The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-02
TOPEKA'S OPEN DOORS
Should Welcome Every Conner
and Provide For Him.
So Let Everyone Contribute
CheerfuIIy to This End.

The first of July is here and we have
just three months to prepare for the
Reunion and FAN Festival
This is going to be the greatest oc-
casion in Topeka's history.
This is not merely a reunion of the
old soldiers, but reunion of all Kan
sas
There needs to be a getting together
of the people of the Sunhower common
wealth in a way that they have never
got together before.
Kansas is our guest, we are the en-
tertainers.
Every one of the g. 900 Topekans who
is old enough to walk and think should
be part of the committee on entertain-
ing the visitors.
Thirty-two thousand people all work
ing in concert to one end can produce
results that will astonish the United
States.
In other cities where they give fes-
tivals and pageants, but a few hundred
people plan and take part in the whole
affair, but in Topeka the whole pOpu-
lation can ard doubtless will do each
his or her share to make our week of
festivities one long to be remembered.
This is no time for hanging back.
Every heart should be stirred with
civic pride.
Take part in a, public function if you
never have before and you viii be as
tonished at the delight you will get out
of the new emotion.
1t should be kept prominently before
all minds that the chief end of our Fall
Festival is to prove to our Kansas fel-
low citizens that Topeka is the most
agreeable and munificent entertainer
in Kansas.
Envious rivals and misinformed per
sons have used opprobrious epithets
toward Topeka; they are not warranted
in fact and it is our intention to silence
them once for all.
For this reason we must provide this
grand entertainment absolutely free to
our visitors. While welcoming them
with music and with garlands, we must
admit them to every entertainment
gotten up by the city without money
and without price.
Even the free ice water should be
lemonade; the old soldiers must have
provisions at the camp ground and
watermelons for nothing.
AS many Of our people who have
room should entertain as many of the
visitors as they can at their homes.
acquaintances. Seats along the streets
should be provided plentifulIy and free
ly and every citizen should constitute
himself a committee of one to assist in
the convenience and comfort of our
guests. Ordinary breaches of the ordi-
nances by our visitors should be over
looked and as broad latitude given to
all well meaning persons as the law
will permit. Our guests should be Civ
en- free rides and drives about the city.
Certain hours might be set aside when
all who could be accommodated should
be taken in carriages or street cars to
see the prettiest parts of Topeka. The
real estate agents might take charge of
such excursions.
Half a dozen places should be secured
in the city and properly fitted up for
the entertainment of guests. some for
men and some for women. These
should be labeled with large streamers
across the front Branch No. - of the
Bureau of Public Comfort-WelcOme.
There should be at least four of these
on Kansas avenue
Everywhere should our Kansas fell
low countrymen be made to feel at
home. That's the way for Topeka to
secure g, warm place IN the hearts of
Kansas people from which it can never
be dislOdged
But this is all going to cost money
money that will be better spent, how
ever, than any that has been expended
In Topeka for a long time
Every man, woman and child in To-
peka should contribute to the Hospital
ity Fund Do not lay the burden en-
tirely on the shoulders of the business
men, Men who own property ought to
contribute, professional men, doctors.
lawyers, preachers, clerks, mechanics
and young men about town It is bet
ter to give than receive. and it is bet
ter to give for the honor and glory of
the town you live in, than to souander
money in the many ways it is squan-
dered every day in the year.
Now men and brethren. women and
sisterss meet the sOliciting committee