The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-15
To Superintend the Building of
the Auditorium.
The Commercial Club Perfects
It's Plans for the Work.
All Members in an Enthusiastic
Frame of Mind and the Audi
torium Will Go Right
Forward


night decided to push the auditorium
with all their strength. Not a single
dissenter was in the room. The mem
bers We're ready to show the people
that the Commercial club is an import
ant factor in the city.
The following plan was submitted by
the committee, composed of r. 5. Brig
ham, c. S. Elliott, c. P. Adams, VIM
Green and Charles Wolff:
while it probably does not come
within the province of the special audi
torium committee. we thought it would
not be out of place for US to suggest
for the discussion of the club a plan
for an organization to carry on the
work of building the auditorium.
We suggest that the mayor of the
city be requested to appoint three
members, that the president of the
Commercial club appoint three mem
bers, and that these select three or
more members who shall organize what
shall be known as the Auditorium as
sociatiOn. That a charter shall then
he secured calling for 1850 shares of
stock at a par value of 81 per share,
to be sold at SO per share. This cor
poratiOn shall build and manage the
auditorium. The idea is that the ad-
ditional SO shall be a subscription to
the auditorium association. to be re-
paid from the profits of entertainments
and subscriptions secured.
Each holder of stock shall be enti-
tied to receive, if he so desires, a
course ticket to the weeks festivities
TO De hGlQ on the opening OL the dLOA-
torium and receive credit on the SO
loaned the association for the cost
thereof. The same shall apply to all
tickets that may be sold for any bene-
fit that may be held for the auditorium.
In other words, subscribers to the stock
and auditorium fund may thus assist
themselves in being reimbursed"
The secretary also read the plan of
Charles Knecht published some time
ago in the Journal and providing for
an Auditorium day in Topeka, when
the stores and everyone who works in
the city should be asked to donate the
profits of the day to the auditorium.
Both plans were discussed and it was
agreed that both might be used with
the musical festival.
Mr. Edward Wilder said in speaking
of the plan of Mr.. Knecht: 1T seems
to me this plan might work be-
Iieve the people in the city would take
hold of it and a large sum would be re-
allied. If only part Of the people
would consent to follow the plan it
would be a success, nevertheless"
MrE H. Crosby of the firm of Crosby
Bros. said: TT looks feasible. In our
case we have so employees and If every
one of them would give the day to the
auditorium you see it would amount
TO something They are paid for holl-
days when they do not work and
think would consent to work one day
for a good cause"
Mr.. Wilder suggested that the mat
ter be agitated for a few days to find
the club agreed to let the matter rest to
discover the sentiment among the
business men of the city and the peO-
PIE who work for wages.
In discussing the plan suggested by
the committee Mr.. Howe said that the
people might be afraid of the double
liability.
Il understand that is covered in the
plan suggested said President Davis
1.-The par value of the stock is to be 81
per share and the SO will be the same as
a loan to he maid hack of the
profits"
of course we cannot expect that the
stock will ever become valuable" said
Mr. Wilder 1t will not represent own
ership, but control and the SO would be
in the form of a loan to be paid back by
admissions to entertainments or some
thing of the kind
C. P. Adams: I'VE might have r.
500 shares of 81 each They could be
sold more readily
THAT would bring up the question of
double liability again. said Mr. Wilder
and that is just what we are trying to
avoid Many of US would take stock if
we could be assured that we would not
have to pay again"
President Davis inquired whether
there was any doubt about getting the
coal hole money.
I guess there is no doubt about
that, said Mr.. Howe, ''fOur-fifthS of
the voters have said it should be used
There is some objection to the coun-
President Davis.
THE council can delegate that power
60 a committee or another organiza-
ton, said Mr.. Elliott, f'and I under
stand that is what they want to do.
They do not want to have the respon-
sibiity themselves and it is not right
that they should"
1T is no reelection upon tie council
said Mr.. Wilder, for the council to del
egate the power to supervise the build
Ing 10 an auditorium assOcia ton. 1t
should be run on business methods and
At is natural that the council should not
care to take this additional responsible
ity."
A. A. GODDARD was asked whether the
council could turn the matter over to
another organization and he said it
could be done
Mr.. Neiswanger said he understood
that the council wanted to run the
whole thing. but Mr. Elliott said he
was satisfied that such was not the
case He said that members had told
him that they were looking to the Com
mercial club to look after the building
On motion of Mr. S. T. Howe the
plan suggested by the committee was
approved by the club and Otto Kuehne
was added to the committee. The com
1nittee was instructed to request Mayor
Fellows to appoint a committee of
three to help form the auditorium as
ISOLATION.
Mr.. Kuehne told the club that he al
ready had secured 81 900 in subscrip-
4ions toward the auditorium.
On the suggestion of Mr.. GODDARD the
club decided to meet next Thursday
evening to further consider the audi
forum question.
The Commercial club has decided to
enlarge its membership. Mr.. F. o.
Popenoe suggested that a banquet be
held to be attended by representative
business men.
Mr.. z. H. Crosby said that the mem
Ders should do some work among the
business men of the city before the
banquet is held.
The consideration of the banquet was
postponed and in the meantim each
member of the club will make an effort
20 induce one or two others to join.
Communications were read from J. A.
Davis, industrial commissioner of the