The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-08
Signed His Name for Last Time
This Afternoon.
EXPRESSED REGRETS.
Visitors, Friends and Officials
Congratulate the Mayor.
William Green Friend of the
Newspaper Reporters.

After three years Of constant work in
the mayors chair at the city hall
William Green, collected together his
personal belongings. closed up the big
roller top desk. took down his hat and
gave a farewell glance to the scene of
his active duties. this afternoon.
Needless to say the mayor disliked
to go-he hated to find it necessary to
cut in TWO the plans and aspirations
he had contemplated Of the success of
the first year of the commission form
OF government in Topeka. He hated to
retire from the midst of his active
f1irtations with new politics and to de-
sert the office he had been elected to
for two years, Mayor Green allowed his
enthusiasm for the commission form of
government to get away from him.
1t must be remembered that the
mayor could have given the commits
sion form of government such a blow
that it might never have been adopted
1T Topeka this year. in case he had so
desired. 1t was through his efforts to
adopt she rev form of municipal con-
troll that the government was voted
The mayor felt that it was the thing
for Topeka and as a result he sacri-
feed one-half of his qualified term of
office to push and work for the COM
mission form-and eventually to turn
over the keys of his desk to. a success
Sor.
Yes. it will seem strange not to come
down Quincy street every morning and
enter the city hail. said the mayor as
he was arranging some of his personal
correspondence this afternoon. 1T has
become second nature for me to leave
home and make for the city hall every
morning and afternoon and l expect
the natural course will have to be
fought down for some time to come.
Has No Sore. Spots.
But I am not retiring from the Of
fee with any sore spots" continued the
mayor. II hope for the success and
the pleasure of my successor in the
work and am sure that he will re-
ceive my hearty support in every way.
If there is anything that L can do to
help, l will be glad to offer my ser
vices-but know that in the new work
there will be little use for anyone's ad-
vice-the newly elected commission Is
well qualified to attend to all their du-
ties"
Just then City Clerk Rurge brought
in some official matter from the last
council meeting for the mayor to sign.
This was the last piece of city business
to come under his signature and taking
his pen slowly in hand and dipping it
into the ink the mayor wrote his name
the last time as mayor of Topeka" and
with the same characteristic and pre-
else signature the "Wm. Green" with
the extra flourish followed the course
Guess 1 won't have to bother you
anymore for those signatures said
Mr.. Burge.
mo, not for signatures of this kind"
laughed the mayor. Il don't remember
the first piece of official city business 1
signed but guess will remember this
last"
The signature was attached to an
ordinance giving the street railway the
right to remove their tracks near the
entrance oe the Melan bridge in order
that the contractors might excavate for
the extension of the structure.
RefWeen sentences pertaining to the
manner in which he has enjoyed his
work as mayor and the sorting and
distributing of his private correspon-
deuce the mayor greeted visitors ana
city officials who came in to the Of
flee during the day to bid him goodby
and wish him further success.
Every city official in the building Wis
tied Mayor Green's office this morning
and afternoon to express their regret
at his departure.
He Treated Them Right.
I'VE have been treated most courte-
ously by the mayor and have always
been given his consideration and MS
personal attention" said one of the Of
fcials today. There never was
mayor who has been so popular with
the officials around the city hall Mayor
Green had a good word for everybody
and still he was severe and precise IN
bis supervision of our duties.
Visitors from both the camp of the
Green supporters and the Billiard forces
filled the OIIlC6 all 0dy. SlnCc the Del-
tie is over and it is absolutely neces-l
sary that there be unison in the pull
for Topeka the personal antagonisms
have been laid aside IN most cases.
II want to take off my hat to you
and declare you one Of the very best
mayors ard the conductor of one OF
the best administrations in the city OF
Topeka" said a prominent business
man as he stepped INTO the mayors
office this afternoon. "And I wish to
add" he continued, that am mighty
sorry that this is the last time Will
be able to address you as Mr.. Mayor.
After an especially long siege OIL
these kind of compliments and fiatter-
ing expressions the mayor wheeled
around in his chair. held his cigar be-
tween his thumb and forefnger' ana
gazed out of his broad windows -
When the mayor makes this sort OF
a motion the newspaper men VINO ire
uuent the office always know that II Is
time to keep still ana walt for what
the mayor has to Say-becauSe II al
Ways means chat he is thinking up
for them. For several
minutes the mayor sat motionless with
his ewes fixed on some unknown object
across the street. Then as IL realizing
the kind words and the praises that
had been given his administration and
his work as mayor OF topeka ne
changed his position, rushed his cigar
to his mouth and halfway mumbled;
Hard to Give Up.
"Say-it is going to be hard to give
it all up"
And he meant it, too.
Mayor Green has always been popu-