The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-06
CAN'T Fly THE FLAG
On Every Schoolhouse IN Kansas
Votes the House.
THE BILL CALLED SENTINENTALISM

United States flag to be placed on a4A
schooIhouses in cities of the first and
second class, and on schoolhouses IN
school districts, and keep it floating while
in session. was summarily killed in the
committee Of the whole, yesterday, by
striking out the enacting clause. Later
when the report was made to the house
and Mr. Benefel explained that he mad
introduced the bill at the instance OF the
G. A. r. at his home, CotfeyvlIIe, some OF
the members who feared the old soldier
vote. tumb led over themselves IN an en-
deavor to get right and the action OF the
committee was almost revoked There
was great opportunity for anyone to en-
thuse over ''old glory" which many I'M
proved while there were others VINO
thought the cultivation of patriotic sentl-
ment was laudable, but didn't think this
the best way to do it. While the
committee was considering the bull
Mr.. Spicknall, who evidently wanted
patriotism shown in a thorough manner
If it was to be shown at all, offered the
following amendment to the bill: "And
they shall also require the Declaration
of independence to be read every morn
ing and the Star Spacgled Banner to be
sung three times every day while the
schools are in session"
When the report of the committee was
made to the house Mr.. Benefel, to put
himself on record, moved that the flag
bill be excepted from the list and the
motion prevailed. The vote then turned
upon the adoption of the report on this
bill, and here was when the patriotism
began to effervesce.
UT. Beekman, in explaining his vote,
said: GAS one who followed that flag for
several long years during the war l re-
we're it, but this seems to me a piece of
sentimentalism and l vote aye" ii. e., for
the adoption of the report, killing the
bill
Campbell of Stafford: 81 too followed
that flag in the years of civil war into
very hell but l don't believe in NONSENSE
cal sentimentalism and vote aye"
When Mr.. Hopkins name was called
he paid a glowing tribute to the flag.
Sentiment do you call it." said he. Il
want to say to you gentlemen. here and
now that it was the sentiment of that
flag which existed in the years of the re-
bellion that carried it up Lookout noun
tain, and took it to the summit of Mis-
sionary Ridge. 1t was that sentiment
which placed it on the height of VIcks-
burg and it is that sentiment which has
accomplished all that has been worth do
ing in the world" Mr.. Hopkins voted
very warmly mo"
John Seaton didn't of course wish to
be captious at all but he desired to ex-
plain his vote, too. He said he yielded
TO no man in his patriotism but he didn't
see any use of the bill and voted to con-
firm the committees report
Mr.. Winters said he didn't need to
state his devotion to the flag (and he
pointed to his G. A. R button) "but, u
he continued, you members don't know.
1t would be- utterly impossible to keep a
flag flying on school house in western
Kansas. 1t would be torn all to pieces.
Why. sir, it is the hardest kind of work
to keep the flag pole on the school
houses"
During the laughter which followed
this reference to the strength of the
Kansas wind, Mr. Sherman let forth a
long yell which everyone recognized as
similar to the one somebody gave so
often at the Leavenworth banquet, and
Speaker LObdell said: "The sergeant
alarms will please remove the gentle
man that is in distress" The reproof
was needed, however, and no eiectment
took place.
The report of the committee was ap-
proved by majority of about ten, and
the flag incident closed.
ALL WANT NORMAL SCHOOLS.
Seven Kansas Towns Which Want State
Institutions There.
There are seven Kansas towns which
want state normal school located within
their precincts. They are, Fort Scott
Wichita, Great Bend, Lacrosse, Concor-
Ola, Garden City and Ness City. Each
of these towns has a bill introduced in
the house either to buy an existing
school OF to build new one, to be used
as state normal The bill to purchase
the normal school at Great Bend wa:
again favOrably reported to the house
after the Wichita representatives had
made protest against the way it wa:
first reported. The friends of the WITCH
lta scheme seem to have been satisfied
In sons way that their bill would re
celve proper consideration and are now
urging their claims in a pamphlet set
ting forth the relative merits of the diff
ferent places. The pamphlet recites:
Kansas has one normal school, and
over 12,OOO teachers in active service
The present normal school has more
students than can be conveniently carec
for; and hundreds are deprived of tn,
advantages of this institution by reason
OF the distance to be travelled.
hach year more than 5000 new teacher
are required for Kansas schools. and tn,
normal school supplies an average O
about 100 annually
In 1897 out of 1890 teachers in Kan
sas, only AIS held normal school diploma
or state certifcates-about three ne
cent of the whole.
Massachusetts, with an area of les
than ore-tenth that of Kansas. has si
state normal schools; and the last legis
lature provided for the establishment Q
I'VE additional schools, thus makini
eleven such schools to educate II. 90
teachers
Pennsylvania, with an area of abou
one-half that of Kansas, has twelve stat
normal schools, and in 1891 had "a 90
The man who oot mn +bis
seems TO think that area ought to decid
sue NUMBER OF schools instead of popu
THAT TOPEKA MAY VOTE BOND,
Mr. EeaIo's Bill Gives the Right to vo+
$4,000 for q City Han