The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-20
ONLY 20 PERSONS
Mass Meeting of Antf-COmmis-
sion Supporters
Attended by Few Select Com
planning Witnesses.
SAY IT IS NOT DEMOCRATIC
ave Are Becoming Too AristO-
cratic"-M. Heery.

1--WE Are Becoming Too Aristo-
cratic"-M. Heery.
Thirteen Dollars Subscribed for
Coming Campaign.
Twenty-nine persons attended a
mass meeting at the National hotel
Tuesday night, called for the purpose
of organizing a movement to discard
the present form of city government
and return to the old council form.
p. H. Coney presided He said he had
hoped to see four hundred or five hum
dred persons at the meeting. OF the
twenty-nine persons present only SIN
had voted in favor of the adoption OF
the commission plan when Topeka de-
cided the question by popular vote in
1909
That number stood up when called
to do SO in an effort to determine what
percentage had changed their minds:
Presumably the other twenty-three had
been opposed to the new way of doing
things from the beginning. The meet
ing had been well advertised.
Captain p. H. COney, in explaining
the purpose for which the meeting had
been called read from table which
had been compiled by Q. K. Swayze:
county clerk, showing the amount OF
taxes which had been levied for city
purposes from 1907 to 1914 inclusive
They showed large increase from
year to year with the exception OF one
year under the commission plan. They
also showed that there had been a
startling increase under the council
form from year to year Immediately
preceding the adoption of the commits
sion plan-but this was not dwelt upon.
Mr.. Coney declared commission gov
eminent was undemocratic and said
that he was fighting in the Civil war
to uphold the council form OF govern
ment.
Michael Heery also expressed the be-
lief that democratic government is be-
ing endangered. I'm the last fifteen
years England has become democratic
to a surprising degree. The English
government is becoming more demo-
cratic while our government has be-
come more aristocratic. Why. 1t is even
getting so bad here that our women
will not marry Americans-not II they
have lot of noney-instead. they want
to marry title, a rotten title at that"
That Old "Subsidize'' Howl.
Both newspapers in this city are
subsidized by the present city commits
sion. and we cannot get anything pub
lished," declared Henry Euler.
(The papers have printed scores OF
articles concerning the movement
which Mr.. Euler evidently overlooked
for this occasion.)
He proposed that a committee be ap-
pointed and authorized to issue hand
bills for publicity purposes. A finance
committee was appointed and thirteen
dollars in subscriptions was pledged to
carry on the work.
After the mass meeting had been
turned into an experience" meeting
on the suggestion OF Henry Euler.
Michael Heery told how the business
of the city was economically managed.
beginning back in 1880.
1T worked seven years for the city
as a councilman and got $50 a year
for doing it and there was lots of
work to do. We had to keep a lot of
old wooden sidewalks in repair and
the councilmen of the wards did 1t.
Fifty dollars a year was what they
got, and now we have commissioners
getting $3.50 a month";" he exclaimed.
Mentions School Board.
DIR. Eva Harding was called upon
to make some remarks and said she
knew nothing about the merits Of the
| subject except what she had gathered
at the meeting, but said that the pres
| ent city school board was a fair exam
| pie of commission government in that
| no members are now elected from
wards.
There is no member on the school
| board from North Topeka or from the
east part of the city. These parts of
the city are not represented and as a
result little children have to walk
long distances to other parts of the
city because the school board does not
provide the grades 70 them in their
own districts" She declared herself
in favor of returning to the old ward
system in managing school affairs.
Called 1t "Clubbed Election
| One speaker declared that unfair
| methods had been used in securing
the adoption of the commission plan.
''It was a dubbed election, with those
working in favor of the plan doing SO
clandestinely." he declared.
That petitions for an election simi-
| lar to what Those attending the meet
! ing are seeking ere are being circu-
lated in Kansas City, Kan, Wichita
and Leavenwo-th, was a statement
made by Mr.. Coney.
The absence of j. w. F. Hughes
and William Green was commented
upon at the meeting and Mr.. Coney
| explained that while these gentlemen
are in favor of a return to the old
council form that they have not prov
en- themselves active. He said this
when the selection of an executive
committee was being d-icussed. He
did not think it advisable to place
them on the committee.
1t was decided to hold another
meeting at the National hotel Frida,
night and a request was made Of those
present to make an effort to secure q
larger attendance.