The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-02


gerated. Several thousand peopse have
been rendered homeless. MAN. Of whom
have lost their All. but il must be re-
membered in the face Of the terrible
outlook that North Topeka is still there.
II Wan contain Just as many acres
hereafter as formerly.
Very few. of the houses have been
washed away: many Of the smaller
houses were rented property: none Of
the. business buildings. so far as w.
ported. have been seriously damaged.
/ some of the fronts have washed in and
the loss in merchandise and household
goods win be large.
None of the great mills and manu-
featuring enterprises in that part of
the city, so far as is known. have been
damaged to any great extent The
homeless people are being well cared
for on this side of the river.
We must remember not alone Kan
sas, but Iowa, Nebraska. Georgia. Mis-
souri, have suffered with ourselves
This paper believes that the state of
Kansas is in shape to provide all of the
means necessary to again set her people
upon their feet and re-establish them in
their homes and farms and places Of
business.
At meeting at the Commercial club
this morning some of the most pessi-
rnAsttc speeches We're delivered. 1t was
stated that North Topeka had been
wiped out: it was said that our wheat
crop had been destroyed from the face
of the land; that our alfalfa crop was
ruined.
This paper believes that North To-
pl1ea viii rebuild and be greater than
ever. This sentiment was voiced by
some of the heaviest losers IN North
Topeka who We're present at the meet
ing this morning.
This paper believes that the wheat
crop Of Kansas for this year viii be
among the biggest crops we have ever /
raised. In many Of the largest wheat |
counties Of the state the inundated |
acreage of wheat does not represent one |
f1ftieth OF the growing grain The alfal- |
IA crop which in most instances is !
grown on the higher lands will IN
doubtedIy be equal to any crop Il that /
kind yet grown in the state.
To be sure, Kansas expected this wear
to break all records in the wheat line /
but in the face OF this disaster it is
likely that we WIN still produce one of /
the greatest crops in our history.
1t is the opinion of this paper that
Kansas can take care of her own and
that Topeka and Shawnee county can /
take care of their own.
To be sure. this view was a minority
one at the meeting but many after the /
meeting expressed their ideas that if
Kansas makes a general appeal for aid /
from outside the state it viii do Us
more harm in the end than the few
thousand dollars which might come as
the result of such an appeal
We believe that the well-to--do citi-
zens of this community who have not
suffered directly by the flood should go
down into the very depths of their
pockets reaching for funds. They should /
give a sum which hurts
The people with money must be as
heroic in their actions as the people
who have risl1ed their lives in the flood
to save others.
The bravest speech made this morn
ing at the Commercial club was by Rep
resentative Belts, who said: An the
property I have is in North Topeka, my /
home is there, but North Topeka is not
wiped out. I am going back there to
live My house is standing; the lot is
there. viii even contribute $500 to aid
my neighbors''
In this connection it should be re-
membered that Mr. Belts was one OF
the bravest of the rescuers working
for days and nights in water UP to his
hips in constructing the pontoon bridge
which brought so many to safety
The thing for the Topeka people to do
is to help themselves, no matter how
much of an appeal is made for help
from the outside, that should only be
small portion of what we give here
at home.
1t is fitting that outside aid shou1d he
accepted from fraternal organizations.
as the organizations of Topeka have /
been constantly giving to outside suf-
ferers on various occasions, but aside
from this we believe that topeka and
Kansas in the main can care for her
own.
From this time forward things viii
have a brighter look.
This is our opportunity to prove what
we claim: that Topeka is the best city
in the best state in the union.
Let us thank our friends on the out
side with our whole hearts, but let us
help our own people with our whole
pocketboolzs and with both hands out
of our storehouses Of plenty and out of
our bank accounts bursting with mon |
ey, according to recent dispatches sent
to the world.
The bravery of our men, the courage /
and devotion of our women have been |
proven in these last few days Let our
money prove it's worth. that it is not
sordid, but for the greatest good to the /
greatest number of sufferers. Let our
boasted wealth talk. 1t viii be heard /
Stand up for Topeka.
stand up for Kansas
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