The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-29
COFRAN REASONS
Candidate Tells Why He's
Running for Mayor.
Says. City Needs New Admins
tratiOn Affairs.

r. L. Cofran issued the following
, staement of his reasons for being e
| candidate:
when I was first elected mayor OF
| the city its affairs were in very bad
| shape.
! ST found that the city was in default
/ on alley paving and sewer asseSsm ents
| by injunctions out of the supreme
| court; that the collection of poll tax
| dog tax and license tax had been en-
| Joined in the district court; that $780,
| 600 of bonds of the city voted to the
King Bridge company had been de-
clared void by the United States su-
preme court; that many thousands OF
| dollars of city script was Outstanding
and unpaid and was at heavy dis
count at the banks. the city treasury
| was practically empty and the credit
luteiy impossible to sell or negotiate
city bonds even at ruinous interest
rates.
There was not a foot of street pave
ment in the city. Kansas avenue was
largely sidewalked with two-inch plank
and on all other streets one-inch board
sidewalks were universal.
over 100000 of damage suits for per-
sonal injuries were pending against the
city, largely due to decayed sidewalks.
Notice of intention to pave Kansas
avenue by the council, which was then
law, had been three times defeated by
the protests of property owners.
1.-THE business men of the city awoke
to these deplorable conditions that
ward and partisan politics had pro-
duced and, although nominated by
the Democrats, 1 was supported by
members of all parties and a large ma
jority of the women vote of the city.
by heroic efforts, able business men
were at the same time eelcted council
men.
I'm less than eighteen months we had
mapped out and adopted a system of
assessment for street and alley paw
ing and for sewers, and the supreme
court had expressly confirmed our &C
ton as lawful. We had paid all out
standing city script and all defaulted
alley paving and sewer obligations, and
had re-established the credit of the city
on the firm foundation that has con-
tinued to this day.
I'm that eighteen months we had
acquired the Rock Island and Missouri
Pacific railroads. We had established
sewer districts for the entire city, con-
tested to success in the supreme court
the poll tax, the dog tax and the Ii
cense tax. and had prohibited the
building of board sidewalks on all
city streets.
1--WE had acquired jurisdiction to
pave Kansas avenue, jackson ana
Quincy streets and all cross streets be-
tween, from Tenth avenue to the riv-
er, and had successfully contested all
suits for personal injuries.
''All these things were accomplishing
with the aid of the councilmen and
many good and enterprising citizens
and the constant support of both daily
newspapers, to all of whom much
credit is due.
sIt was all done without one dollar
of extra cost to the city for engineer
ing or legal assistance outside of reg
uIar appointees and without increas-
ing the city taxes over previous years,
except for special improvement tS.
when l turned my office over to
nv successor all contracts for the paw
ing of the above streets had been let.
as we'll as many sewer contracts, and
bonds had been provided for paying
therefore at a reasonable interest.
''When I came into the office again
as mayor, after an interim of two years
of partizan administration the bust
ness systems of my first administra-
ton were continued for two terms and
a reelection for third term declined.
But I am proud to say the city pros
pered as never before and public i'm
provements as a policy was firmly
established.
s'The good will of the people of the
state at large for the city was out
spoken everywhere and manifested by
the legislature in liberal appropria-
lions for buildings for the state hos
pital and in the establishing of the
youths correction school on the North
Side. In that day Topeka was the
pride of the state.
ct have not word to say against
Mayor Billiard as honest and upright
citizen and a capable business man. 1
regard him as a man of strong convic-
lions and undoubted courage. He has a
substantial following in the Democratic
party, but unfortunately, some of his
well known opinions and his stand on
the prohibitory law are opposed, as l
believe, by an overwhelming majority OF
the citizens of the state of Kansas and
the city of Topeka, both male and fe-
.sIis selections for chief of police and
others who have to do with the enforce
ment of the laws have been most unfor-
tunate and have led to grave doubts In
and state as to the question OF his good
faith in law enforcement.
Nor do I see any hope that II re
elected he will reform that branch of the
city government, but instead Will accept
his election as an Endorsement Oh MS po-
Ice policy and personnel.
Topeka is all right and 1t VIII continue
to be a great and beautiful city, whether
am elected mayor or not. put from my
past efforts, believe l could contribute
to advancing the beauty
morality and business interests and ca
pansion of the city and in rega1n1ns the
confidence of the state at large. 1t Is my
ambition to try and I will be found i'll
will enhance the progress of the city The
business man and the 1aborlng man can
depend upon 1t that there VIII be no BACK
ward step my part that Will retArd
the employment of our citizens at good
waCes.
Missionary Borden III.
Chicago March 29.-Word was re-