The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-08
SLAP IN THE FACE.
State officer Discusses the City Hall
Election.

1.-The men who vote against the
bonds for an auditorium in Topeka de-
hberately slap in the face every man in
Kansas who has anything to do with
conventions. 1t is an indication and
declaration that this city does not want
the people of the state to come here to
hold their conventions.
This statement was made to a Jour
nal reporter today by George A. Clark
secretary of state, who has a pride in
Topeka but whose home is in Junction
City.
Il have been out among the people,
continued Mr.. Clark, 'and know how
they feel The general and might say
the unanimous sentiment Of the men
who attend conventions is in favor Of
Topeka as the proper place for such
gatherings. Yet they have been COM
PEELED in recent years to take the con-
VentionS to other towns. When Topeka
had the conventions the delegates were
packed into hall like SardineS and a
session of a convention was not unlike
a baking which bread goes through in
an oven. This condition drove the
friends of Topeka to other towns where
the public spirit of the citizens has pro-
Vided an auditorium.
LAS a member of the Republican
state central committee for many years
I speak advisedly when I say that the
maJOr1ty OF the members of that COM
mittee have always favored Topeka for
the conventions which have been called
under authority of that committee. The
sentiment is always for this city and
the politicians have always favored the
city in matters of this kind
This city is the capital of the state
and is the proper place for representa-
tive gatherings of this character. III
venture the assertion that every man
who is a delegate to the Republican
state conventions next year, all things
considered, would favor Topeka as the
place of holding the conventions.
L say without fear of contradiction
that the men who have to do with con-
ventions are closely watching the out
come of the contest over the PROPOSE
tion to vote bonds for the proposed au-
ditorium. Should the proposition fail
to carry and the project be defeated
every man in Kansas outside of the
city will believe that the city does not
care to have public gatherings and
conventions and will accept the unfa-
vorable verdict as a direct slap in the
face
Pride in the capital city will be van
Quished. The other towns in the state
will feel that the people of Topeka are
selfish and there will be little if indeed
any feeling of common interest in the
welfare of this city. The other towns
will be the gamers. The conventions
will continue to go away to other towns
and the men who are fighting the audi
torium will have succeeded in doing the
city an irreparable injury. AS a matter
of civic pride and interest in the pro-
greSS and prosperity of Topeka I am
wholly unable to understand why this
proposition should receive the bitter
opposition which it is gathering. Were
I a citizen of Topeka. no difference what
personal spites 1 might have, I would
put my shoulder to the wheel and give
the car of progress as much of a boost
as 1 could. The city needs an auditor
ium and needs it badly. A misguided
spirit seems to prevail in some quarters
and 1 sincerely hope that before the
battle ends a big majority of the people
will rally around the standard of the
auditorium and carry the proposition
by an overwhelming vote