The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-18
THE KANSAS CITY ELECTION.

Washington. 1t is understood that the
step appears absolutely necessary
THE KANSAS CITY ELECTION.
William Allen White sees great things
for Kansas in the street railway fran
chise election at Kansas City, which
created great excitement in Missouri,
but little noticeable concern in Kansas
outside of the pages of the Kansas City
papers circulating in this state.
The Metropolitan Street Railway COM
pany of Kansas City, Mo, certainly
met with an overwhelming defeat this
week in its effort to extend its fran
chise which had sixteen years yet to
run. The Kansas Times and Star
which cover the city like blanket have
been engaged for months in terrific
campaign of opposition to the COM
pany. printing editorials day after day
on nearly every news page triumphed.
Indeed if there be anything in newspa-
per influence it would have been al
most a miracle had defeat followed.
Here is an explanation of the situa-
ton from an apparently unprecedented
source.
1.-THE proposition to extend the Metro
politan Street Railway company fran
chise was defeated by 1851 at the spec
ial election. The opposition carried ev-
cry ward of the Il. with the exception
of the First and Sixth.
1.-The result of the election means
that Kansas City will continue to pay
8 cent fares for the next 16 years, at
which time the companyS franchise eX-
pires. The Metropolitan has bonded
Indebtedness of $4,000, 900, portions of
which fall due from year to year, be-
ginning in 1911. AS an inducement to
the city to grant them % years fran
chise extension. which they claimed
was necessary in order to secure mon
ey to take care of the bonded indebt-
edness as it became due, the Metro
politan agreed to establish a cent
fare, with universal transfers.
Said 1t Must Meet Debts.
The Metropolitan argument for
asking for franchise extension at this
time was that with their present fran
chise expiring in 16 years they were
unable to again underwrite their bond
ed indebtedness as it became due.
1T was a featureless election, and to
all appearances an honest one.
Bernard Corrigan, president of
the Metropolitan. issued the following
statement:
1.-The result of the franchise cleo
ton is a disappointment to the COM
pany.
"'For the purpose of securing
money to pay maturing bonds. build
extensions, buy new cars and improve
the service it became necessary to
have an extension of its franchise,
and the company frankly SO stated to
the people of Kansas City The
voters did not appreciate the necessi-
ties of the company.
TT will have to meet it's obliga-
tions. What effect this will have on
the service can not be forecasted at
this time.
"The problem of refinancing still
confronts us
White Is Wild Over 1t.
William Allen White, who sees a
Kansas issue in it, commenting on the
result praises the Kansas City (Mo.)
Star to the skies and in the same
breath denounceS what he classes as the
thieves and robbers connected with the
Kansas City street railway coupling up
with these alleged outlaws at least six
of the honored congressman from Kan
sas-men of as high reputation for in
tegrity and honorable dealing as are
ever chosen to represent this great
state. Why Mr. White should besmirch
these men is hard to conceive and is
sure to be resented He denounces the
national committee and all the Repub-
licans, who stood by the president, and
sees nothing but evil in every congress-
man save one or two and in no senator
save one.
Mr.. White says: 1--WE expect to have
a fresh land breeze here in Kansas
when the congressman who sold Kansas
to the trusts last summer come UP for
denomination. 1t is all one fight, and
the Kansas congressman will have the
support in the primaries of the same
forces that tried to cram fraudulent
franchise down the threats of Kansas
City's citizens yesterday. The plumber
bund used the Democratic organization
in Kansas City. 1t will use the Repub-
liran name in Kansas and through the
national committee. the plunderbund,
from all over America, will flood Kan
sas with money, deodorized and shot
through with the formaldehyde of party
regularity to remove the stencil and
faint. That money will buy newspa-
pers, hire workers. control law offices
and try to make Kansas believe that
robbery is the best form of government,
just as the robber barons of the Rhine
imposed their civic morality upon those
IL. L. i