The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-03
IT'S NEARLY OVER
City Campaign Closes With Mass
Meeting Tonight.
McNeal Forces Fear Weather
Will Be Bad.
ALL WORKING HARD.
Candidates Appear to Be Serene
ly Confident.
Eleventh Hour Com binatiOn Is
Emphaticaliy Denied.
ALL WORKING HARD.

What will the weather be tomor-
row? That is the real question con-
fronting the city candidates today
and the question that will undoubted-
~ decide the majorities of many and
the election of possibly one
If it is a warm sunshiny spring day
the supporters of Tom McNeaI for
mayor believe that he will be Tope-
ka's next mayor. If it is a cold rainy
day-the results are doubtful, al
though McNeal says the rain will not
hurt the ''paved-street" vote-the vote
he claims.
The women of Topeka will elect
Tom McNeaI-if he is elected. Two
thirds of the female vote is for this
candidate and if the day warrants
their vote, it means that Billiard will
have an uphill fight before him. Bill
lard's vote will come out despite the
variety from the weather mans cup
board.
Mass Meeting Tonight.
The wind-up of the Tom McNeaI-
for-mayor campaign will be combined
in big mass meeting at the auditor
jun tonight. Gen. J. w. F. Hughes
will preside. Speakers from all over
the city will plead with the people in
behalf of McNeal and two brass bands
will furnish music.
The speakers are: DIR. Charles A.
Z Finch; DR.. F. L. Loveland; J. W. F.
4 Hughes, ]. G. Waters and Margaret
4 Hill McCarter.
The Commissioner Fight.
For commissioners, Bone, Tandy
and Jordan received the big woman
vote. Holman came in for this also.
If tomorrow is bad day Bone, Tandy
and Jordan will lose many votes-al-
though it is hard to tell how many
men they have converted in the
meantime.
On the socalled "eve of election"
the fight has changed very little since
the day after the primaries. The can
didates have fought hard this week.
From the reports over the city this
morning 1t looks rather rosy for Mill
Ter. Bone and Tandy. Bone is de-
Tending himself against a fierce look
ing attack from his enemies on the wa
ter main bill in the legislature. He has
spent most of the week warding off
these blows. Tandy and his contractor
enemies have been going round and
round and he has a tiff now and then
with Arnold, another candidate for
commissioner.
But it looks as though it was i'm
possible to tear down the vote they
received at the primaries. Miller is be
hind a stone wall. His flag is waving
from an iron pole and his enemies are
few.
Denies a Late Report.
Now for the fourth place.
1t was reported in Topeka paper
this morning that Mayor Billiard had
come out for Holman as the fourth
man on the commission. The mayor de-
MES this-so does Holman and so do
all city officials and associates of the
mayor who have been close to his cam
paign.
II am friendly with all the present
commissioners have been associated
with them in the last year. said the
mayor this afternoon. But 1 have ap-
proved no candidacy-either of Mr..
Holman or any of them. 1t would hurt
Mr.. Holman for me to come out for
him-and it would hurt me. I have
made no statements that would lead
anyone to think 1 was for Mr.. HoI-
man as commissioner. L am for no one
except Billard-and I'll have to say that
If it wasn't for my friends 1 wouldn't t
have much time to be for him.
Mr.. Holman denied the story. "The
mayor has never intimated to me that
he was for me-" he said. This ar
ticle in the morning paper is untrue
and is an injustice"
Other little inventions of the Tope-
ka paper to hurt the candidacy of the
mayor were denied by Mr.. Billiard.
Politically speaking it would have
been a hardship on both the mayor and
Holman for decision of this kind.
Friends of the mayor who are for
gtotts, Jordan and Arnold would unite
he made any such affiliations. Friends
Of McNeaI who are for Holman would
60 likewise to him in case of an ap-
provaI from the mayor.
Even though Mr.. Holman lives iii
North Topeka and is a friend of Mayor
Billiard it is foolish to think that they
would tie up in compact of this kind.
Mr.. Holman has hundreds of friends
who have little use for Billard-and
vice versa.
ST. hat nj
lated generally was denied by the
mayor today. The story stated that lie
had promised to discharge Mrs. Thorpe,
police matron. if he was reelected.
MANY years ago 1 was police COM
missioner and a big fight was made on
Mrs Thorpe" said the mayor. ''If I
had any grudge against her 1 could
have made it known at that time. I
have said nothing against Mrs. Thorpe,
] have been satisfied with her services
and see no reason for a change"
It would take columns to print the
rurnors heard today. In most cases the
entire list of rumors react and the vic
tim gains votes through his enemies.
Expression of Candidates.
It is a confident set of candidates.
Every man is expecting to win-and
fsn'f slow in declaring his proofs.
aere are minute expressions from
Mayor Billiard: II have every conf
dence in my friends. l expect to wtn
bv a good majority"
Tom McNeal: Il believe a large ma
4ority of the people of Topeka are for
Iaa and will show that in their votes
fomorrow I believe I will win
Fsugene Stotts: 'I base my beliefs on
the promises of my friends and my new
acuuaintances, and the splendid vote ]
received at the primary. feel that !
vTilI have little trouble in landing one OF