The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-06
WILL KEEP 1T.
Lawrence Won't Give Up G. A.
II. Reunion.
This Ends the Contest for the
Honor.

Lawrence has decided to keep the state
g. A r. reunion. The resolution relin-
gushing this honor. which was passed
by Washington Post No. II two weeks
ago was rescinGed at a meeting held
Saturday Lawrence business men have
come to the front with cash contribu-
lions sufficient to guarantee all the ex-
penses of the enterprise, and all the
towns which have been making eyes al
the prize will have to keep hands off.
No meeting of the administration
council of the state c. A. r. win be
held, because there is nothing for the
council to do. Lawrence will be allow
ed to keep the reunion. 1t was the plan
OF Department Commander Smith to
have the council called together to de-
eide on a new location for the reunion.
but such action will now be unneces-
sary.
A movement had just been started by
the G. A. r. men of Topeka to have the
reunion held here. Plans were being
made to present the claims of Topeka
to the council. but this will all be aban-
doned now. The other cities of Kansas
which were going into the contest for
the reunion were Wichita, Hutchinson,
Ottawa, and Dodge City.
Some days ago, Commander Smith
said: I am not going to give up Law
renee, or release it from its undertake
ing until / know that some other town
will take good care of the reunion. l
am like Judge Hook, in that 1 don't re-
sign one place until 1 get another"
1t was Commander Smiths intention
to go To La Wrence this week and try to
persuade the G.. A. K. men there to keep
hold Of the enterprise, and carry it
thu ough in spite of the flood, though
from the beginning, Mr.. Smith has not
censured Lawrence for losing heart in
the face of the discoura ging conditions.
The reunion at Lawrence is to be held
in the big Lawrence city park, which
i occupies a wide plaza extending from
the business portion of town south to
the subUi rs The date as fixed by Com
mander Smith is September 16 to 20,
and il is the plan to retain this date. 1t
may be deemed wise, however. to post
pone the event for a few days in view
of the delay in preparations caused by
the food.
The dlscouraging conditions which
confronted Lawrence can be understood
when It is known that according to an
official report of damage done by the
flood there, 40 families of G.. A. R. men
lost from $500 to $4,000 each.
The news of LaWrence'S determination
to stay with the reunion comes in let
ter from ,. ]. Churchill, adjutant at
Lawrence, to w. w. Denison, adjuuant
of the state department. Mr.. Churchill
says:
a great reaction has taken place
among our business men, They came
to realize that they were about to lose
something that would be of material
value TO them unless they got a move or
themselves and some of the most en-
thusiaslic started out on Thursday and
Friday to STE what they could do in
raising money to defray the expenses Of
the state reunion and the result is that
we have now guaranteed pledges of all
we asked for and our post this evening
passed resolutions recalling the resOlu-
ton that we passed two weeks ago from
the department commander. We are
now ready TO go ahead with the reunion
the same as if no flood had come l will
send you a copy of the resolutions which
| hope will settle things to your salts
faction. l hear that the council of adj
1ninistration is called to meet next Wed
nesday or Thursday and if you think it
advisa Bile, and will write me. 1 will
come up. If it was called for the pur-
pose of relocating the state reunion, and
nothing else, 1 should think it might be
called off and save expense.
please write me on the receipt of this
and let me know if there is any doubt