The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-01
POLLS OPEN EARLY
Voting Will Commence TOmOr-
row at 6 A. NJ.
People to Decide on the Com
mission Form.
FRIENDS ARE HOPEFUL
Satisfied They Have Enough
Votes to Win.
Opposition by Office Holders and
the Politicians.
FRIENDS ARE HOPEFUL

Tomorrow is election day. Then
the much discussed question will be
decided whether the people of Tope-
ka want to replace the present form
of city administration for the commits
sion plan, which has proven most sue
cessful in other cities where it has
been adopted.
The matter has been debated for
weeks in the city, and now cllnaS
has been reached in the matter OF
discussion, and interest has become
intense among those who expect to
cast their vote tomorrow. A predlc-
tion can hardly be made at this time
in regard to the outcome of the cleo
ton. but every voter is urged to snow
his or her loyalty towards the city py
turning out to the polls to vote.
The last meeting for the discussion
of the commission form of govern
ment will be held at the AUDITORIUM
this evening under the auspices OF the
opposing forces. w. H Kemper Will
be in the chair and D. c. Tillotson
and P. H. Coney will speak although
it is probable that their arguments
will be answered by an advocate OF
the commission plan-
Women Taking an Interest.
Although not large percentage of
the women of Topeka who were ellg-
ibIe to vote registered for the election,
many of those Who are now qualfhed
to vote are taking an active interest
in affairs and there is an especially
large number of them who are exert
ing untiring efforts in the interests
of the new plan. II am like an old
war horse,'' said one woman this
morning, who belongs to this class
AT the close of every election make
up my mind that l won't get out and
work another time, but when the next
election comes around L am just
crazy"
After the agitation on the part of
the committee in charge of the cam
paign in favor of the commission plan
registration was heavy al the office of
the election commissioner, and the ad-
Vocates of the plan believe that most
OF the people who registered at that
t me were in favor of the commission
form. The agitation against commits
sion government did not start until
after the books closed. In connection
with a telephone canvass of 5000
voters which included both those who
had and had not at the time register
ed, 90 per cent of those who expressed
themselves gave a preference for the
rev plan. There were a good many
q hers who refused to state how they
81 tood and it is safe to say that a GER
tain percentage of them Will vote mo-
at the polls.
Opposed by Politicians.
There is pronounced opposition
among the negro voters. There is also
opposition from the Office holders and
politicians, one class fearing the loss
Of their jobs and the other objecting
to the nonpartisan feature of the COM
mission. There will be no party tickets
at the city elections if the plan is
edopted.
There are those who oppose commits
sion government for Topeka, who be-
lieve that the plan will not carry, but
the advocates of the proposition are
convinced that it will win out, but no
one is now claiming that the election
will carry by an overwhelming ma
jority.
I'VE believe, and 1 am speaking for
80 per cent of the members of the Com
mercial club said Secretary George S.
BadderS this morning, that the COM
mission plan stands for progress and
such a plan should be adopted for the
good of the business men, professional
men, laborerS and above all for the
taxpayers, as statistics from other
cities show that taxes have been re-
duced directly or indirectly wherever it
is tried.
while it is true that laboring mems
wages have increased in cases where
the commission plan has been adopted,
the efficiency has justified this increase,
and the running cost of these cities has
actually been reduced. We believe that
the methods of running a city should
be the same progressive business meth
DDS used in any business, and we be-
neve that this is the best solution Of
the municipal problem. No harm can
result from trying the new form and
possible great good, and we believe
that it should be tried.
IF the plan should fail in Topeka we
could easily return to the old FORM
The polls will be open from 6 a. ln
- p M, and the following are the
places designated for voting in the
precincts and the judges named:
FIRST WARD.
First precinct-Judges: T. Nj. James.
II. Hail, j. p Jacobs Polling place. SIS SIS
N. Kansas avenue.
second Precinct--Judges: R. B. McMas-
J. D. Pratt. G. M. Williams. Polling place.
''1 Third precinctEJudges; w. S. Bergund-
fhs 9Isrks p B Gresg Geo Il seb"ndy sBfvsrly
Fourth precinct-Judges: ]. Q. A. Pey-
ton. ]. H. Allen, Frank jacques. Clerks:
w. 7. Guise. L. c. Betz. Polling place,
400 n. Kansas avenue.
SECOND WARD.
First precinct-Judges: E. d: Hawes. j.
Waters. Jesse Persley Polling place, 2ss
Jefferson street.
Second precinct-Jgdges; W a. Stans-
v F. Roby VIM. c. Heise. Polling place.
4Oi Madison street
p. Sawyer. Thos. Blair. Clerks: l. 4.
Waideiich. ], w. Brokaw. Polling place,
Fourth precinct-Judges: A. NJ. Russell.
d. NJ Lane. ]. c. Yohey. Clerks: Free
A. Candy. ]: Z. Brizendine. Polling place.
1lO9 F. Sixth avenue.
Fifth precinct-Judges: Cyrus Guthrie.
John +. Carter. p. H. Souther. Clerks
J. C. Ise' man. F. Z. Baird. Polling place,
Auditorj Im.
sixth precinct-Judges: Geo. F. Heustis,
F. S. Paddock, James Duree. Clerks: D.
A. Sayler. C. E. Robbins. Polling place.
THIRD WARD
~,-a1i1at-T.,duae.
w. T. Wiley. B. G. Walker Clerks:
Ralph Squires. H. G. Wierenga. Polling