The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-08
Discuss Petals and Plans in In
formal Manner.
MR.. WILDER'S IDEAS
Would Have a Free Circus as
the Feature.
John Schmidt Thinks Topeka
Fails in Hospitality.

OF the members OF the commercial CluD
at the club rooms last night Owing TO
the fact that there was hitch in send
ing the notifications to all the business
men only a small representation was
present. 1t was the unanimous opinion
that Topeka could not afford to at
tempt to give a fall festival unless it
was a booming success. as a poor show
would undo all that was hoped to be
accomplished.
Owing to the small representation
present it was decided that the mem
bers OF the entertainment committee
should meet at o'clock Friday morn
ing and visit some of the prominent
merchants and in that manner deterIn-
Inc what course viii be deemed the
most advisable. This committee will
report at a meeting Monday night
when it is planned to hold a monster
enthusiastic meeting. The members of
this committee are. Z. H Crosby,
chairman; Chas. L. Wood, AbraIn
Troup. J. G. Holland. A. Demuth, j. w
Robinson. June L Moore, II A Auer-
bach. John F Stanton. Hugh Lawlor
IL L. Robinson, L NJ Wood. c. G.
Blakely. 4. H Foster
Among the new ideas suggested, that
Of Edward Wilder. treasurer of the
Santa F'e was prominent. Mr.. Wilder
is thoroughly disguised with the class
of midway attractions we have been
accustomed to having And in this he
Is not alone. The midway attractions
seem to be of about the same quality
wherever and by whoever they are put
on and some new feature OF entertain
7nent is what the promoters Of the fes-
tival want
IF we give a show this fall" said
MIR. Wilder, eve want to give some
thing that IS of merit, that will please
the people and they viii go home feel
ing that they have had their moneys
worth
L would suggest that we secure
about a half a dozen hrst-class circus
performers, aerialists and fancy riders,
and give an open air free show both
afternoon and evening. This is a fea-
ture that has never been run in con-
nectiOn with a fall festival and I am
confident that it would be a popular
feature of the entertainment"
1t was suggested that for the street
dair portion of the entertainment
popular thing to do would be to follow
I'm the footsteps of Lincoln. Neb. Last
fan at the street fair there each mer-
chant built a booth in the street
against the curling of the sidewalk in
front of his place of business This
booth was open on all four sides, and
was about ten feet wide and as long
as the merchants street frontage Bv
adopting this method. each merchant
may have a booth at small cost, and
the booths are scattered all over the
city. adding gayer appearance than
If the booths were all confined to one
portion of the city. This feature could
be worked UP in two weeks, and would
mot necessarily be a reason for putting
of the show this fall.
The Court of Honor scheme. sug-
gested by Major T. ]. Anderson. could
be carried out at the Auditorium In the
evenings, with some sort of entertain
Enent inside the auditorium
As an attraction to draw people here
from various parts Of the state, Frank
Foster suggested bringing some famous
II Pa rr7 ,o
Eresceus and Anaconda. These with
the scattering entries that would be
possible to make at this late date
would be an attraction that prob
ably twenty thousand people from
various parts of the state would cone
TO Sc
This with the horse show features
that the local Horse Show association
could arrange for in the short time left.
would furnish all the entertainment
necessary.
spiral tower artist here to give free
shows 1t was also suggested that for
an incentive TO bring people here from
out over the state tickets could be
given free to every pay entertainment
upon the presentation of the railroad
ticket at any store in the city.
A letter of suggestions for the man
agement of a street fair from Altman
Barrett, the theatrical booking agent
at Kansas City. was read 1t was full
of ideas, but hardly any practical. He
would cost an immense sum Of money
Three or four hundred band members
for several days would cost more dol
lars to support than there would be
people to attend the show from outside
the city. If the band contest was the
only drawing feature. He also sug-
gested an exhibition of football and an
entertainment by some college glee
clubs The interest in this sort of thing
Is not what it is in the east, and could
hardly be expected to bring out a
crowd here.
John Schmidt one Of the proprfetors
OF the Kansas Packing House Market
st Second and Monroe streets was at
the meeting by invitation Mr.. Schmidt
- an enthusiastic advocate of hospital
atty In the course of his remarks which
went to prove that people would flock
No town where there was a feeling of
fellowship and hospitality; he told of
drinking a cocktail with Chauncy De
pew at Atlantic City only few DAYS
Hgo- hat makes Atlantic City what
e isz he asked 1T is simply because
e IS q place where the people may go
for a short time in the summer and
cast OFT all restraint and enjoy them
There are as good people there as
st any place and they think it no harm
70 partake of the flowing bowl It is.
however, not carried to excess at any
time Such proceedings would not be
tolerated And 7 viii bet ten thousand
dollars to ten that there are more
young men drunkards here in the city
OF Topeka than IN that pleasure resort.
It IS composed almost entirely of hotels
and is crowded every season
IF more Of the same feeling
existed between the people here we
would be able to draw big crowds
When a person goes away from the
farm for their outing in the fall or from
their little western Kansas city, they
want to cast or all restraint and enjoy
themselves And can they do it in To-
pekaa Let US all work together and
pull together in giving a big show and
N popular one here this fall"