The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-11

Fred Smith and John 4 Wanamaker.
There is scarcely any doubt too that
Miss Helen Gould of New York will at
tend. Miss Gould has given consider
able money to the association work in
Kansas and her acquaintance among
the Y. M. C. A. workers of Kansas is
extensive. The railroads are adding
favor to the conference by furnishing
the delegates to it with free Transports.
ton; and President E. P Ripley of the
Santa Ee has promised Secretary Nc
Dill personally that if it were desired,
he would run a special train from Chi
cago to Topeka bearing the delegations
who might gather in that city It is
certain that a special will come up from
Kansas City for the first day of the
meeting. and it is possible that one may
be started from Chicago.
Probably twenty-five men, said Mr..
McDill will have to be taken care of at
the hotels of the city. The estimated
cost locally would be near $500, al
though that will depend upon some con-
ditions. 1t is expected that the homes
of Topeka will be open to the free enter
tainment of about 500 men and the rest
would be cared for at our own expense
These men will come mostly from the
east and 1 believe Topeka would gain
by the conference" Other speeches in
favor of raising the required sum of
money and securing the conference we're
made by s. S. OFT, who is prominent in
the management of the Topeka city as
sociation; w. G. Boon, chairman of the
board of directors of the Topeka Rail
road Y. NJ. c. A, and George E. Lerrigo,
general secretary of the city association
here. Those gentlemen spoke as favor
ing it from the standpoint of Y M. G.
A. men. The Topeka hotel men then ap
peared individually--C. L. Wood of the
I National, J. J. O'ROurke, Thrcop and
J. r. Hankla, Fifth Avenue-and gave
assurance that they were hopeful that
the conference should be brought here
without fail. They promised to do their
share in the contribution to the fund
which it would require James A.
Troutman and Richard Wilson closed
the discussion of the proposition, and
MI Troutman moved the assumption
of the obligation of about $500 to insure
the conference being brought here anc
the club unanimously voted in favor of
the motion. Before the discussion of
the Railroad Y. NJ c.. A. conference be-
gan, large number of the members of
the local railroad association came in
and listened during the discussion.
For some months the question of sus-
pending membership fees or doing away
with them entirely in connection with the
Commercial club has been agitated. 1t
was decided Wednesday evening that
for the next sixty days all that would
be required of members joining would
be the payment of the regular 81 d
month for dues. Heretofore the fee has
been five dollars, but the desire to in
crease the influence of the organization
led to the adoption. after long considera-
ton, of a motion by c. K. Holiday pro-
viding for the suspension of this rule
| during the next two months. The pres
ent membership of the club is 225, but II
is believed after an aggressive canvass
among the business men this number
can be increased by several hundred.
The adoption of this plan was in line
with report made by Captain H. NJ
Philips, chairman of the committee ap-
pointed on this matter some time ago;
but it required considerable debate for
its adoption and the rejection of mo-
ton to require as an admission fee 50
cash which should be applied to the
payment of the monthly dues of the
member admitted The proposition OF
suspending the admission fee was favor
ed by J. J. O'Rourke. DR. H. A Warner
and one or two others while It was most
strongly opposed by r. S. Brigham and
Judge T. F. Carver
John Mcdonald, editor of the Western
School Journal, appeared before the
club and made proposition which was
acted upon favorably without : "a
tation: that for the people of tn ity
to hold reception for the teachers who
will come here in attendance upon the
State Teachers convention to be held
/ December 29-31 1t was suggested that
this event take place in the senate
chamber at the state house and that the
special committee on the matter be
made UP of persons selected from the
city council the board of education and
/ the Commercial club. Mr.. Mcdonald
suggested that 1t be carried on along
much the same line as that held at the
national educational association con-
ventions. There are several hundred
teachers in Topeka for this event each
year during the holiday vacation and
the action of the Commercial club for
reception in their honor is to show the
appreciation of the Topeka people of
their presence.
There has been no definite plan made
| for the Inauguration of GovernOr-elect
Bailey. At the last meeting of the club
it was proposed to have the ceremonies
held in the Auditorium in order that the
public might attend But the sickness
and death of Mr.. Bailey's father have
prevented the completion of arrange
ments for his induction into office. This
matter was left to the board of directors
of the club
The decision of George Skeen, propri-
etor of the Elizabeth. Ill. bridge works.
to move his plant to Topeka was heard
and it was announced that a free lease
for the grounds upon which the plant
will be built for a period of SO years
was possibility. Mr.. Skeen says
that in February or March he will shin
to this place 700 tons of bridge mater
ial and that later when the institution
moves here it will be the only one man
| ufacturing bridges in this part of the
United States. The affairs relating to
this matter were left to the committee
on state and national legislation.
| The chairman of the committee on
state and national legislation reported
favorably on amendments to the inter-
state commerce law. The Kansas rep
resentatives in both branches of the
national congress are requested to sup
port it. The report in full follows:
Your committee on state and national
legislation, to whom was referred the
letters and documents from the execu-
tive committee of the Interstate Com
merce Law convention pertaining to the
revised Elkins bill. entitled "A bill to
enlarge the jurisdiction and powers of
the interstate commerce commission
have had the same under consideration