The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-04-26
CAPITAL REMOVAL.
FULLEST EXPECTATIONS REAL.
lied.
The City is Crowded With Delegates
from All Parts of the State.
Wonderful Enthusiasm at the Con-
vention.
Hon. J. E. Burton and Senator Kelley
Address the Meeting.

looking lOrWdIU anu IoI NHlOh OH vi"
tral and Western Kansas has been
waiting, in order that a fitting express
sion of the peoples sentiments on the
Capital Removal question might be
made.
The morning in Abilene opened
favorably as regards the weather. BY
eight o'clock the business streets were
a waving, futtering mass of bunting
and flags. Many private residence.
were also profusely decorated. Every
one seemed in the best spirits and
ready to make the day success as well
as pleasure
At 9 o'clock the various committees
met, as notified yesterday and as pro-
vided for by last evenings meeting
in the Board of Trade rooms.
Every member was enthusiastic in
the performance of his part in the day S
dOings.
Soon after the Reception Commit
tee, forty strong, headed by the Ga
zette band marched to the Santa Fe
depot and met the Solomon, Salina,
Minneapolis and Manchester delega-
tions. of which list is given III an
other column. They were escorted
to headquarters and a rest was taken
until the arrival of the noon train with
the Mcpherson. Lyons, Geneseo dele
cations aboard. The two former of
these were accompanied by excellent
bands. That of Lyons being the
Knights of Pythias band and fine or
SANITATION. BY the time this train was
in at least seven hundred strangers
were in the city, and many more came
on the Rock Island and later trains of
the Santa Fe. Mcpherson alone sent
AS, Lyons 80, Minneapolis 30, Hope
20. and other towns in proportion.
Several airs were played in front of the
Stanton House and then tickets, good
for eatables, were distributed to all
guests by the Executive Committee,
and an adjournment was taken for
dinner.
Long before the time for the after
noon meeting, , o'clock, large crowd
was waiting for admittance to the Ope-
"a House, but officers held the people
back until the delegates were seated.
after which little space was left in the
great audience chamber.
At 2:30 the convention was called to
order by DR.. J. NJ. Hodge, who ex-
pressed the gratitude and satisfaction
felt by Abilene's citizens in seeing SO
magnificent a gathering of delegates in
attendance.
Rev. DR.. McKeehan, of this city,
then eloquently invoked the Divine
blessing upon the meeting.
Dr.. Hodge then introduced 1.-THE ia
vorite son" of Abilene, Hon j. r. Bur-
ton, who said. in substance: After
TODAY no more scorn will be hurled at
Capital Removal. The question will
be seriously considered: This is pub
lie question and should be considered
from that high plane from which pub
lie questions should be viewed. 1t is
one affecting the public welfare. Not
in theory alone, but in practice, this
government belongs to the people and
they are to govern. Public opinion
should and does determine the settle
ment of questions of public welfare.
The integrity of the common people
must rule. The capital is sixty miles
from the east line of the State and the
same from the north. 1t was located
when there was no Abilene, no Salina,
no Mcpherson, no Lyons, no Ellsworth,
no KanopOliS.
1--WE have nearly two million people
and when we are the greatest State in
the Union shall it be said that the
capital was settled for all time when it
was taken from LeCompton and taken
to Topeka? Let US consider the OBJ
jections to removal: First; the settle
ment upon another location will stir
up a local warfare, as county seat fights
have done. But we have learned to
solve questions by the ballot and as
citizens of a great State, |
settle this as all other questions by the
silent yet powerful Influence of the
ballot Second, the State has spent
$500, 900 in erecting the capital at
Topeka. We can solve the difficulty |
by saying that I've, Dickinson county, |
will give a million dollars for capt. |
tai" Lyons, Mcpherson, and Salina |
will do the same thing. The money is out |
of consideration. Third. 1t would dis
turb vested rights in Topeka. 1t is
true it would injure many of our
friends in Topeka. 1t falls most, too,
upon the poor man. 1t is a sacrifice |
for 40, 900, but there are million and |
a half of us out here, TO say nothing of |
the children yet unborn. 1t is sacri-
Ice but the individual must sacrifice |
personal good TO public welfare.
There is one rule that has no excep-
ton The greatest good to the great
est number. 1t is for the good of Kansas
TO have the capital removed from its
present location. First, we cannot
build great city so close to Kansas
City; here We can have one that will
rival Chicago. Second, the capital is
The center of the State, polite
ally, Internationally. etc., and to a great
degree shapes public questions. How
many State officers come from west of
Topeka? To do anything you must
nave connection with Topeka We
want the capital where it is accessible
and so keep the politics of the State
pure. Third, 100000 trips are made
yearly. The extra cost of reaching it
s borne by those in the western part
IF the State-taXation amounting to
)ne million dollars.
If there are any small local feelings
among US we are unworthy to be here. !
Let us agitate. Pick out your legisla-
or carefully, and instruct him to push /
his thing. Let US tell our representa-
ives that we want the capital re-