili-
ties which only a portion of the people
use or must have. he believes in a
rigid supervision and regulation by the
city, so that no imposition shall be
worked on those who need the service.
He believes that such franchises as
street railways should be granted only
on condition that the city may have
full authority to regulate the cost of
service to the people, based upon the
actual cash investment in such enter
even actual value of the franchise
itself. And when the company makes
more than ten per cent on it's actual
cash outlay, then the city should par
ticipate. in just proportion, in all
excess profits, and should reserve the
right to always know exactly what
those profits are.
Mr.. Green is now and always has
been laboring man. He works from
morning till night, early and late and
earns every dollar that goes into his
pocket. And he gives generously to
every good cause, and his honor and
ability are never questioned by those
who really know him.. Like Gen.
Grant, his words are. few, but full of
meaning. If he says, Let us have
peace" he does not go on all day talk
ing about it in glittering generalities
and go to sleep still chattering about
1t, as some other people do. When he
sees that something needs to be done
for the good of the town he goes
quietly and energetically about the do
ing of 1t, realizing that actions do
busy world. And he never stands
round talking about how good a Re-
publican he is or has been, or how
much the party owes him for his faith
owes him an office in recognition of his
great and long service in its ranks He
believes with some of the wisest men
in the world that a public Office is a
pubic trust and that always the office
should seek the man and not the man
the office. Nor does he hang any ban
ners on the wall inviting the public to
call him to its service, as too many
others do.
He believes also, that the women
who are fit to be the wives and moth
ers of good citizens, have as much in
herent right to the ballot, as the
boozers and boot-leggers. and that
their right to say how and for what
their property shall be taxed, is at
least equal to that of the loafers and
lazaronf. who have no property to be
taxed, and that they have an equal
right with all men to voice in de-
termining what kind of laws and ordf-
nances they shall liver under and be
governed by. Himself an ''oId SOL
der" he believes that the national
memorial day should be a day for hon
oring. and not dishonoring the heroic
dead.-a day of real mourning, and
not a mockery. Oh. w. ROBY.