The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-10
Firemen Threaten to Resign II
Action Is Taken.
HANLON IS FAVORED MAN
Commission Will Not Confirm
E. E. BabcOck.
Charges of Drunkenness
Among Men in Service.

Word, leaking from the office of
Mayor Cofran today to the effect that
the appointment Of E. E. Babcock. as
chief of the fire department, would
not be confirmed by the city commits
sioners Thursday and that the mayor
would present the name of another
officer Of the department as chief. has
nearly disrupted the city fire fighting
organization this afternoon. The
threatened dismissal of BabcOck has
spread to all the stations in the city
and several members of the depart
ment. firemen Of years standing, de-
clare that their designations will be
handed in the hour that Babcock Is
reduced in rank.
Mayor Cofran admitted in his office
late this afternoon that he had prac-
tically decided that Babcock, appoint
ed temporarily as chief, would not be
given the position. Certain circum-
stances, appearing since his naming OF
the veteran assistant chief Of AZ years
service, the mayor declares, have
turned him against the appointment.
The rumor at the city hall today
that the mayor would appoint man
outside the service as chief was denied
emphatically by him.
II will observe the civil service rules
that I installed in the fire department
in 1885 and appoint a trained man as
Chief" he declared.
It is the undenied opinion among all
the city officials that when the COM
mission meets Thursday morning. JOS
eph Hanlon, captain at station No. 2,
will be named chief to succeed the late
G. o. Wilmarth and to take the place
of the anticipated deposed E. E. Bah
cock. Babcock, it is said. will be re-
tanned as assistant chief, the position
he held under Wilmarth.
A Storm Is Brewing.
A storm is brewing at the fire sta
h0 nil Po1N h n
wonderful following of firemen in the
service. If Captain Hanlon is ap-
pointed chief over the head of Bah
cock, 1t will cause cloud of criticism
upon the city administration from the
department. Scores Of Topeka busi-
chief. Firemen have declared openly
that they will leave the service and
drop their superiority in advancement
II any other than the old assistant
chief under Wilmarth is made head
OF the department
Mayor Cofran refuses at this time
to make any charges against Babcock.
But he admitted that under the new
appointment, the entire fire depart
ment would be Investigated carefully.
Rumors of occasional drunkenness
have reached the mayors office and
he is prying into the causes at this
time.
The man most talked of for the
head position is Joseph Hanlon, cap
tain. Hanlon, it is known, has de-
clared that he will not accep the po-
sition over the head of Babcock.
This rumor is not confirmed by the
mayor, however, who says that no
word has passed between him and the
headquarters station captain.
The four city commissioners have as
sured the mayor that they will take no
stand on the department appointment.
1t is a verbal agreement at the city hall
that the commissioner at the head of
each department of the city work I'M
ment will make his own appointments
to be confirmed, as a matter Of form,
by the entire body.
e. E. Babcock, assistant chief I'M
der Wilmarth for score of years or
more. has been in the fire service in
Topeka for the last AZ years. He un-
doubtedly is the oldest fire officer in
point OF service of any man in the
United States today. He has spent the
best part Of his life in the service
here. He is on duty day and night and
rarely misses an alarm. He has had
charge of the building permit depart
ment as long as Topeka contractors can
remember.
Captain Hanlon has been in the serv-
ice here for 26 years.
An Efficient Department.
The threat from the stations over
the city hall Thursday The Topeka
fire department is rated with a grade
of 100 among the fire underwriters ir
the United States. 1t is one of the few