The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-18
AN OUTSIDE VIEW OF 1T.
Ex-Lieut. Gov. Riddle Writes
AboutTOpeka andCOnventiOns.
Says the People of Kansas Like
to Come Here,
But We Need a Better Convention
Hall-When the Visitors Come
They Can't Get In.

Ex-Lieut. Governor Riddle in the last
number of his paper. the Minneapolis
Messenger. says:
There seems to be some doubt in
the minds of the Topeka people as to
the reason for so many state conven-
tions being held of late in other cities
than the state capital. Some people say
it is because so many conventions are
held in Topeka that her citizens are IN
different and make no effort to secure
them, and others say there is not
good convention han in the city We
attend a number Of state gatherings
and know something of the motives
which influence the people who make
the selections of places to hold their
meetings. and we believe that several
Influences have caused the change
OF these one may be found in the
fact that there are so many conven-
lions held in the capital city, 1T IS nm
practicable to secure funds Tor what IS
called Entertainment. If Topeka peO-
ole were required to put up q fund for
the purchase of badges and souvenirs
and the employment OF music and Tor
providing banquets for the people who
attend their several conventions. and
grand lodges, as is done in other towns
it would not take long to bankrupt
them.
Other towns which enjoy these events
occasionally can easily afford to do
the nice thing OF course Topeka
cannot do this for everything that
comes in sight. For that reason the
citizens of Topeka who attend THESE
yearly gatherings find it impossible to
make promises of lavish entertain
ments snch as is extended by rival
towns.
This. however. is only one considera-
ton and we believe the majority of
those who attend these gatherings
would not be controlled by the prom
ises of entertainment if that was the
only thing to be considered DntOr-
tunate1y it is not There are many of
the annual gatherings which find 1t nee
essary to look into the subject of ac-
cOmmOdatiOns. So many people attend
that it is necessary to frd rooms suited
to the meetings. Hutchinson. Wichita
and Junction City have provided con-
ventiOn halls, especially suited TO the
purposes. Salina. Pittsburg. McPher-
son and other towns have large halls
where large conventions can find room
Some of the towns where these large
halls are located do not have such am
pie hotel accommodations as may be
found in Topeka, but they succeed in
getting the crowds to come all the
same.
Nearly everybody knows that for
ease of access. Topeka excels any other
town in the state. Tt costs less in rail-
road fare for the average state crowd
to reach Topeka than it does to reach
any other town in the state. The hotel
facilities are more ample. But there
is not a decent convention haH in the
city and that is what ends the discus
sion. Every year the number of con-
ventions which go to other towns than
Topeka increases.
Tt is not because the people are not
liked, for there is not a cleverer lot Of
people on earth than the Topeka peo-
pie.
1t is not that Topeka is lacking in
general attractions. because there are
more things in Topeka Of interest to
the average Kansas citizen than can be
found in any other town in the state
Nor is it because Topeka cannot raise
Entertainment funds for all these
gatherings because most OF the crowds
would rather go to the state capital
than anywhere else if they could.
The actual fact is that Topeka does
not have a decent place in which to
hold these public and semi-public gath
erings. If there was a convention hail
in Topeka worthy of the state capital,