The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-15
KANSAS CITY OK.
Commission Form of Govern
ment Is Adopted.
Result of Special Election in
Metropolis of Kansas.
OPERATIVENEXTYEAR
Next Step Will Be the Election
of Commissioners.
End of SIipshOd Methods of
City Government.

Kansas City, July 15.-By a majority
of 1,4S9 in a total vote of 7,211, cast at
a special election, held yesterday. Kan
sas City. Kan, adopted the commission
plan of government. The new system
is to become operative after commits
sioners are chosen at the municipal
election in April, next year.
The commission plan failed of adop-
ton at a special election in June, 1908
by majority of SS2. The Kansas law
then was defective. It was amended
at the last session of the legislature
and the vote at the second trial yester-
day was a reversal of the former YER
dict.
The total vote of 7.211 cast yesterday
was little more than 46 per cent of
the vote cast for the mayoralty candi-
dates at the regular city election last
April With no candidates running for
office and no other municipal question
at issue the vote is considered indi-
cative of the interest of the men and
women of Kansas City, Kan, in the
better government of their city.
Many persons, it was evident from
the returns. doubted the wisdom of u
change in the form Of municipal gov
ernment, honestly believing it to be an
experiment. The opposition to its
adoption. however, was made up for
the most part of politicians. office hold
ers and persons connected with public
service cOrporations-and it was from
these that the hardest fight was made.
Only Two Wards Against 1t.
The returns were all in before 10
O'Clock and were canvassed by the
mayor and council. They showed
majorities for the adoption of the
commission form in the Second,
Third, Fourth and Fifth wards, while
the First and Sixth wards gave small
majorities against it.
hn fee2T no ion fraV-f fIlo 1,1
ton of the commission plan of mu-
nicipal government was launched
early in May when petitions were put
in circulation asking Mayor Guyer
to call a special election. The petit
tions were signed by 3,4Ss qualified
voters. Upon the issuance of the
call for the election committee of
one hundred men was organized to
take charge Of the campaign. With
Willard Merriam, a real estate deal
er, as chairman. the committee in
cluded many. business and profession
al men of the city who were willing
to cast aside their party affiliations
in municipal matters to pull togeth-
a host Of efficient men and women
workers there were many speakers
who rode about the city making ad-
dresses from motor cars. Among
Mayor L. S. Guyer. H. E. Dean,
Winfield Freeman, E. S. McAnany,
James A. Gable and W. B. Sutton, jr.
"The adoption of commission govern
ment is the result of the new civic spirit
that has been awakened in this city"
said Willard Merriam. who was chair
man of tie commission fOrm campaign
committee. The people realized the
Importance of eliminating the kind of
municipal government that accomplish
ed nothing and handicapped the best
development of the town. The vote to-
day was merely the expression of that
opinion The officeholders who Joined
bands with the special interests to de-
feat this fine public sentiment afforded
the best illustration in the world as
to the necessity for municipal gov
ernment that makes efficient public SER
vice, rather than a political job, the
first consideration of public officials
kansas City, Kan, has taken the
most import ~~- step in it's history, and
the results will Justify the wisdom of
the civ1c spirit which won the splendid