The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-29
Topeka THEPLACE
Big Kansas Exposition to Be
Held Here.
Board of Directors Decided by
Unanimous Vote.
PLEDGE OF 100000.
Commercial Club Guarantees
That Amount in Money.
F. ID. Coburn Placed at Head of
Board of Directors.

The big Kansas Exposition of 1904,
celebrating the fftieth anniversary of
the organization of Kansas as a terri
tory, will be held in Topeka.
Arrangements will be made at once
to secure subscriptions for stock in the
association which will have the Exposi-
ton in charge
Mr.. A. P. Collins, of Salina. who was
one of the Kansas commissioners to the
Worlds afr, will prepare a statement
outlining the sample products needed
for the Exposition, and the work of col
lecting such samples will be at once
commenced. The statement will be
published in every paper in the state.
AS soon as possible a press agent viii
be employed to visit other states and
work up interest in the Kansas celebra-
ton.
All this was decided at the meeting of
the directors of the Kansas Exposition
association at the Commercial club
rooms yesterday afternoon. The meet
ing was well attended. the following di-
rectors being present:
John W .Breidenthal. John E Frost,
Topeka; w H. Mcclure, lola: E. G..
Pipp, Burlingame; J. A. Kennedy, Bur
lington; Sam Kimble, Manhattan; o. l.
Atherton, RUSSELL; John ]. Dalton, Man-
kato; S. E. Cole, Harper; F. D. Coburn,
Kansas City; G. D. Walker, Atchison;
H. F. Sheldon, Ottawa; P. H. Albright,
Winfield; c. c. Moore, Galena; R. B.
Ward, Belleville; A. P. Collins, Salina;
James N. Fike, Colby; P. V. Healey,
Wichita
Mr.. F. D. Coburn was chosen as tenn
porary chairman of the meeting and
John j. Dalton of Mankato, secretary.
The committee on nominations for the
permanent organization, reported the
following names for the respective posi-
tions:
President, f. D. Coburn, Kansas City;
| vice president, W. E. Stanley, Wichita;
| secretary, H. NJ. Philips, Topeka; treas
urer, John w. Breidenthal. Topeka
To the surprise of the directors, Mr..
/ Coburn announced that he would be un-
able to serve as the executive head of
| the Exposition, and respectfully declin-
| ed the nomination. In explanation he
| said that the position would involve
| tremendous amount of work and almost
| undivided attention and he would not
I be capable of doing the work or giving
| the necessary attention. He commented
| on the honor done him by the nominat-
! ing committee, and declared he would
| DO everything possible to help the Ex-
| position along.
/ Several of the directors urged Mr. Co
| burn to reconsider, but he replied that
| there was no Roosevelt business about
his declination. Mr.. John w. Breiden-
thai and Mr.. John E. Frost were in turn
| nominated for the place. but both de-
clined. The matter was finally referred
| back to the committee on nominations,
as it was plainly evident that the d1rec-
tors meant to insist on Mr.. Coburn serv-
ing. AS temporary chairman Mr.. Co
burn was requested to serve as the ex-
ecutive head until the next meeting.
This he consented to do.
Mr.. James A. Troutman and Mr. H.
NJ. Phillips were present at the meeting
as representatives of the Topeka Com
mercial club, and as soon as it was de-
cided to let the naming of a president
go over until the next meeting, Mr.
Troutman secured the floor and in q
well WOrded speech invited the direc-
tors to hold the exposition in Topeka
He called attention to the fact that the
idea of the Exposition had originated
with a Topeka man, Captain h NJ
Phillips, and that it would be eminently
proper to hold such a celebration in the
capital of the state.
LAS the share of this city and Shaw.
nee county in the expenses of Exposi
tiOn," said Mr.. Troutman, Il am au.
thOrized by the Commercial club t
| guarantee $100, ,000."
Mr.. Troutman closed by urging i'm
mediate action in the matter.
Mr.. r. 3. Ward of BelleVille nOveC
that the invitation of the Topeka Com
mercial club be accepted, and after sew
eraI of the directors had expressed
themselves in favor of the capital city
Mr. Wards motion carried.
, Secretary Phillips and Treasure
Breidenthal were requested to make al
effort to secure subscriptions for tn
stock in the Exposition association an
Mr.. Breidenthal announced that he WouIi
write personal letters to all the bank
, ers of the state and would also cal
on the banks of Kansas City. He sal
I he believed many shares could be sol
! among the Kansas City bankers from
: the fact that Kansas City banks hav
on deposit more than $17, ,000, 600 of Kan
Sas money.
It was decided that a statement call
ing attention to the samples wante
should be at once prepared and publish
ed, and this work was assigned to NJ
A. P. Collins of Salina A COMMITTEES
in which each of the congressional dis
tricts will be represented, will be name
} to look after securing the samples c
this years production.
Captain Phillips called attention t
: the fact that all other states were ex
T pected to be interested in the EXposi
o ton and it was decided that as 500
f as the finances of the association woul
o permit a press agent should be employ
: ed to visit other states and work u
II interest in the Exposition.
e The next meeting of the directors wi
n be held some time in JULY the date an
a place to be fixed by Chairman Coburn.
!. MRS. THORPE HAS CHARGE