davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
a wEEK "a suNsH1NE.

The dust is again blowing in North
Topeka A week of sunshine. work and
cheer has followed a week of cloud
shadow and despair Pedestrians are
picking their way, where swimmers
dared to go. Wagons are moving
where boats hoated and life saving craft
is grounded in the streets which were
channels for torrents The birds are
singing in the trees north of the river,
and human voices are heard humming
as the brave men and devoted women
are putting their homes in order. The
music is natures. for mans meehanisms
of harmony have been -stified for the
time in the water-soaked instruments.
Many have returned to their houses,
more to their avocations. The great
mills of the First WAND are resuming
opera lions and viii be in readiness for
the harvest at hand.
The awful disaster has closer knit
the sections of our people. Friends
from every ward and neighborhood
have helped friends in the flooded dis
trict. Those who have worked the hard
est and done the most are the happiest
for true happiness Consists alone in
doing good"
Everybody is at work. There isno place
for the idler and no idler for the place.
Money will be spent freely for labor
and material to rebuild and repair.
Times viii be good for months by rea-
son of the disaster itself, and then will
come the falls business from field and
farm and mart. The grain is ma
turing in the north counties and the
reaper is started in the south The
cattle are Increasing in number and
fairness. The mines of coal and lead
and salt and zinc are constant in then
output. The farm and the dairy, ex.
cept for the few in the submerged val,
/ leys. have not ceased for a day as In,
come producers. Kansas is almost her
self again. The flood, like the drouth.
merely incites to newer endeavors ana
greater marvels.
In the cheer and hope and faith ana
courage Of the sufferers lie the sure res
toration, Of home and business. The
gloomiest man and the most crestfallen
are they who predicted. not as particl-
pants. diasters and distress which with
not come doleful and direfuI as were
the real happenings of the flood Of 1908.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
wAsHRURN,s coMMENcEMENr

1t is probable that so long as it ex-
lists, Washburn college will never have
another commencement like the one just
passed. There occurred a combination
of events which in time to come is not
likely to be paralleled or approached.
Thirty days ago, the commencement
promised to surpass in festivities and
joys of college life any former anniver-
sary of the institution. Under most
suspicious circumstances. a new presi-
dent was completing the first year of
his administration Washburn had
taken up new life. and was Boosting
in its new-found strength and vigor.
Regardless of its name as a college. it
had suddenly advanced to the standing
of university, surprising. in many
ways any institution doing university
work in the state. New professors and
experts had been added to the teaching
force. A magnificent new. observatory
was all ready for use, and elaborate
dedication exercises had been planned.
Altogether the. commencement season of
1903. with its long programme of con-
certs, lectures, banquets, receptions,
contests. parties. meetings. reunions and
athletic events was one which promised
a seasen of great enjoyment for the stu
dents and friends of the college.
Then came the flood. The appeals of
North Topeka for help were heard in
the college halls. Instantly the re-
Spouse came. Sturdy young men whose
muscles were hardened by athletics and
whose courage was not lacking came
from Washburn, and were among the
first to penetrate North Topeka with
means of relief and rescue. Other
young men solicited provisions and
clothing for the refugees. Day and
night the college girls worked with
their needles preparing clothing to be
sent to the Auditorium. The professors
and their wives contributed money and
labor to the need of the hour Wash
burn was FAR too busy to think anything
further about commencement festivities.
The calamity across the river engrossed
everything. All the strictly pleasure
events of commencement week were
forthwith abandoned.
Just as the flood was beginning to
pass into history, and the first whirl of
excitement was dying out, the college
community was shocked and stricken by
the death of the president emeritus of
the college. DR.. Peter McVicar. DR.. Nc
Vicar had fingered long in the valley of
the shadow, and even in its sorrow for
the passing of the good man the college
community realized the singular fate
which had preserved life until the very
midst Of the commencement week. of the
college to which that life had been de-
voted. The death of DR.. McVicar ter
minated all plans for commencement
entertainments of every description
Scarcely had the degrees been granted,
and the college year closed, when again
death visited the Washburn family cir
Gle and claimed Harvey D. Rice. kan
sas pioneer. and eo-laborer with DR..
McVicar in the establishment of the
college Almost all of the founders of
the college have now passed away.
Washburn's commencement roses were
used to drape the biers of the dead.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
JUDeE HooK-JUpeE oALpwEL1

