The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-05
1T ISN'T POLITICS.
Sensational Statement in City
Commission Middle.
StOtts DenOunces "Old Snyder
Political Machine"
CROCODILE TEARS.
Commissioner Has No Use Tor
Tandy "SOb Squad"
"PeOple of Topeka Want a Brand
New Administration.
CROCODILE TEARS.

1t is all right to talk of harmony
among the city commissioners-ah
all that. But when the commissioners
decide to bury their hatchets they eNi-
IDENTIFY overlooked one man VINO was a.
the grindstone with sparks nylns III
every direction-that man is +. b.
Stotts, the new commissioner Oh PaiAa'
With his hatchet sharpened 10 d
razor edge and with 200 POUNDS u
flesh behind it, Commissioner Stotts
has caused new demonstrations III tue
war between the Triumverata ana the
Bone-Tandy forces.
Declaring that Topeka is getting
tired of the old political machine that
has dictated city politics for 20 years
that the recent sympathy for Commits
sioner Tandy is nothing but crocodile
tears with a sob squad benediction,
and that the old administration caused
the loss of thousands of dollars ana
MANY lives to the city, Commissioner
Stotts issues the most sensational and
pointed interview of the war today.
How Stotts Figures 1t.
He says:
"a strenuous effort has been made
during the past few days by rev ~
terested ones to create sympathy LOT
Commissioner 1dnQY anu pAelNN nm -
the roll of a prosecuted martyr on dc-
count of the majority members OF the
commission naming the street COM
missioner. The facts warrant no SucH
a fearful demonstration and the ma
iority members of the comm sslon are
attempting to do just what the puphc
Is been clamoring for and deserving
flor years.
For the past twenty-five years To-
peka has been governed by pohtlcal
Eac oh the
destinies of many an aspiring once
seeker, as we'll as the city ltsel1. II
was the unpopular domination of this
clique which was largely responsible
for the adoption of the commission
form of government.
THE commission form OF govern
ment fell heir to the old machine
which has dominated the government
of the city for years and that to the
serious detriment of the city 1t was
delivered to the mayor and commits
sioners in splendid working order ard
the commissioners who were elected
for one year left it alone, for the very
good reason that they were placed in
a position where they had to as it's
mem bership had largely been ap-
pointed for two years by Mayor Green
or some of his predecessors.
Il am taking the commission form
of government seriously and am try
ing to live up to its precepts. For
y
political organization the keystone of
which in recent years has been Frank
Snyder, the deposed street commits
SiOner and az a compliment to him l
wish to say that the old vehicle has
been in fair working order up to the
time the commission form of govern
ment was adopted.
Jobs According to Politics.
Under Mr.. Snyder are the street
foremen and workmen practically eV-
cry one of whom were named in the
days of ward politics and were select
ed and given positions according to
their political value. At the last cleo
tion and primary held, mind you, IN
der the commission form of govern
ment, some of the street foramen,
many of the men under them and their
wives and families as WELL spent DAYS
working for certain friends who ow
cry politics. This work was done
while these cogs in the machine were
drawing their salaries from the city.
During the reign of Mr.. Snyder as
street commissioner and the political
organization under him, known as the
city street force, the city has spent
something like $4,000 in settling
damage cases caused by accidents and
the end is not yet. Two men have lost
their lives, in the last two wears two
widows and several orphans have
been made and number of men in
iured.
- Some one blandered when the Twen-
ty-frSt street bridge fell and carried
Frank Boswell to his death leaving be-
hind a wife and two small children
The city compromised with the widow
by paying her $4,000 and all expenses
incurred i'm burying her husband Frank
Hayes who went down with the struc-
ture was paid $1,000 by the city COM
nissioners and kept on the payroll
for months and several hundred dol
lars in extra expenses paid.
The widow of Claude Finson, who
was killed under the Snyder reign
when the Seventh street fire. cistern
was blown up, has a verdict against
the city for $4,000 and Snyder, Potts
Swinburn. Robinson and Dice who were
injured at the same time, have never
effected a settlement of their claims
for this accident. and have filed claims
aggregating $4,000 against the city.
Fillmore Street Bridge.
THE department Mr.. Tandy has
charge of attempted to have a bridge
across the Shunganunga on Fillmore
street after the community had voted
bonds for that specific purpose
1.-THE structure was condemned lust as
it was about completed and it stands
today as a monument to the mcconnell
ency of the old political way Of manag
ing the city's affairs. Residents of that
section are unable to reach the city
without travelling a circpitous route.
InelT nsli reaches IIlenl out once day,
the ice men refuse them deliveries and
the Iaundrymen and grocers are indif-
ferent about the trade of these people,
across the creek
For almost year this condition has
prevailed and these citizens paid their
own money for this bridge and are pay
ing taxes for privileges which are de-
MED them. In the name of common
decerCy is it not about time that some
thing was done. The streets of the civ
are not in good condition and especial
~ Kansas avenue. Is it not time we
cJit loose from politics even if it is nee
SSsary for the majority of the com
/missioners to demand that political
Followers be RELOCATED to the rear and
good service rendered to the civ.
THE commission law says that poll
tics shall not enter into the govern