The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-08
ARE VOTING TODAY
independence Trying to Decide
on Government Plan.
Will Be Close Fight Over
Adoption of Commission.
OLD CROWDAGA INSTIT
Mayor Stitch Feels That It's a
Reflection on His Work.
People Pretty Well Satisfied
With This Administration.

Independence Kan. Dec. 8.-"Sure,
I'm for that new form of government
and want to do all 1 can for it. Let's
see, we are to hold an election on that
question some time before long, aren't
we?"
That's about the way the people of
Independence feel regarding commits
sion government, and the above express
sion from a merchant fairly represents
the interest taken in the fight. The
election is being held today, but no less
than so per cent of the people you meet
on the streets or in the stores and OF
fees find it necessary to ask the date.
And they never fail to express surprise
when told that the election day is at
hand. One man, who has been active
since the beginning of the movement 10
bring about the election, made bust
ness engagement that took him out Of
the city today-he had forgotten all
about the election.
I When the petitions were circulated
calling upon the mayor to issue an cleo
ton proclamation more than 1000 vot-
ers signed the roll, that is about 90 per
cent of the voting population. If the
same number vote for the plan today
it will be adopted easily. But with the
lack of interest manifested 1t hardly
seems possible that anything like that
number of votes Will be polled.
1t Was Business Ticket.
Two years ago Independence elected
A. c. Stitch for mayor, with a council
practically united in his support. The
administration was elected upon bus
mess issue. Mr. Stitch is the leading
citizen and perhaps the wealthiest man
in the town. He is a banker and has
lived in Independence more than a
quarter of a century. Mr.. Stitch togeth-
er with William Duncan, Thomas and
Charles Yoe, who have published the
South Kansas Tribune for So years; o.
P. Ergenbright, Lyman U. Humphrey,
Ex-Governor Tom Foster and a few
others have grown up" with the place.
When they came to Kansas 1ndepend-
ence was a frontier trading point 1t
was the WESTERN terminal of the old
Southern Kansas railroad, known then
as the Lawrence.f Leavenworth & Gal
weston line. They have never missed
town meeting" have controlled the
politics of the city and of Montgomery
county 1t was this crowd that used
to gather in the office of George r.
Peck, then a young lawyer to talk
matters over" And whatever policy in
relation toS politics, social events or
municipal affairs emanated from these
without debate -or=dissension in indie
pendence.
So when Mr.. Stitch was elected as
mayor of the modern Independence, the
metropolis Of the southwestern oil
fields upon business mems ticket, eV-
erybody joined in the boost for city i'm
provements. But year later at the
election to choose one-half the city
council, there was a decided setback for
the business administration. Every
candidate for councilman favored by
the mayor was defeated. and since that
time the council has been in dead
lock. 1t was this condition that brought
a bout the demand for the commission
form of government. The failure of the
ward representation plan was made APP
parent by the situation existing in the
council, and the extent of this senti-
ment is made apparent by the very
large number of persons who signed the
commission government petition.
No Change, Their Argument.
The apathy prevailing now is due
largely, perhaps, to the fact that the |
'old crowd is opposed to making any |
change in the form of the municipal
government.
independence is all right now"
they say. mo city in Kansas has |
made such substantial and satisfac- |
tory progress under the present sys- |
tenn. Why not let we'll enough alone?" |
And to those, who have lived here /
and seen the growth Of the town there |
is considerable force to the argument. |
But the "old crowd is not unanimous |
against the commission. Mr.. Ergen-
bright is advocating the commission |
plan.
when I came to independence" he |
said, the Verdigris river was only a |
creek. l have helped to elect mayors |
and councilmen here for years and |
years upon some factional or personal |
issue, but never, never in the issue of |
efficiency as involved in the idea of |
commission government. Indepen- |
dence has outgrown the old ward |
plan. 1t is the city of all others that |
should adopt a modern municipal gov |
/
Another peculiar feature is that the |
opposition to the commission plan is
quoting every day some passages from |
the law for cities of the first class
provisions that would not fit Indepen- |
dence at all-and are asking the Vot- |
ers: do you believe that we should |
vote such a law in our town." indie |
pendence is a city of the second class |
and the law quoted does not apply to |
his town. But apparently no one has |