The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-14
East Side People Themselves
Killed 1t.
There Were Three Factions at
the Big Park Meeting.
ALL HAD SOMETHING TO SAY
Wanted Necessities Before They
Had LuxurieS.
Fear of Park Taxes Greater
Than Desire for Park.

The East side does not want city
park and is not Obliged to have one. AT
! the meeting of the city commissioners
t. esday evening it was decided that
the report of the appraisers be not
confirmed There was a large class
who wanted a park, but did not feel
that they could pay for one. Never
theless, when Commissioner StOtts
moved that definite action be post
Der, there was so much dissent that
the bill was killed Immediately. There
had been 1898 protests filed.
Over 100 East siders, many of them
women, congregated in the Auditorium
to discuss the proposition. Every one
of them had something to say. The
only alteration took place when A. A.
GODDARD, seeing that the bill was dying
a slow death, spoke a few words in its
favor.
Il am proud of the Topeka parks
he said in closing; "they are as beauti-
full as any in the country. We need an
East side park more than anything
else. 1t should have been built first
instead of last. The people of the
East side do not take summer vaca-
| lions, and, for the most part, cannot
drive to Cages in automobiles. L"
"Sit down. sit down." growled a
voice from the rear of the Auditorium,
where the meeting was held, this amt
your fight. Leave us alone
Let the East side people be heard"
piped the voice of a woman
II am sure no one means to be dis
courteous" said Mr.. GODDARD, smooth
ly. at will sit down when I'm
through
There was such a stamping and NUT
tering that the last of his speech could
hardly be heard
MIR. GODDARD had better keep out Of
this" said one man, rising to his feet.
It's not his business
Beg pardon said GODDARD. in his
courteous voice, Il am a taxpayer and
have a voice in the matter
Notwithstanding the arguments to
the. contrary it was evident from the
first that the proposition could not pull
through.
I'VE want necessities, not luxuries,'
reiterated one venerable East slider.
give US water, sewers, roads, fire pro-
lection, bridges, not parks. Give us
water to sprinkle the flowers, before
you give US flowers that have to be
watered."
The East side has been neglected"
said another, land if we're neglected
much longer. Wen make a kick. And
when we kick Well kick hard
This prophecy was greeted with
cheers. fa ofBts7
II am for the park one man admit
ted. always have been. and always will
be. The price is too high, however. and
ought to be changed
A blonde girl in blue frock arose to
the occasion. IF you are going to bet
ter our social conditions" she said, 1T
seems to me that you should strive for
what we really need"
I'VE have plenty of fresh air." was
an old mans contribution, the East
side is one of the most prosperous
sites for working homes in the country
Every man has his own lot, and would
prefer to bring his children up under
their mothers eye than in a PARK
how
of mischief"
Russians, Scots, Poles, Irish, Jews and
Americans hashed and rehashed the
question until, after a stormy two
hours, Mayor Billiard rose. He gave the
floor to H. P. Miller. who said that the
tax was too high, and, because of the
many remonstrances filed, the act
should be killed. He made this in the
form of motion, and Roy Bone arose
You need this park for three rea-
sons" said he. First, because you
have no park. Second, it is a reason
able amount to pay for a park And
third, you need one in self defense One
fourteenth of your tax money will &C
toward the maintenance of parks, and
you are receiving absolutely no benefit
from them.
There are three factions in this
room: those that want the park at
the appraised prize; those that want it
at a lower price; and those who dc
not want it at ALL If err in my vote
1 prefer to err for the people who
would suffer hardship. Therefore, ]
second Mr.. Miller's notion
Park Commissioner Stotts rose hasti-
~, and pleaded that action be dferred
until the first Tuesday in October.
I'VE want this decided tonight" cried
a suffra gette on the floor. I'VE don't
want a park, and we've told you So
Il am hoping for an apportionment
from the Santa Fee. explained Mr..
Stotts, this park will be of the great
est benefit to their employees and I am
hoping that they will contribute $4,000
toward the purchase of it. I already
have 4finite plans for reducing the tax.
I make this suggestion in the form of
an amendment"
The commissioners conferred alone for
several minutes and Mayor Billiard moved
that the report of the appraisers be not
confirmed.
The proposition is rejected he ex-
planned to the eager audience below him.
The motion was passed unanimously,
and the meeting adjourned.
The park to be purchased for SS,0OJ.
was located on the Klein tract east of Lc |
Gust street 1t included IS acres, and the
assessment was to have been from $1.5o to
800.