The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-30
THE CITY ELECTION.


ly. and with fifteen hundred other
votes divided between the two other
men in the race, J. w. F. Hughes
| and James j. Lannan, and several
thousand votes that were not cast at
the primary at all but are still avail
able for the election, it is impossible to
use the primary results as a positive
forecast of what will happen at the
final municipal roundup on Tuesday
next.
For commissioners, Messrs. New
| land, Tandy and Porter, the only ones
who were candidates for reelection,
| lead their tickets by overwhelming
numbers. This goes to show that one
| of the important factors in the conf
mission form of government is eXper-
| fence; and, where the people are salts
fled that the commissioner is doing
his duty and working for what he re-
CARDS as the best interests of the city,
| he is likely to be retained in the same
capacity and thereby through his past
services be enabled to render greater
service to the city in the future.
In connection with the candidates.
for commissioner of finance, Mr.. w.
H. WATSON. the city's capable auditor,
and a man for years closely asso-
city, received a larger number of votes
in the primaries than any of his OPP
ponents. This too was natural and
shows that the people want the best
efficiency they can secure. Col. Nor
ton, who will run against Mr.. WATSON
for the office. is certainly not the
man to whom should be entrusted the
large financial interests of Topeka. He
n do y,ofoJ IN
his own affairs. He occupies a nomi-
nal position in Mr.. Capper's business
office, is affable and agreeable
gentleman. but hardly the man whom
Topeka, with it's large receipts and OK
penditures of money, should delegate
to represent it in that capacity.
Inaregard to the mayoralty question,
there are some significant things to be
noted.
Mr.. Lannan, who was running for
mayor under a form of government
which he opposed, was "distanced at
the post receiving small a nnm-
Der of votes as to be negligible, show
ing, if it shows anything. that the peo-
pie of Topeka want the commission
form of government continued and
they want their mayor some one
old council system.
Colonel Hughes, who We always
have with us and whose smile no de-
feat can wear off, was also distanced,
receiving less than 1000 votes of a to-
tai of $4,000. 1
J. E. House. of the Topeka Capitals
editorial force, and c. G. Blakely,
prominent business man and former
member of the council, have been
chosen by the primary to contest for
the office of mayor Mr. House re-
ceiving 1851 and Mr.. Blakely 1890
votes. While Mr.. House received rath-
er a strong lead over his contesting
nominee. he still received less than
one-third of the registered vote.
Between these two men, the bust
ness men and women citizens of the
capital city should not hesitate in
making their choice for mayor. In
the first place, for mayor great,
progressive city like Topeka needs an
able business man, one whose train
ings have been along business lines
and whose success in his own callings
qualify him in a way to become the
business manager and executive of the
city of Topeka. MI. Blakely is the
owner of considerable property and,
therefore, tax payer; is a man of I'M
questioned integrity and of the high
est moral standing. His experience in
the council gave him an invaluable
former service in the city's affairs
which will be of great advantage to
him as the mayor commissioner
The State Journal also knows Mr..
BlalSely to be man who has to the
utmost degree the courage of his con-
a a IF ne
the State Journal exposed the rotten
ness of a former Topeka city engineer
in connection with the disgraceful con-
struction of sewer in the southern
portion of Topeka, Mr.. Blakely, as
councilman, backed up this paper in
its campaign to expose the dereliction
of the contractors.
The opponent of Mr.. BlakeIy, Mr..
j. e. House, is a very clever and like
able gentleman. He has been on the
staff of the Topeka Capital for many
years and still occupies that position
and consequently must be considered
as having the publicity or other in
fluence available, for him in that con-
nection. 1t is true that at the elev-
enth hour, the day before the pri-
maries, Mr.. Capper, publisher-owner
of the paper. was forced to come out
and make somewhat perfunctory.
though rather humiliating statement
that he was not back of Mr.. Houses
candidacy" A great many people as
sumed that the Capital was back of
Mr.. House until the day before the pri-
maries just closed. Mr.. House stated
publicly in his advertisement that he
referred to Mr.. Capper by permission
and this was never denied until Sun
day. On that day, Governor Capper,
owner of the CAPITAL. said: II am tax