The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-22
In CITY POLITICS.
Interesting Developments in
Commission Plan Race.
Many New Petitions in Circula-
tiOn ON Streets.
MACFERRAN is OUT.
Bank Cashier Will Run for Of.
flee of Commissioner.
A. A. RObinJOn's Petitions Have
just Been Issued.

/
there have been a number of new de-
velopments in the boiling pot that will
make business pick up with the COM
mission poilticians who are desirous
of obtaining a chair under the COM
| mission form.
Probably the most important an
nouncement is the candidacy of Will
liam Macferran, cashier of the State
Savings bank, who will be run by
friends as candidate for commits
sioner. This move is considered one
of the strongest that has made its ap-
pearance in the campaign and it is
thought that the strength will last un-
til the final election and the banker
is on the list of eight who will be
shaken out of the election box.
The candidacy of Mr.. Macferran is
especially noticeable on account of
two facts. First. he is a man for
whom the commission form of gov
ernment was made. When the COM
mission plan was first adopted 1t was
with the understanding that all who
took positions would be business men
of the most conservative type-men
whom the lust of office would not
KILL men whom the spoils of office
can not buy The commission form
places the city in the place of big
corporation and the methods employed
are to be the same.
Second-The commission form does
away with politicians and on the ac-
count it is with JOY that the business
and public interests of the city well
come such candidates as Mr.. Macfer
ran. Mr.. Macfcrran has been the
cashier of the State Savings bank for
some time and he has taken great
interest in municipal affairs at all
times His work in the establishment
| of a banking, system in the public
schools in Topeka has attracted atten-
ton from all over the west and the
system has been copied in many in
stances.
1t is a we'll known fact that Mr..
Macferran has been forced into the
race by large delegation of business
men and bankers in Topeka. For some
| time it has been known that the bank
| ers were planning on running man
| to fill the office of commissioner and
the announcement that Mr.. Macferran
| will run reveals the result of their de-
cision.
The petition for Mr. Marferran has
been made out and is on the street at
this time. 1t is being signed eagerly
by Topeka business men. This ac-
counts for the successful atmosphere
that seems to settle around his race.
Mr.. Robinson, Too.
AS announced by the State Journal
about two weeks ago, A A. Robinson,
formerly general manager-chief en-
gineer = vice president, etc, of the
Santa Fe and president Of the Mexi-
can Central railroad, may be can
didate for commissioner. At the
time Of the State Journal announce
ment the friends of this gentleman
had only planned on the race. but pc
titions for his candidacy have been
issued and their signatures are being
sought.
1t has been pointed out that Mr..
| Robinson will make an especially
strong man with the city on account
of his engineering knowledge and his
| excellent business ability. The city of
| Topeka is adding millions of dollars
| of improvements to it's streets and
engineer of ability and standing head
| the department. Mr.. Robinson would
| take special pride in putting the city
engineering department on a firm
corporation basis and with his un-
! euualed knowledge of the work he
would give Topeka something along
| the engineering line she has never
had before. Mr.. Robinson has built
! hundreds of miles of railroad and has
accomplished some of the greatest
engineering feats of the country-the
! question naturally arises-what would
he do with the Topeka engineering
work?
Mr.. Robinson will be backed by the
men of the Santa Fe-and the Santa
Fe represents a following of about
1000 citizens in Topeka. He is doped
out by the students of city politics to
win one of the commissioner Jobs.
1t was thought for some time that
former City Attorney F. G. Drenning
| would be in the race for commission
| er. It is now known that Mr.. Dren-
ming has aspirations to be county at
| torney of Shawnee county and he will
/ devote his time to this work.
| Councilman Fink. who was also men,
| toned in the State Journal. has re-
leased his petitions and they are in
! circulation at the present time. Mr..
Fink is the newly elected councilman
! from the First ward. He is said to
have good boost from the Santa Fe
shops.
Councilman Jordan from the First
ward is also in the race. Mr.. Jordan
was petitioned to run by large num-
i Der of people before he got out his pa
/ pers and he was the first man to start
| the commission campaign. Mr. Jordan
| is out of the city and will be away for
about six weeks-when he will return
| and take up an active campaign for
! commissioner.
Candidates for Mayor.
The candidates for mayor mark nc
| changes. Mayor William Green will
make his official announcement this
| week, it is said. His petitions have
! been drawn up and are in the hands OF
the friends of the administration who
are ready to support the mayor at the
great administration behind him to use
| as a weapon in the campaign. Tho
records of the city during the last three
years were so good that they almost
defeated the commission plan.
Councilman J. w. f. Hughes is still
in the race for mayor but his petitions
have not been arranged and sent out
The colonel has made friends in Topeka
the last few weeks on account of his
somewhat vicious fight on the gas conn.,
pany Possibly, it is the general senti-