The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-29
Mud Singing Campaign Is at
It's Height Today.
Supporters of Candidates Use
SANDER and Abuse.
MAY HURT COMMISSION FORM
Fear That Present Tactics VIII
Iniure New System.
Other Items of Interest in
Municipal Campaign.

If the supporters of certain candi-
dates in the city campaign in Topeka
carry on the tactics employed to de-
feat their opponents in the next few
days he local record of the commits
sion form of government will receive
it's first blotch. The plan of the COM
mission form was to eliminate mud
singing, cheap ward politics. Until
the last few days the campaign in To-
peka was carried on fairly and square
ly. The ridiculous charges made by
the supporters since the primaries and
the garbled efforts of certain To-
peka newspaper have stirred up the
waters of the commission campaign
until today they resemble an eddy in
the Kaw-
The headliner of todays municipal
political events is the scare thrown into
the city park department by support
ers of William Porter when they in
formed workmen and the superintend-
ent at Gage park that the entire force
from top to bottom would be wiped
out unless they used their efforts to
push the Porter campaign. Superin-
tendent Reinisch was told that his
job was worth nothing # Porter was
elected and he had not aided in his
election.
This ''sandbagging' of city depart
ments under the civil service rules and
not under political serveilance has
caused uneasiness among the employees
in all the city departments. If Cofran
is elected the police department will be
reorganized-and SO it goes down the
line of probable changes.
Topeka would lose in Superintend-
ent Refisch, one of the most valuable
and successful park supervisors in the
country. He has been reappolnteu
through several administrations.
Laugh at Street Railway Story.
The most ludicrous transforming
story of the campaign appeared IN
Topeka newspaper this morning Wnen
il was claimed that the Topeka Rail
way company was supporting the
Stotts candidacy because a workman
had been discharged for distributing
Porter cards. This laughable piece of
political comedy printed today comes
like the vein of humOr that relieves
the tension of ShakeSpeare's tragedies.
A man named John Shultz was dis
charged from the service of the COM
pany, according to Howard Patten,
citv Superintendent, because he did
not attend to the duties assigned him.
He has been negligent in his work
for some time" explained Super1nten-
dent Patten. Some time ago he was
warned that unles he devoted more
time to his work and less to city pol
itics, he would lose his position. Inc
first of the week he caused a dera1l-
ment-thlS was the last SlIdW anu liz
was discharged.
I'VE do not allow our employees 10
enter the political game. This com
pany always takes a neutral STAND IN
citv campaigns-and we will continue
to do so. The far fetched idea that
we are supporting StottS because we
fired ShuItz who was supporting For
ter is not worthy of an explanation
II is too silly to be considered by SEN
sible human beings.
A Sian at the Electric Light Plant.
Another attempt was made by TINS
newspaper this morning to muddy the
waters of the campaign by fighting |
the reelection of H. P. Miller for wat
err commissioner. 1t was stated that
a breakdown at the electric light plant |
had made it necessary to use Edison
current and that it would be several
tays before the repairs could made |
1t was stated this afternoon by Com
missioner Miller that the repairs mad /;
been made and that the lights would
burn as usual tonight under the city !
plant.
1T might be we'll to add" explain !
ed Miller. that the newspapers cam |
tidate, Mr. Cofran, supervised the re-
pairs at his machine shop and that
there is no necessity for the plant be- |
ing idle several days"
Tell Drunk Story on StOttS.
f. B. Stotts. candidate for re-elec- |
ton as commissioner of parks, as |
usual is the goat of weird stories |
His enemies are circulating a story to- |
day to the effect that he was drunk |
the night of the primaries. W. II. |
Kemper, city election commissioner, |
hide bound prohibitionist and