The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-22
TOPEKA is TOASTED,
And in One Instance FFROasted''
at the Banquet
of the Topeka Commercial Club
Last Evening.
Many Speeches clarifying Topeka
and Promising Much for Her
Future.

The Topeka Commercial club gave
formal announcement last night that
it IS here to stay. The banquet given
by the club at the Throop was dis
tinctively Topeka affair. The toast
ers we're Topeka. men and they talked
about Topeka
Il have belonged to two or three TO.
peka boards of trade and cham Ders s u
commerce" said Col. W. H Rossllg loIi'
but this is the first time that rope
ka Commercial club has broken the
shell and gathered the business men
of the city together around the dinner
table When there is any important
business to be done by any organlAa-
ton, It is always at the close OF
hearty dinner. If the doors are open
want to become a MEMBER OF the L.
peka Commercial club
Seventy-fve of Topeka's bushes men
attended the banquet, and that many
went home delighted with the success
Of the venture.
Dana led the way to the dining room
It was after midnight when the last
speaker had taken his seat. Mr. Dana
opened the affair With an INTRODUCTORY
speech IN which he told why the Com
Inercial club had been organized ne
then introduced W. H. Davis, chairman
Of the club, who responded 70 the toast
The Topeka Commercial Club MI
Davis said:
THE Commercial club of Topeka was
ORGANIZED little over one year ago Dy
10 men ct a gathering at the National
hotel and today has a membership OF
about so. The purpose of the Organ1za-
ton is to promote the welfare and ad-
Vancement Of the city of Topeka; to
collect and diffuSe Information as 10 It's
commercial and Industrial advantages,
to invite and secure foreign ana local
capital and labor; and make known OPP
portunities for inVestment ana employ
ment. To what extent it has SucceedeQ
YOU are all, no doubt, reasonably Well
informed. and the club, being composed
OF very modest men. it would not ne
becoming in me, as one of them to say
too much of what they have done IL
is true we have not accomplished any
thing like the good we nave desired, or
that we aspire to in the future But,
considering that the conditions existing
at the time we started were anything
hut favorable. being at n time of gen
erai stagnatiOn of business, and when
any new enterprise was looked upon
with suspiciUn, and believe you viii
agree with ne>when say the club has
every reason TO feel encouraged
That there is need of such an or
ganization there can be no doubt. On
this point I am confident we are all
agreed But the question arises as to
who shall do the work necessary to
make it success? The trouble seems
to be that each one prefers to have
some other than himself to look after
that part Of it.
What is necessary to make a sue
working membership, and the conf
dence and moral support of every good
citizen. All should be interested, as
1t is not for any particular part of the
town,or any one class of people, but for
N1r.Davis closed with an outline of
the duties of the members of the club
Mr. f. Wilder was the next speaker
of the evening. His speech is given en-
tire under a separate heading following
this article.
Col w. H. ROssington who was the
next sDea lSer was a guest of the club.
He said he had been invited late in the
afternoon but had lived long enough in
Topeka to be able to talk to his neigh
bors and friends at any time without
embarrassment.
This is the first banquet ever held
said he, Ito talk about TOpeka-TO-
peka. It brings back a flood of memories
to my mind. L came to Topeka p years
ago before NcAfee was mayor; when
Cheste Thomas and his adherents
seemed to have mortgage on all the
offices except the one upon which my
friend P. I. BOnebrake and a perpetual
lease. Dan Adams was the ]. PierpOnt
Morgan of the Kansas valley and paid
all the checks including those given to
meritorious members of the legisla-
ture."
Col Rossington then contrasted To-
peka of that day with the city as it is
row. He said no one need feel despon-
dent The speaker then drew picture
of the successful business men of To-
peka who started without anything.
Mayor Fellows who responded to the
toast The City of Topeka" made a
brief address which was well received.
He said:
our people long ago were determin-
ed that the capital should be worthy of
this great state and every effort has
been made to keep up with it's wonder
full growth. We have devoted our en-
ergies principally to its physical, edu-
c&tOna1 and moral development. We
have scholars in all professions equal to
the best.
But the time has now come when we
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