The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-24
A CIVIC DUTY.

a r6dSOudDly Iu1l expression OF Op1n-
ion on the part of the voting population
Of a community is most desirable at
any and every election. This does not
often happen. unless the election is of
national caliber. But as a real matter
of fact the outcome of many local cleo
tons are of more vital concern to the
people of the locality than would any
change be in the administration of ma
1ional affairs no matter how radical. It
is also the case that most of the men
who are freest with their criticisms of
the way their city affairs are conduct
ed are among the large number who
either forget to register or vote at the
local elections. They miss the one OPP
portunity where their voice in shaping
the administrative policies of their COM
munities would count for something.
In this 1axity in performing the high
est prerogatives of citizenship they fail
to do their full duty to either them
selves or their municipality.
There should be few such men and
women in Topeka when the primary
day comes on March e for the nominal
ton of candidates for the Office of
mayor and the commissionership
from whom will be selected at an cleo
ton later on the men who will be
charged with the establishment of the
commission form of government in this
city. In order to participate in this
primary every voter must be lawfully
registered and the registration books
close on March Is. Every voter in the
city owes it to himself or herself and
to his or her neighbors that he should
qualify to participate in this. the most
important local primary that has ever
been held in Topeka.
To change the methods of governing
city is no slight undertaking. 1t is
most serious business. 1t should be en-
trusted to none but the abIest men.
And because Of the many candidates in
the field, especially for the commits
sionersnips, it is important that the
largest possible vote should be polled
in the selection of the most desirable
candidates. Such a selection cannot be
made with a light vote, for the very
good reason that one or two Of the
candidates might have a strong enough
purely personal following to insure
their selection with the total vote cast
divided up among so many candidates
If only a small vote is going to be poll
gu Ut IH0 pIliudEy anu Tic IOIAOWII1S
election it is quite possible that a COM
mission might be selected, whose mem
bers would not be acceptable to a con-
siderable portion of the voters, but the
latter would have no shoulders on
which to place the blame but their own.
Then, too. there is most important
side-issue to this primary. 1t concerns
the nomination of six candidates for
places on the local board of education.
1t is needless to enter here into the
merits Of the discussion concerning the
schools. Suffice it to say, there is a
strong sentiment in the city in favor
of a change in the administration of the
schools and a reformation of the
courses of study. There is only one
way to bring such change about That
is to start in at the top and change the
personnel of the school board. This is
matter which is worthy of the sober
attention of every voter and one on
which they should express their opin
ions with a large vote one way or the
other at the coming primary.