The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-11
w. I'll. Kemper Democratic Can.
didate for Mayors Chair.
TWELVE OTHERS OUT.
Many Men Would Be City Com
~ missiOners.
Jordan, Robinson, Snyder and
Miller Are FavOrites.

been the latest series of develop
ments in the political life of Topeka s
city government The commission
form of government which is due to
bring out the candidates for commits
sioners and mayor has caused a new
| sensation in city politics. To be a
| city commissioner means not only a
good position politically but a good
| salary.
In the last week several new shin
| ing lights have been carried out on
| to the field and their binding rays
| have made many of the old candi-
dates look like a lantern on sum-
mer day. Not only have they taken
| the old politicians off their feet but
| they have helped to demonstrate that
the commission form of government
will be city government run by
business men and not politicians. 1t
| is the ambitions of the business men
of Topeka to place man at the head
| OF the government who will run the
| city on a corporation basis and not
as a kindergarten.
The candidates for mayor are about
the same as last reported in the State
Journal. Mayor William Green.
| Councilman Howard are still known
to have ambitions. Councilman Jor-
| dan, who was slated for the place not
long ago has spoiled one bubble by
getting out his petition for commits
sioner-the first petition in the his
| tory OF the new government race in
| Topeka.
It has been definitely announced
that L. M. Penwell will not run for
| mayor. Although the political rar-
| ties are not supposed to be separated
| in this election-they are, and it was
| thought for time that Mr.. Penwell
would run. He is member of almost
every lodge and secret society in To-
peka and most popular man. The
| hopes of his friends were wrapped up
! in their confidence that he would win
| easily-but he refuses to allow his
name to be connected with the race.
| In his place as a representative OF
the Democrats of the city, w. H.
Kemper has been mentioned and it is
| known that he will make the fight.
| Mr. Kemper is well acquainted with
| municipal affairs and has strong
support
The other three candidates stand
as they did when the last dope was
given out. Mayor Green with his ex-
cellent record behind him and Coun-
Gilman Howard with the strong sup
| port of the young men and the
church societies over the city. Coun-
Gilman Hughes has recently been a
strong favorite on account of the gas
conditions in Topeka at this time. 1t
will be remembered that it was Col
onel Hughes who has fought the pres
ent gas franchise ever since it was in
corporated in the city laws. He
fought it when it first came up and
every time it is mentioned in the city
council meetings General Hughes
never missed a chance to point out
its clutches on the city. In former
at their councjlman-states but
since the recent revelations they re-
f1ect-and wonderland now they see.
With a strong prejudice and a
strong feeling against the gas COM
pany and an Unsuitable desire to make
them come to terms with the con-
sumers in this city, Councilman
Hughes has a chance as mayor that
has never appeared before. Then, the
colonel has a little following of his
own that have always given him a
position on the council-and they are
mayors chair.
It will be a pretty fight all the way
through.
From the talk at this time the
ped down upon the heads of Council
man Jordan Of the First ward, Street
Commissioner Snyder, A. A. Robin
son and Councilman Miller of the
Second ward.
saThe election of Councilman Jordan
as commissioner is generally conceded.
He has been a great factor in the pres
ent city administration and his election
has been regarded as a reward for past
services as we'll as an expectation for
bigger things in. the future. His petit
tions are out and they are being signed
eagerly. His friends circulated a pre-
liminary petition asking Mr.. Jordan to
run for the position. This is the first
action of this kind that has ever been
taken.
A. A. Robinson Suggested.
The other three commissioners are
liable to be the men mentioned above.
A. A. Robinson has made no campaign
and he has never mentioned the race to
anyone but there are class of business
men and financiers in Topeka who want
the famous railroad builder-engineer-
official and president and they are go
ing to elect him and then ask him if
he will not serve. 1t has been stated
that Mr.. Robinson could conduct the
office of the engineer in Topeka until
every city in the country would stare
with wonderment. Mr.. Robinson is un-
doubtedly one of the greatest living
railroad engineers today. He has built
hundreds of miles of the Santa F'e and
has served as vice president, chief en-
gineer and general manager of the
road. He was also at one time presi-
dent of the Mexican Central railroad.
His friends will push his campaign but
it is thought that it will run along
smoothly enough without any pushing.
The candidacy of Street Commission
er Snyder is a new bomb in camp but
1t is on the slate. However, there may
be a little division in this instance It
will either be Street Commissioner
Snyder or Councilman Tandy. These
two men are great friends. 1t was
through the influence of Mr.. Snyder
that Mr.. Tandy was first appointed
councilman-he was afterwards elected.
Mr. Tandy has made an excellent Of
fetal. Mr. Snyder is the most valuable
street commissioner in the history OF
Topeka and he has conducted his office
and his work along the most economical