The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-07
UNDULY EXCITED.
From Capitals News Columns.

UNDULY EXCITED.
From Capitals News Columns.
In the news columns today appeared
in black head lines:
slap tax payers full in the face"
"City commissioners deny people
right to vote on whether they want to
rebuild the auditorium
"Civic bodies favor an election"
despite knowledge women's clubs,
labor bodies, school board and bust
ness men want it, city dads say mo-"
This was followed by the text which
reads:
IF the people of Topeka are to have
new auditorium they will have to rise up
en- masse and demand it. The city com
mission yesterday declined, on petition of
twenty-five citizens and taxpayers, repre-
senting the Chamber of Commerce, the ma
jority of the women's clubs, labor and civic
organizations to call an election to give the
people an opportunity to vote on this
The mayor and each commissioner ad
mitted that the city needed a new audi
forum, that each of them personally fav
ored a new auditorium, that the fire chief
regarded the present auditorium unsafe,
that the law permitted them to call such an
election-and yet they refused to call an
election to give the people who elected them
to office an opportunity to vote on the
1T is but fair to Mayor House to say
that he personally would have Joined with
the other commissioners In calling an cleo
ton, but on the final vote he stood with
his fellow commissioners against taking
| such action, that their decision might be
unanimous.
- favor a new auditorium, said the
mayor, and personally | would be willing
to call an election at this time. but viii
Prior to the meeting of the commission,
the mayor explained his position to group
~ am elected and don't have to play
politics any longer; 1 don't know how it Is
with the other boys.
commissioners Play Politics.
"The plain intimation was that the other
boys might refuse to do their duty in call
ing an election and giving the people a
chance to protect themselves, and it turned
out that the mayor knew the other boys
pretty well. They did refuse to give the
people a chance to vote on the auditorium
and gave as their excuse that it wouldn't
: look WE'LL one election having just been
I held, and the proposition not having been
| submitted at that time The astounding
| having refused to do their duty before
| election, they could not do their duty now
because it would be a confession that they
had neglected their duty then.
The commissioners even went further in
| private conversation. They admitted that
| the law required no petition and vet they
insisted on petitions being circulated at the
private expense of the petitioners. They
admitted that sufficient number of sig
| natures could be secured, and yet they in
sisted that the useless work of securing
such signatures be undertaken, thus in
| They complained that an election meant ex-
| pense to the taxpayers and in the same
/ breath asked the taxpayers to go to the
additional expense of circulating petitions
/ before they would call an election. Safely
| in office for another two years they flatly
should be performed. Commissioner W. G.
Tandy made the astonishing admission that
| he declined to call election because one
single citizen had advised against such a
course.
Unsafe Fire Chief Says.
''The delegation that called on the com
mission was headed by John S. Dean, pres
| ident of the Chamber of Commerce, who
acted as spokesman. He explained that
new auditorium, or rebuilt auditorium,
| except thru the action of the city commits
! sion in calling an election. He pointed out
| that Fire Chief Joseph Hanlon had assert
| ed that he considered the present auditor
ium unsafe; that it was the duty of the
| take steps to secure new auditorium, that
/ this could be done only by having an cleo
men were present to offer their services
to the commission in helping to carry. the
| and that they urged the commission to call
the election
! Mr.. Dean was supported in his request
by. E. H: Crosby, Charles Elliott, s. E.
Cobb. L. NJ. Penwell, W. A. johnson, John
Gaut and Charles l. Mtehe These men
| presented varying views of the matter,
but emphasized the uselessness of forcing
/ signatures, when it was apparent that citf-
| zens generally desired another vote on the
| question.
| AT the conclusion of the talks Mayor
| House said the matter would be decided
later, but the commissioners, having already
decided in star chamber session not to
grant the request of the petitioners, over
I ruled the mayor and invited the business
| men to remain to hear their request turned
down Each commissioner then arose and
said he favored rebuilding the auditorium,
but that he would not vote to call an cleo
ton, without the formality of petitions.
City Attorney Hayden advised the commits
! siOners that petitions were not necessary.
but the commissioners were obdurate and
would not change.
| up to Somebody Else Now.
President Dean then told the commits
| sioners that the Chamber of Commerce
as taking the initiative. He said the old
Commercial club year ago was accused of
after .pting to force this matter down the
threats of the people because it had fol-
| lowed the advice of the commission and
| gone out and worked up petitions. The
new Chamber of Commerce did not propose
to put itself in like position, Mr.. Dean
n commercial problem, question of
the safety of the citizens of Topeka, our
own men, women and children, who gather
| in the hall. as well as guests whom in
vite to meet there-when the missioners
or any body of citizens should decide to
take the initiative in undertaking this
take the initiative, they would have the
Dean said, but until that time came the
Chamber of Commerce would not take fur
Their action in this matter
There the matter rests. If a catastro-