The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-05

homes of the residents the visitors are
made welcome On the picnic grounds.
the show tents and the open spaces the
people are entertained. The Oldest set
tiers get together for the annual visit
ing and Handwriting with each other
There are short grass pioneers there VINO
have come from more than so miles by
wagon They reach Downs several days
in advance. The people are there Tor a
big family gathering, for all the old
settlers of western Kansas feel sort OF
like kith and kin.
The Younger people find the cane
racks, the shooting galleries and the
test your-lungs and sledge hammer ma
chimes novel as ever year after year,
enough to join the old settlers. There
is generally balloon ascension and
parachute jump. There have been so
many that the people have lost track OF
the count. The balloon man always
makes the ascension, too, and after
he gets up he has to come down. With
10000 people standing round waiting for
him to go up and with no escape ex-
cept across the prairie there is nothing
for the aeronaut to do but go up. So
balloon ascensions are successful in
Downs
w J. Bailey will be the principal
speaker at the celebration this year.
which will be on July %, as the 9th
comes on Sunday. Among the speak
ers who have been heard at the Downs
celebrations in the past are the follow
ing:
United States Senators John ]. In
gals, Preston B. Plumb, j. R. Burton;
Congressman Lew Hanback,, E. J. Tur-
ner. w. A. Calderhead, w. j. Bailey,
William Baker, N. B. Mccormick, w. A.
Reedef; Governors George w. Click.
john A. Martin. Lyman U. Humphrey.
L. D. Lewelling. J. w. Leedy, w. Il.
Stanley; State Senators r. NJ Picker,
H. L. Pestana. r. r. Hays; Judges Clark
A. Smith. Borton, Hanback,, Pickler.
Other noted speakers were Hon. j. T.
Waldron, Dr. Philip Krohn, Hon. Webb
McNall, Mrs Annie Diggs, Hon. c. H.
Moody, William R. Smith, J. ]. A. 7.
Dixon.
There are plenty of bands at the
Downs celebration. The town maintains
two bands. One is the Girl band of
Downs made up of 16 girls who play all
the instruments from bass drum to
tuba James E. Davis, known all over
northwestern Kansas as Jim" Davis,
is the organizer of the band. He plays
with Manifold's celebrated band. He
is also president of the committee in
charge of the Downs celebration. J. w
Pugh has been secretary of the cele-
brations for q years. The town boasts
lott Clyde. Smith Center, Lebanon,
Cawker City, Stockton, Kirwin and
other places are there. Baseball teams
from various towns in Kansas have
played there.
There are flower parades, fireworks
displays, f1ambeau club displays. trades
and labor parades and all sorts of en-
tertaining features. The people of the
town believe in entertaining the visit
ors. Plenty of money is raised and
nothing is ever wanting. This year the
celebration is in charge of the follow:
| ing:
Executive committee-Jim E Davis,
president; H. H. Welty, j. A Forline,
Dan B. Harrison. w A. johnson.
J. w Pugh, secretary.
| d. H. Harrison, treasurer.
| Grounds-Lew Meibergen, C. G. Ray,
| Chas. UT.
| Music-O. A. Cannon, A. G. Hard
! man. Mord Smith.
Amusement-Dan B. Harrison, H. S.
Cra1ey, H. A Meibergen-
| F'ireworks-Wm Ruth, G. H. Skinner
Invitation and reception-H- H Welty
F. M. Wells, A. Jackson, E. NJ Jones
| Soliciting-J- E. Davis, T. s. Terry.
Transportation-L d. Leroy. J. H
| Smith.
Printing!. H. Harrison, w. H
Smith.
1 stand privilege-John Keirns. d. H
| Harrison.
Decoration-D H McCormic, A B
Dillon. Herman Rankin.
Officers of the day-A- Jackson, E. M
Jones.
Marshals-C. G. Ray. Chas. Jeardoe
Expense is a thing hardly consider
1 ed by the committees if they think Of