The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-20
Prominent Citizens Do Not Make
Best Commissioners.
MUST GIVE ALL TINE.
Insist on Undivided Attention
Of Those Chosen.
Committee of Fifty Named to
Consider Candidates.

Efficiency is the key note said
Henry ]. Allen, editor of the Wichita
Beacon, last night at the Auditorium
in the course of his address on the
plan OF city administration. GU
ought to have as a commissioner
first class engineer" he continued, ana
this was a point which especially ap-
pealed to the audience. judging from
the applause which followed You
ought to secure the best engineer you
can get"
The attendance at the mass meet
ing was better than had been antici-
pated and while the big hall was not
packed to overlooking. still, there was
not the appearance of lonesomenesS
which prevailed when the opponents
of the commission plan some months
ago attempted to hold large meeting
of protest A rough estimate would
place the attendance at nearly 1000.
There was no attempt to select can
didates for the coming election. and
this was a disappointment to rev
persons. who were expecting to ma
that this was the real object of the
gathering. A committee of fifty was
chosen by the chair. including several
ladies who are especially interested IN
civic affairs in Topeka.
This committee will be divided into
subcommittee and a thorough can
vass made of the situation as concerns
the coming election of mayor ana
commissioners. The petitions which
nave
aspirants for places on the board of
commissioners and their friends Will
be seriously considered and other
available material sought. Later. the
committee will prepare a slate which
will be submitted to the people for
their consideration.
The special invitation which was
given to the feminine portion of the
population of Topeka was effective, in
asmuch as the women were better rep
n 10 al
political meeting for many moon.
Aside from the address by Henry
Allen. Marshalls band was draw
ing card. This part of the program
lasted for an hour and was well appre-
ciated by the audience. especially the
old plantation airs.
Gas a Democrat" said ]. F. Switzer,
in introducing Mr.. Allen. "I had almost
given up hope of ever presiding over
such a meeting as this. have always
been beaten in political aspirations.
either on account of politics or my pic
ture."
Mr.. Aliens Speech.
There is certainly a revolution go
ing on in human government when
man from Wichita is called to address
the citizens of Topeka" said Henry
Allen. I'VE are here to discuss a mod
ern form of city government which
meets the business judgment of man.
There is no more call for a parti-
san management of the business af-
fairs in Topeka than there is in con-
nection with the management of q
bank. The operation of the municipal
government is a business proposition
and nothing else when properly oper-
ated.
Every citizen is a stock holder and
he ought to have the same regard for
the men who constitute the board of
trustees of the government as he has
for those who constitute the board of
trustees of his business.
tenn of government before so modern
and it's success depends upon the peo-
pie used to hear it asserted that it
is un-American to place the affairs
OF the city in the hands of five men.
I am sure that if you watch it in OPP
Grafton in Topeka for a year there
will be no one who will believe that
IT is a departure from our demo-
cratic form OF government.
IF you are so unfortunate as to get
man who is not competent you have
the recall. I don't suppose that you
will have to use it. Don't get too
many prominent citizens. A promi-
nent citizen is usually man who has
retired from business and doesn't
have to work. Mr.. Allen said that
he was speaking from personal OBJ
servation in respect to the working
of the new plan, and here he gave
some illustrations.
Don't take a man judging him on
the basis of his past business exper-
fence" continued the speaker. Don't
ask man who has a large business
to become commissioner. Take a
man from the ranks who is honest
and can afford to work for $500 a
year. What you want is a commission
that has no ornamental features-a
commission that is willing to work
Don't select commission because it
will look we'll in print.
Must Give All His Time.
f'DOn't Won select 2 man who will
give but one-half of his time to his
job Be sure that he works full time
and that he is willing to work. A man
of this type will do his best because
there is always the recall and the
power Of the public gaze is more pow
erful than any force that can be turn
ed on a public servant.
IF a wealthy man is elected as a
commissioner he usually accepts the
office because he thinks it his duty to
do so. He does not take up the duties
of the office on account of the emolu-
ments derived therefrom, but because
he is a prominent man in the city.
Take my word for the assertion that
this is not the sort a man that Topeka
needs on her commission. The best
thing about the new system is that it
insists on competent service.
This law is a challenge and invita-
ton to every person in city to de-
Velop better citizenship. If we want
70 make this government a success we
must get together and watch the find
ings of the committee of fifty.
This system of government is
modern because it brings the job and
the man in close relationship. Eff
cheney is the key note. This system
demands individual responsibility If
you go along q street in Topeka and
find that a sewer is out OF order you
know at once that it is the business
of the commissioner who has the care
of the streets and alleys to remedy the
ho 70 hi 81,
act Immediately. He knows that he
must make good in the position in
which he has been placed. He knows
it is his duty to satisfy you.
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