The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-24
COBURN'S BUREAU
Looks After Details of EXPOSE
ton Live Stock Department.
Topeka Young Men Are Popular
in st. Louis.
ONE MAN FROM ILLINOIS
Col. Charles T. Mills Is the
Assistant Chief.
Places Are All EiIIod Rut AunIi.
Places Are All Filled But Appli-
cations Are Plentiful.

F. D. Coburn. secretary of the state
board of agriculture, and head of the
livestock exhibit of the St. Louis expo
sition, has four Topeka young men EN-
ployed in his department at st. Louis.
This quartette, with the addition of Col.
Chas. F. Mills of Illinois. comprises his
entire office force, and win doubtless be
the limit on the clerks which he is al
lowed to employ.
The four Topeka employees are Geo.
B. Harrison. who is. among other things
in charge of the publicity end of the
livestock show; ], H. Robinson, II. c.
Gillespie and Geo.. H. Hughes.
George Harrison is well known in To-
peka, having been in newspaper work
here at various times. He writes stories
now about the livestock exhibit, sends
them out to various newspapers and
tells people what progress is being made
in the work of Coburn's department.
There is a general newspaper bureau in
charge of the exposition, which sends out
advertising matter about the great show
but Mr.. Coburn preferred to have lit
tie bureau of his own. and has made
Harrison the head of it. Harrison sees
to it that all the farm, livestock and
other papers with a farm circulation are
fully informed about the livestock ex-
hibit. This covers a wide range, for
under Mr.. Coburn'S department comes
not only cows, horses, and swine, but
dogs, cats, chickens, pigeons. poultry of
all kinds, pet stock such as white rats,
Belgian hares and guinea pigs. sheep,
and goats. The publications devoted to
the promotion of all these industries
must be kept posted on the progress Of
the exhibit so far as it affects them
J. H. Robinson is engaged in general
clerical work in the st. Louis office.
Mr.. Coburn became acquainted with
him while he was working In the office
of the board of agriculture as a clerk.
From March, 1899, to October, 1902, Mr..
Robinson was with the board of agri-
culture. He left the office to go into
the insurance business with Bailey
Bros and later went to Chicago. When
he heard of Mr.. Coburn's appointment
he applied for a position with him ana
secured it.
H. c. Gillespie and Geo. H. Hughes
are stenographers. Mr.. Gillespie was
employed in the office of John Purcell
superintendent of the Santa F'e shops
as a stenographer before going to St.
Louis with Mr.. Coburn. His parents
live at Auburn. Geo. H. Hughes is the
son of George Hughes, of Topeka.
Mr.. Coburn's assistant and mainstay
in the tremendous work of preparing
for the immense live stock show is Cob.
Chas. F. Mills, of Illinois. Mr.. Mills
was chief clerk Of the bureau of an
1Indl industry OF the columbian expo
SitiOn, and as such was virtually in fun
charge of the department. He resigned
the position of secretary of the Illinois
board of agriculture to become assist
ant to Mr.. Coburn. He is a thoroughly
trained exposition man. and has beer,
identified closely with exposition work
all his life. Speaking of Mr.. Mills, Sec
rotary Coburn says:
Before 1 accepted the position at st.
Louis, I secured from Mr. Mills a prom
I leo ffa1 hi ef c-fe- L fr-
just the kind of man 1 would have to
have for this work. His speciality is ex-
| position work. He knows all about ex-
positions and agricultural and live
stock displays. He fills up just the
place where I am weak If / have any
particular fitness for this position at St
Louis it is because I am a good office
man, and can keep the general business
affairs of the exhibit in good shape. ]
don't claim to be experienced in ex-
position work. But that is Mills spe-
cialty. So we make a good team, and
can pull together first rate. If it hadn't
| been for Col. Mills / would never have
gotten along so successfully thus far
J. c. Mohler. Mr.. Coburn's assistant
who is now in charge of Mr.. Coburn'
office in this city, says that there are
no more ST Louis jobs to be given out
| Mr.. Coburn has hundreds of applica-
tons for jobs. The people of Kansas
seem to think that he has a department
something like that of E. F. Ware a
Washington, with LOO clerks to lool
after The applications for position arr
coming in by every mail, and as all the
Jobs are at present occupied by peo-
pie who intend to stay with them like
grim death till the. exposition is over
there are likely to be several people dis
appointed. Mr. Coburn has no voice il
the distribution of positions except IL
Ibis own department. The Kansas Ex
position commissioners attend to tn
patronage which is coming to the stat