The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-22
MASS MEETING.
Committee of Fifty Makes In.
formal Election Plans
Asks Candidates to Make Their
Public Pledges.
ORGANIZE AND ELECT
Meeting Last Night Nucleus OF
Bigger Conventions.
John SWitzer Forced Into the
Presidents Chair.
ORGANIZE AND ELECT

The keynote OF the big meeting of the
committee Of fifty at the city hall last
night was struck when Frank Curry
suggested that a big mass meeting be
held at the Auditorium in a few weeks,
at which meeting every candidate for
mayor or commissioner under the COM
mission form Of government would be
asked to state his qualifications for the
place and tell the people of his pledges
and promises.
This idea was first expressed by Mr.
Curry during the progress of the meet
ing, and practically all of the speakers
took up the sentiment and favored 1t,
with compliments to the inventor and
with additional details
The committee of fifty did not rec
ommend or endorse any candidates for
positions under the commission last
night. All those who went to the meet
ing expecting a general endorsement
over the city were isappointed-and
the council chamber was full OF WIS.,
itors.
But the committee did organize. name
itself. name and elect the officers and
perfect a permanent organization. 1t
Will be the purpose of the organization
to further in every respect the good of
the commission form of government
and attempt to give to the city Of To-
peka a thoroughly competent commits
sion for municipal government.
The whole meeting last night was
Topeka good set of commissioners
There were several manners of pro-
cedure suggested and a number of con-
hicting ideas and statements.
The women were not sighted last
night Out of the fourteen officers
elected by the assembly three of them
were women. The club women were
not present, though reference was made
to them throughout the evening.
The newspapers were given a neat
little package several times throughout
the meeting-in fact almost every
speaker condemned the newspapers and
blamed them for the sentiment that
they had allowed to be distributed out
over the city. Some one had to be
blamed and 1t is all right to place the
burden on the newspapers instead of
where it belongs-they are used to it.
The following ideas were expressed
during the meeting:
Frank Curry-It is not our duty to
pick out the candidates and say we
are In a position to Judge their COM
potency. My idea is to hold a big
mass meeting and invite all candidates
to come in order that we might see
them and listen to their pledges. Make
the candidates for city positions place
themselves on record before an Audi
forum full of people and they will have
to make good Topeka is tired of these
''gum-shoe" campaigns and 1t is time
that the people have something to say
themselves.
RI L. Cofran-We want men who will
apend their whole time in office, men
who will know when the city work is
done We want men who know some
thing about contracts and how to deal
with contractors. Topeka does not want
anv more Gilmore sewers or any more
streets living wide open during the win
fer We want contractors and inspec-
tors who will be watched and made to
live ND to their contracts. Finally
we do not want men like Waters who
n r. Barnaby-It is not question
Of what we want personally but what
is to the best interest of the city OF
1Topel<a 1t isn't some man or men but
ones who have ability, and honesty. We
ar here to see that Topeka's inter-
ests of the future are cared for-and
the best things of today.
Czeorre Adarnson-I do not think that
this committee has a right to say who
shall be commissioner or VINO snaIi not.
The working class of people are kick
inc, on the way things have been going.
7 40 not think that we should take the
mowers that belong to the people but
eirnplv get the voters out to the polls
and make them vote. we must con-
new government line. You can't get
notifies out of this election--I wouldn't
give cent for man who has not
entered American politics and worked
for his country in this way.
w G. Garvey-I don't believe In this
COMMITTEES starting out with cold feet.
I believe that we should recommend
certain men and stand by them If we
feel that they win make good commits
stoners. We should nominate this tick
Ct Then we could call mass meeting
a the Auditogtum and Let ths people