The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-15

whereas, it deplores the dragging of
this matter into publicity as agreat in
justice, not only to Kansas City, but al
so to the young lady in question the
directory desires to make the following
official statement:
1.-The directory of the Krewe has none
but the kindliest feeling for women
who work, and it is neither the desire
nor the province of the Krewe to de-
prive them of any social privileges ac-
corded to other women throughout the
land. Moreover the Krewe has the
highest appreciation of all who labor.
and as it is a Kansas City organiZa ton,
has always employed Kansas City Ia
bOr, and in every way worked to the
end of making Kansas City the best
this matter into publicity as great in
ted States, by making it the busiest
town. And further, in the Flower pa
rade of last year several prizes were ta-
ken by working girls and they We're
accorded the same treatment and con-
sideration given to other women who
entered. In fact, the Krewe was glad
to see the working people take an in
tereSt in the Flower parade, which is,
first of all, a pageant for the whole
people.
''The Krewe knows nothing derogato-
ry to the character of Miss Edna Whit
ney of Chillicothe, and if the people of
that city select her as their representa-
tive she viii receive the attention ac-
corded to the other maids of honor.
THE selection of the contestants at
men of the city and this matter will be
left entirely to them to settle, as it does
not come within the province of the di-
rectory to pass upon the eligibility of
the contestants. The women of Chilli
cothe selected eight names and present.
ed them to the ChiIlicothe Mail and
Star, which was to conduct to contest.
After the women had sent in these
names, a delegation from the tobacco
factories of Chillicothe called on the
editor of the Mail and Star and re-
quested that one of their number, Miss
Edna Whitney, be entered in the con-
test, which was done.
After the publication of her name
some of the women of ChillicOthe en-
tered a protest, and the editor of the
Mail and Star came to Kansas City to
consult the committee He admitted to
the president that in allowing this name
to be added to the contestants he had
made an error, as upon inVeStigat ton he
had found that crowd of young men
had conceived the idea of voting for
her, as they had a grudge against some
of the society girls of the town and
thought it a good joke to play even,
but stated that he could not afford to
refuse the representative from the to-
bacco factories who made the request,
as it would seriously injure the business
quested that the Krewe, in order to
help him out, send a new list of names
to Chillicothe, omitting the name of
Miss Edna Whitney, and he furnished
the list for the purpose a that time
The editor of the Chillicothe Mail and
Star further stated that in that way
only could the matter be settled and a
representative secured from Chillicothe.
He said that by that method all trouble
could be avoided, and he would get
himself out of further difficulty without
gaining the i'll will of either side. On
the strength of this statement the teIe-
gram in question was sent.
- In conclusion the directory wishes to
emphatically state that it does not de-
sire to dictate to the different towns
conducting the contest, wishing in every
instance to leave it to the women
knowing" that the people of every city
may be trusted to select only such wO-
men as will be a credit to the city. So
far as the Kansas City Karniva1 Krewe
is concerned, the question of the occu-
patton of the maid selected is a ma tier
of indifference, and it sincerely regrets
the present discussion.
w. A. Lawton,
George P. Gross,
w. w. Cowen,
a. D. L. Hamilton
J. @. Sherwood,
Chas. J. SchmeIzer
G. NJ. Walden,
w. S. Ha1Iiwell,
Herman F, Lang,
Mrs. ]. K. Cravens, Chairman La
dies Flower Parade Committee.