The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-19
w. Y. Morgan Leads Campaign
of Falsehood Against Topeka.
Says Hotel Rates Are Raised at
Convention Time.
HERE ARE THE FACTS
Topeka Proprietors Reply to
Morgan Editorial.
Rates Are Never Increased
Under Any Circumstances.

In recent issue of the Hutchinson
News. w. y. Morgans paper. appears
the following EDITORIAL
TT is amusing to see that the Topeka
papsrs claim that Topeka is better pre-
pared to take care of the Republican
state convention than any other town.
The Topeka hotels always raise their
rates convention time and the accom-
modations are not half so good as were
those at Wichita during the last con-
veneion-"
This assertion was apparently made
to influence the state committee to take
the Republican state convention else
where and is already being quoted by
Kansas newspapers which are endeav-
oring to maintain the prejudice against
Topeka as a state convention town.
Topeka has five hotels In the center of
town at any of which the sojourner
may find first-class accommodations.
There are numerous other stopping
places which furnish equally good serv-
ice and many hotels which furnish less
expensive accommodation at lower
cost. The clipping from the Hutchin-
son paper was shown to the proprietors
of the five most important hotels today
and they We're asked for statements III
reference to the charge that they raised
prices when business was unusually
heavy.
c. L. Wood, of the National hotel.
said:
That statement is wrong and the
criticism of the Topeka hotel men is
unjust. This hotel and SO far as 1
know every other hotel in Topeka
maintains a uniform rate of charges
for its accommodations. We do not
raise our prices under any circum-
stances and endeavor to offer our
trying the conditions. I am not ia
miliar with the hotel accommodations
at Wichita. / think the service is good
but 1 am inclined to think that they
are not SO large as those afforded by
Topeka
James Chappen, of the Copeland,
where the politicians make their head
quarters, saicfs
This hotel has. never advanced its
rates. All we ask for is the capacity
of the house. Like every other hotel
in the country we figure on the capacity
of the rooms and no more. If there is
room for two persons in one room we
ask the regular rate for both persons.
It is true that in some other cities it
is the custom to cut the price where
two persons are placed in one room but
inquire at any hOtelmens convention
and you will find that this plan is fol-
lowed at most of the best hotels.''
Maurice ORourke. at the Hotel
Throop, commented upon the Hutchin-
son assertion as follows:
This seems to be another rap at
Topeka. There isn't any foundation
for it so far as the Throop is concerned,
and I think none of the other Topeka
houses ever raise prices during rush.
We have a fixed rate and maintain 1t.
excepting when wei give patrons bet
ter room than is ordinarily afforded un-
der the lower rates. We occasionally
do that for their accommodation
Frank Long, of the Oxford hotel
said:
Instead of raising rates when there
is q convention in town, Topeka hotels
lower them. The State Teachers con-
vention, which is coming here next
week, will get lower than the usual
rates for their accommodations. There
is no truth in the statement that To-
peka houses squeeze the public when
there is a rush. We try to take care of
everybody who comes. and never in the
history of this house has a guest been
taken advantage of because accommo-
dations were hard to find
J. r. Hankla of the Fifth Avenue
hotel said:
This is a falsehood made of whole
cloth. AS long as have been connected
with Topeka hotels have never known
of anything of this kind taking place
Wichita hasn't the hotel accommoda-
is no use in dragging Wichita into this
discussion. This item from Hutchinson
is simply knock on Topeka. Topeka
has every facility for taking care of
convention crowd, has more and bigger
hotels and a better convention audi
torium than any other town In the
state"