The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-17
WHY NOT?

than the capital city of Kansas uoeS
today; while many other cities, poorly
or not well governed, with CRAFTS and
scandals cropping out in more or less
prominence. are scouting about for
new metAEas and new men,
This was true of Dayton, Ohio; it is
true now of Kansas City. Mo, and
probably of Wichital. Kan. These are
the sorts of cities which are demand
ing a high-priced, autocratic city
manager. Reform and a change of
some sort is absolutely necessary to
them; not SO Topeka. In years to
come possibly We may grow to the
city manager plan, but there is no
need for it now; there is really no &C.
casion to agitate ourselves over that
sort of plan at present. Let Kansas
City, Mo, and Wichita try it out.
meanwhile, Topeka can go ahead with
her present good form of government
and her present good class of men
filling the positions of mayor and
commissioners.
OF course, there are always men.
more or less ambitious for civic hon
ors and who have ideas-some of
them more or less visionary-who
would like to be mayor the commits
sioner of -treets, of public parks. of
the waterworks. or of finance. But
the great masses of the people of this
city we believe are more anxious to
hold and maintain and improve good
government than they are to help any
one man or set of men to their ambi-
tiSns to hold office or try out their
pet schemes.
The State Journal has been careful
ly studying the government of the
city of Topeka and its present condi-
tons. We have at hand many facts
and figures that have been sought by
this paper for the purpose of arriving
at the truth
1t is not necessary at this time to
produce an article with all of these
facts. or indeed with many of them,
sufficeth to say:
+ Our finances, under Commissioner
WATSON, were never in better shape
than they are today; our waterworks
and lighting system. under Commits
sioner Newland, are IN excellent condi-
ton, reduced rates are going into eff
feet and the money is already in the
bank to make extensions and inn
provements; the condition of ou-
streets and walks is creditable. with
the prominent exception, of course, of
the streets and walks about the state
house. which are disgraceful, but for
this our popular commissioner of
streets w. G.. Tandy. is not RESPONSE
BILE: the governor and members of the
legislature and others in authority
must be held accountable therefor;
the ten public parks, of which we are
proud, were never in shape to give
more pleasure, rest and recreation to
all the people than they are today and
never have we had a commissioner
more interested in his work than Mr..
Porter
The mayor has made a good one.
He has surprised his friends and some
who were not always his friends. The
mayor is entitled to a denomination by
!
one intending to run against him;
perhaps there is some one, but the
fact remains that the mayor has by
/ his painstaking conduct of the office
really earned second term. The peo-
pie of Topeka need not enter into a
scrap at this time, under these condi-
tions, when we have an opportunity to
renominate and re-elect him and not
put him to the enormous expense of a
new nomination and second election.
We have no doubt that the mayor
spent about as much as a years SAL
airy. legitimately. of course, to do
what he thought was necessary to do
/ to be nominated and elected the first
time
/ The same is true of the commits
sioners above named. 1t would be a
fine thing if the citizens of Topeka
should re-nominate and re-elect our
present commissioners without putting
them to the expense or scrambling for
the offices; it would be a fine way to
show our appreciation of their work
Why not do so?
This ma not meet the approval of
every one, but it may meet the ap-
prevail of the majority, and we should
all work for the greatest good for the