Inc appointment of Judge William
C. Hook IS judge of the United States
court Of appeals to succeed Judge Henry
c. Caldwell occasioned no surprise 1t
was understood among the Kansas. pol
itcians that Judge Hook was to have
the place
Nevertheless it is a great compli-
ment TO man who is comparatively
new to the judiciary as is the appoin-
lee 1t vas in January, 1899 that Judge
Hook was selected from the ranks of
the legal profession to take the place
of Judge c. G. Foster as judge of the
United States district court. There was
considerable speculation at that time
about the wisdom of the appointment
fer it was understood that Senator
Lucien Baker who was a law partner Of
Judge Hook could have had the place
himself mad he cared to take it, That
was less than five years ago and now
Judge Hook finds himself elevated to
the highest position but one in the fed
eral judiciary. 1t is promotion of
which he may well be proud.
Judge Hook succeeds one ofthe oldest
judges on the federal bench. Judge
Henry c. Caldwell was appointed by
President Lincoln and in his long ser
vice as a United States judge he has
Won a reputation for Independence and
honesty on the bench that his young
successor may wen emulate. In these
times of large corporations when it is 80
often charged that the judicial ermiue
is soiled by the influence of combina-
lions of capital Judge Caldwell stood
absolutely above suspicion.
An example of Judge Caldwells indie
pendenee was Witnessed by the writer
at the time the Santa Fe receivership
was about to be closed. The most
prominent attorneys in the United
States were here and a decree had been
drawn up. which Judge Caldwell was
to enter. It was in the parlors of the
Hotel Throep and Judge Caldwell sat
at a table with the attorneys clustered
around him. 1t is the usual custom to
allow the attorneys to draw the DEGREES
and the judge usually puts his official
O. K upon it without question after he
I is given to understand what it contains.
But in this ease Judge Caldwell took
the lengthy printed document and scan
ned each page carefully suggesting
minor changes here and there. Finally
he stopped and drew his pencil hurried
! " through a sentence and then he turn
ed to the attorneys, mis- frame quiveripg
with indignation. Gentlemen said
/ he. this decree will not be entered in
this form. I thought it was understood
who was to be appointed master in this
case but here [ find in the printed de-
cree for my approval an entirely diff
ferent name. 1 believe that I know
who is responsible for this but I will
now restore the name as originally
agreed and the decree viii be entered
with that there and no other" The
name was that of Judge ]. B. Johnson
of Topeka, now deceased.
The attorneys tried to apologize but
Judge Caldwell refused to listen to them
and the decree was entered with Judge
Johnson.s name as special master.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

way to avoid its recurrence it would be
well worth trying.
In discussing this matter recently.
Senator Burton said:
II see it estimated that Kansas City
and vicinity lost 10000. 900 by the food.
Topeka lost $4,000. 600 These reports
may be exaggerated. but suppose the
total loss was $4,000, 600 am confident
that less than this sum would have been
ample to construct intaking canals and
receptive reservoirs at the sources of the
flood sufficient to have prevented any
loss.
1t is probable that we will not have
another flood like the recent one for
many years. But the fact remains that
destructive floods come every year. The
solution of the difficulty is simple The
water can be impounded for irrigation
purposes. thus preventing the floods and
making practical and valuable use of
the flood waters that have been but an
agent of destruction in the past
'Proba bly, the greatest domestic ques-
ton that may come before congress for
solution in the next 50 years is the con-
troll and conservation of water to pre-
vent damaging foundations and to be
used for irrigating purposes. The flow
of water through its natural channels
viii never cause a flood if it be distribu-
ted through all of the S65 days of the
year.
In small way we have begun this
legislation. We have passed an irriga-
ton bill to appropriate S10,OOO,0OO for
the purchase of four million acres of
land lying along the apex and slopes of
the Appalachian range Of mountains in
Virginia. North and South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, the
purposes being to preserve the forests
as a natural reservoir for the flood wa
ters The bill failed to pass the house
of representatives because it was not
understood.
We are spending millions of money
every year upon levees on the lower
Mississippi when in reality we are at
work on the wrong end of the PROPOSE
ton. This money should be spent high
er UP the stream to prevent flood wa
tiers from going down there"
This is the same old. project of dam
ming the draws which has been aSita-
ted by some country editors in Kansas
for a score of years. The need of it tC
head off floods might not be very fire.
quent in Kansas but if the water car
be conserved it would be useful not only
for irrigation but also as an aid .. rails
ing live stock and as a supply fol
evaporation which would return to the
earth in increased rainfall at time:
when needed.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

Examinations of the liabilities ac-
cording to branches of business says r.
q. Dun & Co. discloses the fact that in
eight Of the fourteen hundred manufac-
turing classes the failures last month
were smaller than in 1902 and it is es-
pecially noteworthy that considerable
decrease appears in the building trades.
embracing lumber, carpenters, etc
notwithstanding the serious Interrupt
ton and loss due to the labor disputes.
There was also material improvemen.
in leather. milling and printing occupa-
tions. The exhibit was least satisfac~
tory as to iron and steel and clothing.
In cottons, woolens and hats losses were
insignificant in both years. In trading
branches OF business six made a better
showing than last year, seven were less
satisfactory. and one was practically
unchanged. The principal increase o.
CURED in miscellaneous failures where
more than the entire change was pre-
vided by the single large fruit failure
previously mentioned In groceries and
liquors there was also considerable in
crease. while general stores made the
best showing in comparison with lass
year.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
Mr.. HARLAN's INNOVATION.

