The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-19
PUSHING THINGS.
Preparations For Reception to
Soldiers Under Full Swing.
Effort Made to Have School
Board Rescind Action.
TOPEKA SCHOLARS.
Plan to Have Them Throw
Bouquets Still Contemplated.
National Guard and Cadet Com
panies Coming.
BLOCKS OF BUNTING.
Kansas Avenue to Be Lined
With Red, White and Blue.
This Will Be In Addition to
Private Decorations.
Nothing Left UndOne to Make
Event Grandest Seen In West.

The action of the board of education
in voting against allowing the school
children of Topeka to have a part in
the Twentieth Kansas reception was
roundIy scored last night at the meet
ing of the general reception committee
P. L Bonebrake. who is a member Of
the board of education and the recep-
ton committee also, defended the ac-
tion of the board, and Gen. Hudson as
chairman of the reception committee,
said that the action of the board had
put a stop to the plan of the children
having part in the reception, but the
committee did not propose to have it
so, and they will bring all of the inf1u-
ence possible to bear on the board of
education to have a special meeting
called and the action rescinded.
The matter came up when Capt. A.
NJ. Fuller, chairman of the parade com
mittee was called on for report. Capt.
Fuller simply made a verbal report,
and asked for definite instructions con-
cerning the suggestions made by the
general committee regarding the exten-
sion of the line of march around Capitol
Square and the placing OF the school
children in a row down Kansas ave-
nue..
A discussion followed which ended in
the matter being referred back to the
they see fit in the matter. This gives
the parade committee the power to ar
range the line of march to suit itself
Gen. Hudson then remarked that the
action of the board of education in re-
fusing to allow the school children to
take part in the reception put stop
to that plan. 1t had already been eX-
plained to the committee that the plan
of the parade committee was to re-
serve Ninth street from Kansas avenue
to the state house for the children and
to place guards there TO see that no
one else got on that street. The idea
was to bank the children on the sides
of the street, 50 that when the regiment
turns the corner from Kansas avenue
on to Ninth it will suddenly be con-
fronted with a mass of children waving
flags and with bouquets to pelt the reg
iment. This plan seemed to meet with
general favor when it was explained in
detail.
When Gen Hudson called attention
to the action of the board of education,
Mr.. Bonebrake explained that Superin-
tendent Davidson had told the board it
would take considerable work to drill
the children for their part in the affair
and that it would Interfere with their
school for a week before and after the
reception. 1t was because of this, Mr..
Bonebrake explained, that the board
had refused to allow the children to
take the part designated for them, and
it had been decided simply to dismiss
the schools on the day of the recep-
ton.
Gen. Hughes, who will be grand mar
shall of the parade, took the floor and
said:
L think the children will be far bet
ter off massed in a body on Ninth
street under the care of their teachers
or some other competent persons, and
where they can see the parade. than
they will be running about the streets
and mingling with the general crowd.
All there will be to it will be to march
from their school houses over to Ninth
street and be stood up along the sides
of the street. 1t surely won't take Sup
erintendent Davidson nor the teachers
a week to get the children ready to do
that-at least it wouldn't take other
people that long. The children are
drilled to march in and out OF school
every day This plan would be far bet
ter for them because they would not
need to leave their school houses until
nearly time for the parade to start, so
that they would not be kept waiting
long on the streets
4 would like to know demanded
Major Anderson, what jurisdiction the
board of education has over the child
ren outside of school anyway. If there
is to be no school that day, all we have
got to do is to tell the children to be
there and they will be. My kids will
be out there throwing bouquets at the
Twentieth Kansas. regardless of the
school board or anybody else"
well, as understand it, said Gen.
Hudson. the action of the board of ed
we have nothing more to do with it."
Perhaps suggested some one, If
the matter was explained to the board
that the children would not be expected
to march in the parade but simply
massed on Ninth street, the board would
rescind its action
The entire matter was fully explain
ed to the board" said Mr.. Bonebrake
before action was taken. We under
stand all about the Ninth street plan
1t is possible, however, if the proper
representation is made the board may
change its action. The vote stood three
to five when it was passed
James A Troutman moved that Ed
ward Wilder, as president of the board
be requested to call special meeting
to reconsider the matter, and that the
parade committee be instructed to at
tend the meeting of the board and pre-
sent their ideas of the matter. The mo-
tion was unanimously adopted
The sentiment was expressed inform
ally by the members of the committee
and others who were present, that the