The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-11
more than 50 per cent in the same


The vigor and persistency of the fight
for the passage of the Grout bill is
shown by the abundance Of these postal
cards They come from most every sec
ton of the country, and hundreds of
thousands of them have evidently been
the fact that each card is signed by q
voter.
Kansas is well proud of her Funston
So is the nations capital. Both have
good cause to be proud of him, as well
as is the balance of our patriotic coun-
try. There is probably no other army
officer serving in foreign lands who at
tracts more attention and interest in
Washington than the gallant soldier and
general-E'rederick Funston. This young
soldier has large circle of admirers
here, Who like the many prominent
army officers, watch his every action in
the field. General Funston's recent en-
counter with the insurgents in northern
Luzon, when he made a charge across
the Nehico river with his cavalry troop
ers, melted renewal OF praise and
esteem in which he is held here.
Captain Watson, formerly a member
of the famous Twentieth Kansas, but
now in command of Company D, For
tieth U. S. volunteer infantry, arrived
in Washington this week from Pittsburg,
bright young men of Kansas. He is a
sturdy young fellow, and bears a splen-
did record as a fighter IN both the Kan
SaS regiment and the Foftieth infantry.
He was shot in the chest during an en-
gagement near Manila, April %. So
serious was his injury that he was sent
to his home in Pittsburg. At about the
time his regiment was making prepara-
tiOnS to embark for America, he rein
listed in the Fortieth infantry, which
was being recruited at Fort Riley, and
shortly sent to the Philippines. The
regiment was landed at Suthern Island
of the archipelago, and soon engaged
with the enemy. During the night at
tack at Cagayan on April 2 last, he
was shot in the left leg while acting in
command of the guard. The Ameri-
can troops had captured the town and
were occupying its limits. 1t was the
intention of the Filipinos, whose number
was estimated at about 1000, to kill the
outpost and then slaughter the boys
while asleep. BY a signal of a certain
was made. 1t was on this event he was
shot in the left leg, which ultimately
had to be amputated close below the
knee. 1t will be remembered that on
this occasion three Kansas boys were
killed. one being SlaShed in the stomach
with a sword and almost cut in twain
Another was cut badly in the face, shot
in the right limb and speared in the left
The latter is still lingering in the gov
ernment hospital at Washington, and
though almost recovered, he is totally
disabled in the use of either of his limbs
He was a railroad engineer, and re-
sided at Pittsburg. The Fortieth is still
stationed in the Philippines, and about
so of it's members are Kansas boys.
Captain w atson said he expected to
join his command in a few weeks. He
came here on business with the pay
master general of the army, and incl
dentally to have his artificial limb re-
set.
It is feared that Kansas will be side
tracked in it's efforts for favoritisn in
obtaining federal money for it's semi
centennial exposition at Topeka in 1904
during the present ses-ioa. The grounds
for this fear are based on the fact that
a number of large appropriations will
have to be passed by congress this win
ter that are of immediate necessity, and
tion appropriations will have to take
preference of consideration over the
Kansas bill, as both of these occur much
earlier than the proposed la ter event
Notwithstanding this condition of things
the Kansas delegation are making pre-
parations to make a strong fight for
securing the passage of their bill at
this session if such can possibly be
done.
Mr.. Paul Dinsmore of Lawrence has
been appointed Congressman Bower
socks private secretary.
Secretary Coburn has forwarded to
number of KanSans in Washington some
of the exposition "stickers," which are
used on mail matter to advertise the
coming centennial event of the state.
These unique little advertisers, shaped
like a sunf1ower, are eagerly sought for
by many of the SunfioWer state people
here, who wish to help along this big
project which is intended to advertise
a great state.
L. WILLIAM THAVIS.