Rev N. E. Harlin, formerly pastor
of the First Christian church of To-
peka but now in charge of a Brooklyn
church, manages to keep before the
public. His latest action is thus com
mented on by the Brooklyn Eagle in
an editorial as follows.
The Rev. DR.. NJ. E HARLAN of the
First Church of the Disciples of Brook
lyn said in a sermon. which the Eagle
lately reported, and in which ne refer
red to the supersedure of old fashioned
music by new tunes. The house Of
God suffers with the touch of traffic
and longs to hear as of yore. Nearer,
NY God to Thee but. instead. its walls
echo with There Are No Flies on Jesus.
We do not know how it is in the Rev
Dr. Harlan's church. But if he calls
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
EDITORIAL COMMENT.
Value of City Franchises.

GlODe-DemOcrat
Any one who looks over the business
statistics of the country will see that
the leading source Of corporate wealth
consists of public franchises. Franchises,
originally obtained as gift, have been
expanded by the simple method of wa
terlng stock until they represent and
pay large dividends on five or six times
the amount of their first capitalization
CITY franchises are highly valuable.
There is no denial on this point The
next question naturally is: Should a
city require a reasonable compensation
Tor its franchises In the public dis
cusslons of the subject there is but one
opinion in this respect also All politi-
cal parties in Missouri in their latest
platforms declare that no more munich
pal franchises Should be awarded I'M
less the community interested gives its
consent at the polls. Under enlightened
government everywhere the accepted
view Is that a city should get proper re-
compense when 1t grants a franchise
In some cities the plan of compensa-
ton has become matter of course.
Numerous European municipalities own
and conduct their public utilities, and
not once in hundred. cases has the
system failed In a few cities corpora
tons still apply for franchises as a gift
on various sOphistiCal grounds, the real
object being that the corporation shall
take all the profits on the old and vir-
tually played-out plan. The expenses of
modern cities are great. and if they
give. away valuable privileges they must
suffer in comparison with other places
that ask fair price for concessions
and add largely To their revenue by this
just means. A city is certainly behind
the times in this age if it hands out
franchises as a gift. and its people win
surely be handicapped by such fool
prOdigalty.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

good thing for David that he didn't live
in a glass house
Some men who tip the scales at 200
pounds refuse to tip the waiter dime
Don't try to blow your own horn unless
you are sure you can raise the wind.
The average man loses sight of the fact
that he viii be ancestor himself some
day.
The fellow who talks regretfully of the
good old days is generally thinking Of the
nights
Love nay make the world go round.
but il takes something less ephemeral to
push it along.
Hardupre- That fellow Good is an easy
mark" Borrowen-''Y Yes, wnere he is con-
cerned everybody tries to do Good"
Have you any of KilIercure's brea kfast
fcod?' asked the dyspeptic-looking man.
NO" replied the grocer's clerk, but
can give You some very fine dog biscuit"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
GLOBE SIGHTS.
[From the Atchison Globe. ]

[FrOm the Atchison GIobe.I
Here's what we call tough luck: an
Atchison girl of II has whiskers.
The first question every child asks on
reaching home is, Where's mother?'
Whenever a woman looks at a boy.
she is reminded that his face needs
washing
They say that every man is cracked
on some subject. Look yourself over:
what is your speciality
What has become of the old fashioned
man who said. 4 thought / would
name it to you?"
A. j. Harwi and Drake Watson have
had trouble: Mr. Harwi does not like
Mr. Watson's new spring hat.
He is 50 crooked said an Atchison
man about another man he hated. that
! he can't sit in barber chair
Jerome Hoover was on the streets
today with hole in his pants. How
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
POINTED PARAeRAPRs.

