The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-18

M G. Holman W. + Arnold
c. C. Booehr.
The liveliest race for mayor and the
dulIest race for commissioner is all the
people of Topeka can be promised in
the coming campaign for commission
ers of the city.
The candidates for mayor are as en-
thusiastic and energetic as the candi-
dates for commissioners are inactive.
1t is an outlook that promises little for
the city politicians until after the pri-
maries.
But that fight for mayor! 1t will be
worth staying up all night in front of
the State Journal bulletin boards to
watch. And not until the last report
is flashed before the crowds on the
night of the primary and regular cleo
ton will the people know who is who.
Some disintereSted voters have an
idea that Billiard and McNeal for may
or are occupying the stage and only as
a chorus so to speak will Hughes and
Lux make their bow to the public. But
there is something doing behind the
scenery. True it is Lux and Hughes
are not dancing in the footlights-but if
you stay in one place long enough these
days you will be approached by work
ers of both these candidates-and be-
fore you can break away from them
they will tickle your voting palate.
The very fact that General Hughes
and Sam Lux have determined to for
won them friends. Hughes, for in
stance, is running on purely city bus
mess administration platform and Lux
has won votes by declaring himself
booster for Topeka and promoter of
her interests.
Between Billiard and McNeal, of
course the fight will he on the wet
and dry platform. Although Mayor
Billiard has not declared that he is ex-
pecting the dry votes he has made his
ideas on prohibition public so many
times that voters will take his word
that prohibition is a farce in Kan
sas' and vote with him.
McNeal Represents Drys.
McNeal is pulled into the race by the
churches and the dry interests. He
has taken a slap at prohibition in
all the speeches he has made and his
sympathy is with the dry" element
and from the demonstrations shown
good part of their symnathies are with
him. He is popular personally and one
of the cleverest speakers and campaign
erS in the state.
The average prohibition worker will
declare that in the primaries Billiard
and McNeal will be nominated and Nc
Neal will win. They admit, however,
that the church people of the city will
have to get out and vote. On the other
hand the VETS" appear confident of the
| reelection of Billiard They claim he
has made a good mayor, has conducted
| the city business in a buslness-l1ke
manner and has enforced the prohibi-
| ton law to the entire satisfaction of all
despite the retort from the "dryS
| that the town has been a little damp
But it must not be forgotten that
while Billiard and McNeal are saving
the dry and wet ends off from the
election planks there is another pile
| of sawdust in the woodshed. In fact
there are two more piles-and they are
growing under the leadership of Lux
and Hughes
Sam Lux made a hit with the peo-
pie of Topeka the other day when he
| came out in the State Journal through
| his advertising feature that he was a
| booster for Topeka and would devote
| a big part of his time helping the
| prosperity of the city. Out in San
| Diego, Cal, a man won many cleo
lions for mayor just on that one plat
| form-a booster for the town and
/ worker for her growth. The manner
in which Lux is opening his campaign
in this direction is winner with
many voters in the city.
| General Hughes lis an out and out
believer in running the city business
| in a progressive manner. He declares
| that if elected mayor he will do as he
| has done before-take a personal in
terest in every detail of the work He
will even go so far as to have fire
|
will answer all general alarms. Like
wise he asserts that he Will accom-
pany the police on all raids that are
planned. The experience of the gen
eraI in these things and in the city
work as a councilman for many years
4 will make him a favorite candidate for
the position. And then there is an
other feature that the people of a
city can't help but notice when they
select a mayor-they want man who
will make a good impression in pub
lie gathering when he is called upon
to make a welcome to our city,
| speech. General Hughes and Tom
McNeal will make good impressions
| for the town in this capacity.
All Appear Serene.
''How is the campaign ?" was asked
| of McNeal.
! Lovely" he answered. 1.-THE petit
| tions, am told, will include strong
list of representative people. The
| friends of the cause are working
| hard"
"How is it with you?'' was asked of
| General Hughes.
Great" he answered in his char
acteristic way. Couldn't wish for
| better encouragement than I have re-
|