The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-04
AS THE CAMPAIGN CLOSES.

4 Inc battle OF ballots will take place
Tomorrow, The decks have been
cleared for action in the first contest
under the new plan Of government
| The questions to be settled tomor-
row are of great importance to To-
peka. The selection of the right men
] is paramount, for the success of the
new plan Of government depends large
| ~ on the selection of the right kind
of officials to initiate it. This is not a
time for hysteria. 1t should be the
A., occasion of sober, careful thought.
Which of the two men who are candi-
dates for mayor can best serve the
city? That is the issue direct. Per-
sonalities have no place in the cam
paign, though, unfortunately. they
have been dragged into it by well
meaning but misguided individuals.
The State Journal believes that VIM.
Green is better qualified to serve the
municipality than Mr.. Billiard. He has
had the experience necessary to a sue
cessfu1 executive. He has proven his
ability to handle the city affairs sue
cessfully. He appreciates the magni-
tude of the questions which the COM
mission must solve. and there is no
good reason why he should not have
vote of confidence-he has earned it.
4NO OhC CS1il mat w m. Green mas
not been good mayor. He has made
such mistakes as any executive will
make in handling the innumerable
questions of public policy which come
before him 1t is doubtful if there is
a man in Topeka who could have
made better record. Let the people
think these things over when they go
to vote.
It's to be deplored that the first
campaign under the commission form
of government should have been re-
sponsible for the development of so
much bitterness and personal villifica-
ton among the candidates, and espe-
cially in the campaign for the may
orally. It's too bad that it could
not have been fought out by the
friends of both candidates without
efforts to drag down the good name
and besmirch the regulations of those
who are running for Office.
1t matters not who started it.
Both sides have been guilty of it and
it has befogged the atmosphere to
such an extent that the real issue of
the campaign has been obscured-the |
selection of a mayor and four other |
commissioners who will be able |
through their experience or business |
To SSIdDllS1 IQ0 new m6lnOQ-l
of municipal rule in Topeka in the !
best possible fashion. 1t would ap-
pear that altogether too much stress |
has been laid on the mayoralty con- |
test. Under the commission form of |
government, the position of mayor as |
the nominal head of the police and |
fire departments is an important one. |
But it must be remembered that the |
head of these departments can be |
directed in their management along |
general lines by a majority vote of |
the commission. And so, an ade |
Quate all round commission-one |
that can be trusted to take no back |
ward step in any of the important /
matters that mean so much for the I
continued welfare of the city-is the +
thing that the voters are called upon /
to select. They should use just as
much care in it's choice as if they
were hiring men to do personal work.
AS the campaign draws to its close
nothing has been brought to light to
initiate in any way against the can
didacy of Mayor Green for reelection.
His record in public Office has been as
an open book. 1t is one of earnest and
honest effort to administer the affairs
of Topeka in the best possible way. 1t
mas DGen crowned WIFI d ldTR0
ure of success in many particulars.
The experience Mr.. Green has gained
in the management of the citx's many
activities would be invaluable to the
commission in formulating its lines for
procedure. Mr.. Green has been tried
and tested and not found wanting. No
possible mistake can be made bv the
people if they retain him In Office.
There should not be much difficulty
in the selection of four commissioners
to carry on the important and respon-
sible work that will be placed in their
hands. Among the eight candidates
for these places are men of expert
ence in civic affairs. men of technical
and business training who will be able
to do the things expected of them.
There is no need of specifying here
Just who these men are. The voters
surely have enough intelligence to
pick them out. and just to the extent
that this intelligence is used just so
will be the results.