[From the Chicago News.l
Silence is often the price of domestic
felicity
The 'pugflist is frequently beaten at his
own game.
Honest labor is said to be a good rem
edy for bad luck.
If rich man has a good memory he
will not forget the poor.
Good resolutions and squalling babies
are all right if carried out
There is no earthly hope for man
who is too lazy to acquire enemies.
Time can never heal a woman's grief
If it comes in the form Of a wrinkle.
It is the trihes that are most annoy
ing. Think of the annoyance a young
man with only 2. nickel in his pocket is
up against when he meets his best girl
in front of an ice cream dispensary!
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
REFLECTIONS OF a BACHELOR
IRON the New York Press.l

LFTOm Inc New 1Ofk Pfess-I
The best thing for girls complexion
is for a man to catch her climbing on
apple tree.
Some people seem to think that just
because a man is a bachelor he is deaf,
dumb and blind.
Nearly always you can tell when a
man is married by the way he acts as if
he weren't when he is away from home.
A woman has an idea that it is better
for her not to balance her check book
monthly so the cashier won't know how
little money she has.
Women are so conscientious that when
they are in a bath tub and a servant
tells them that some man has called to
see them they blush.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

The Rochester Union and Advertiser
thinks the country should De Informed
whether or not T.. s. Senator Smoot
of Utah is "a polygamist. Also, it should
be informed at all times whether or not
other people are embezzlers or bride
takers, but it generally isn't until after
lot of mischief is done If half the
time and energy spent in looking into
the private life of statesmen were de-
voted to an investigation of their Off
cial record the country might be better
off
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

Memorial day IS becoming q rival of
Fourth of July. In Pittsburg four boys
have died from lockiaw acquired
through the medium Of toy pistols with
which they We're firing salutes in honor
of the soldier dead
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

Again Quay is talking about
retiring from Politics. With two
nne. Penrose ana Pennypacker
working for him, io probably he
feels that it is entirely safe to turn the
entire business over to, them. The gov
crnor has proven himself to be as faith
full as even Penrose was in carrying OUT
the directions Of the boss
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

1T is reasonably certain that if the
city had been i'm possession Of the water
plant during the past two weeks there
would have been restoration of SER
vice at an earlier date People will
stand anything from corporation be-
cause they can't help themselves, but in
the case of their hired servants, it is
different
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

Or Newell Dwight Hills in recent
sermon advocated the formation Of a
church trust He thinks there are too
many rival plants and that more could
be accomplished and at saving of eN-
pense by combination The man who
undertakes to act as promoter will have
a hard inh
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

Indianapolis Journal: A few years ago
tire commercial travellers of the country
believed that the growth of the trust
movement was going to abolish their
vocation. but experience has demon
strated that the problem of distribution
is very different one from that of pro-
duction. and one from which the per-
sonal element cannot be eliminated.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

Has anybody seen the name of Mr.
Carnegie attached to a check for sub
scription to any of the various relief
funds which are in process Of being
rafse69
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

IL the servian government had pos
sessed "a man like Joe Bristow ne would
have got clear OF all those people with
out killing them.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

The Geographic account Of the tragedy
al Belgrade reads like a story of the
Middle Ages.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

Probably the next generation win be
found organizing societies Of the Sons
and Daughters of the Unpensioned Vet
Grams Of the Civil War.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

In maintaining a tariff on some arti-
Giles Of commerce we haven't even Mr..
Balfour,s excuse that we need the
money!
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

one calamity is not recovered from
until another one is upon US. Fourth Of
july is almost here.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

Three spectres that threaten baby's
life. Cholera. infantun, dysentery, diar-
rhoea DR.. FoWler's Extract of Wild
Strawberry never fails to conquer them
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13


a,,d - ---,s' But the assembled
populace knew Cook and was not sur
prised.
Cook lived on West Tenth avenue, near
Jackson one night while he was at
tending a wedding his house caught fire
and one of his children was burned to
death. Tt is said by old settlers that
from the night of the fire Cook never
uttered another oath.
Cook was wealthy when he left To-
peka and went to Santa Barbara, Cal
He got mixed up in a boom or some 9th
er catastrophe there and lost it all FIT
teen years or so ago A. ". Knowles
stepped off the train at Santa Barbara.
He saw Cook. He asked him where lie
was going I'm broke" said Cook,
I'm going to make some money He
was worth $1,000 when he left Topeka
Cook went to oregon and started a
saw mill in the forests, He made mon
ey. Made nearly all his 100000 back
and then went to the Klondike, during
the rush. and never returned. He died
there
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

full LEASED WIRE REPORT
OF TIE ASSOCIATED FRESS-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

Mortimer Cook gets into this retro
speetion because he built the bridge. He
was known as a man who could handle
swear words with the greatest f1uency
Of any man in the county. When ne
vas readv to have the suspicious cere-
monies of opening the bridge he made
speech from the south end Had his
speech been printed it would have look
ed like the Morse alphabet with few
arabic letters, like this perhaps: