The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-24
Prohibition People May Proceed
Against Mayer.
Quietly Holding Meetings to De-
eide on Action.
MUST SHOW MISSOURI.
Says That Conditions We're Mis-
represented by Mayor.
Must Get 25 Per Cent of the
Entire Vote.

If the plans Of large number of |
the church and prohibition people of
the city materialize a petition for the
recall OF Mayor Billiard will be circu-
lated on the streets of Topeka at once. |
Final action will be taken at a meet
ing tonight. His late stand ON the
liquor question, his presidency of an
organization which is fighting the pro-
hfbition interests and his alleged non
enforcement of the dry laws in To-
peka will be given as the cause for the
circulation of this petition. An effort
at secrecy has been made and the in
stlgatorS of the plan are not doing
much talking
Even if the instigators of this re-
call fail to obtain an election and a
majority of the voters fail to sign the
petition, they say they will not be dis
couraged. They say they want to
show the people of the state of Mis-
souri, that Topeka and Kansas do not
approve of the afti-prohibition views
expressed publicly by Mayor Billiard
Missouri will vote soon on the liquor
question and they say that the senti-
ments made public by Mayor Billiard in
late interview will be made cam
paign literature by the liquor and
! brewery interests of the state of Mis-
souri,.
Set Missouri Right.
To allow Missouri to read the ideas
1 of Mayor Billiard to the effect that pro-
| hibition is running the prosperity of
Topeka and Kansas, that it was a
| farce, that 80 per cent of the people
| of Kansas used liquor and that the
people were against the laws, is con-
sidered disgrace by the people of
the city who are planning on a recall
petition.
Think of it! Here we are allowing the
head of the capital city of a prohibi-
| ton state, state openly to the people
of this country that prohibition is a
failure and a farce" said H. B. How
| lowed by the people Of our sister state
! Missouri, and many believing Mayor
Billiard correct, will vote against the
prohibition amendment. 1t is a dis
grace to Topeka, and Kansas. Mayor
Billiard has perfect right to his own
IDEAS of course but when he speaks
| in this manner of Topeka and Kansas
he is Voicing the sentiments of a very
| small percentage of the people,"
| The publication of an interview in
the State Journal last Friday evening
which gave forth the ideas of Mayor
Billiard has aroused the people of other
cities in the state as well as the peo-
pie of Topeka. Many letters from out
of town city officials and church work
ers have been received in Topeka offer
| ing support to the annih1lation of the
mayors statements and signifying dis
| gust at the sentiments sent forth by
the mayor of this city.
| The Zumwalt Charges.
Following the mayors interview came
/ the statement from Clerin Zumwalt in
the State Journal Saturday evening to
the effect that the only raids made by
the police department in Topeka had
been tipped off, to the jointists and
'Sbootleggers'' before the police patrol
arrived.
Attorneys who have looked up the
matter declare that the mere fact that
Mayor Billiard is at the head of an or
ganization which has as one of it's by
laws a clause which states that the Or
ganization is opposed to the enforce
nent of the prohibitory law" is enough
to make the mayor liable to recall.
It is claimed that this is opposed to
the duties of the mayor as a public Off
Ger. Another attorney has it figured
out that the recent stand taken by
Mayor Billiard is treason and is sub
ject to fine, recall and Imprisonment.
Law in the Case.
The commission law gives the follow
ing information on the removal of
elective officers in part:
"The holder of any elective office
may be removed at any time by the
electors qualified to vote for a success
sor of such incumbent. The procedure
to effect the removal of an incumbent
of an elective office shall be as follows:
A petition signed by the electors en-
titled to vote for a successor to the ~
cumbent sought to be removed equal in
number to at least twenty-five per
centum of the entire vote for all can
didates for office of mayor at the last
preceding general municipal election,
demanding an election of a successor
of the person sought to be rozN owed,
shall be filed with the city clerk, which
petition shall contain a general state
nlent of the grounds for which the re-
moval is sought. The signatures to the
petition need not all be appended to
one paper, but each signer shall add
to his signature his place of residence,
| giving the street and number. One of
| the signers of each paper shall NAL lie
| oath before an officer competent to ad-
minister oaths that the statements
therein made are true as he believes.
and that each signature to the paper
appended is the genuine signature of
the person whose name it purports 10
be- Within ten days from the date of
/, filing such petition the city clerk shall
examine and from the voters register
: ascertain whether or not said petition
is signed by the requisite number of
. qualified electors"