The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-06
MUST Be REGULAR
No Auditorium Election With
out Circulated Petitions.
That Is the Decision of the
City Commissioners.
PRESENT PLANS DROPPED
Chamber of Commerce Mem.
berS Peeved at the Decision.
State journal Criticised for OBJ
jecting to Snap Action.

The city commissioners today de-
-clined to call a special election for
voting 100000 in bonds for new
auditorium when thirty Topeka bust
ness men, representing the Chamber of
Commerce, called upon them and re-
quested the commission to break all
precedents and call election with
out circulating petitions. Every COM
missioner placed himself on record as
favoring the progressive project.
But each commissioner absolutely
refused to proceed in a manner made
irregular by precedent and call an
election without first receiving a petit
ton signed by 10 per cent of the tax
payers who voted at the last election.
The commissioners explained their
refusal to the plea of the business
men, by saying that they are not
enemies of the proposition. but friends
who believe such tactics would preJu-
dice voters at the start by placing IN
their minds the idea that something
was being slipped over on them.
John S. Dean, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, announced at
the conclusion of the meeting that the
Chamber of Commerce would not take
the initiative in another fight for
new city auditorium. In the future,
he assured the commissioners, they,
or any organization desiring to circu-
late petitions for a now auditorium
could feel assured that the Chamber
of Commerce would aid in every man
ner possible.
People Should Start Move.
However, said MIR. Dean, I'VE will
not stand the brunt of the fight as we
did q year ago at the bond election"
George cit ATTORNEY.
declared that the desire for a new and
safe auditorium should come from the
mass of the people. He endorsed the
project of bigger auditorium but de-
clared it never will become a reality
until the masses of the people become
aware that such an improvement is
necessary for the safety of themselves
and children. Meantime, Hayden de-
clared, action of commercial interests
for a new auditorium would prejudice
people and cause them to believe sell
fish motives were behind the propo-
sition.
The refusal of the commissioners to
grant the request of the business men
followed an hour and a half of i'm
paSSioned speeches for a safe audi
forum for wives and children of the
men of Topeka. These speeches were
delivered by John S. Dean. c. S. Elliott,
Z. H. Crosby. John A. Alexander, an
employe of the Wolff Packing COM
pany, L. NJ. Penwell. Charles S. Gault,
Walter johnson. F.. L. Copeland and
c. L. Mitchell.
Preceding the hour and a half of
oratory in the commission chamber.
another hour was spent by the bust
ness men in a star chamber session in
an empty room in the city hall Just
because Frank P. MacLennan, editor
of the State Journal, as a friend o.
the auditorium proposition warned
against proceeding in an irregular
way in calling the election and preju-
dicing voters at the start, by calling
an election without petitions, Dean at
the star chamber meeting attempted to
lay blame for any failure of the
scheme on Mr.. MacLennan.
Reporter Was Present.
Mr.. Dean called the business men
into the vacant room. A State Jour
nal reporter asked if he could attend
the meeting.
Yes, come in said Dean. You
may hear netting you may or may
not want to hear.
Now, gentleman continued Dean
Il wonder if you favor a plan for the
Chamber of Commerce to drop the
initiative in this proposition and act
merely as helpers. With some --
newspaper shooting at us we can't get
anywhere. We must have the united
support of the newspapers He re-
ferred to an editorial in the State
Journal of Thursday, which warned
against the irregular procedure of
calling election without first circu-
lating petitions.
E. H. Crosby Immediately came to
the defense of the State Journal. He
declared that Mr.. MacLennan was in
favor of a new auditorium, would sup
port the plan with his influence and
his money the same he has done
for years in all moves for public i'm
onr1f Mr. nolo II,
self in favor of calling an election
without petitions, hut denied that the
editor of the State Journal was against
the main proposition. the voting of
bonds for new auditorium.
c. L. Mitchell declared that the
State Journal article stated that call
ing an election without petitions was
illegal and caused people to believe
there was something unfair about the
project. This, too, was denied and
Mr.. Mitchell hunted up State Jour
nal. He returned and admitted he
was mistaken, that the article merely
stated such plan was not regular.
After much discussion it was decid-
ed to ask the commission to call the
election without petitions. The reason
given was that it would save about
$1,000 in hiring people to circulate
petitions.
John S Dean quoted Joseph Hanlon,
chief of the fire department, as say
ing the auditorium is absolutely I'M
safe for assemblages and public gath
erings.
He told me-" said Dean, that it
would be absolutely impossible in case
of fire to protect the people gathered
there 1 wish to urge the city govern
ment to take some steps to provide
a suitable building for public gather
ings. We owe it to our wives and chill
dren who attend meetings there and
to the thousands from out of the city
who are invited here to attend con-
ventions'
Other addresses delivered deviated
| in few essentials from that of Mr..
Dean Walter johnson declared the
| tables should be reversed and the city
| commissioners should be asking the
| Chamber of Commerce to back them
! in a plan for building a new audi