davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
STORM SWEEPS
The NORTHWEST
Rain and Snow Prevail Over a
Large Area.
Disturbance Becomes a Blizzard
in Montana.
MERCURY TAKES DROP.
Reaches Ten Degrees Below
Zero at Gunnison, Colo.
Conditions Develop Into a Tor
nadO in Indiana.

Salt Lake, Utah. Nov. 1.-THE whole
Pacific coast from British Columbia to
Southern California. and the states Of
Oregon, Washington. Idaho. Montana.
Nevada, Wyoming, Utah and western
Colorado were swept by a storm today
that has resulted in an almost total
prostration Of telegraph service over
that territory and in the mountains has
all but tied up the railroads in a regu-
lar midwinter blockade. The storm
which is still raging with unabated fury,
is the severest on the coast. For five
days rain has been falling without ces-
sation in the Puget sound country, which
turned into snow today. accompanied by
wind which Is blowing at the rate of sc
miles an hour. Heavy gales are report
ed along the entire Pacific coast in CAL
ifornia, accompanied by torrential rains.
So far, however. no marine disasters
have been reported. In the gorges of
the Cascade mountains, snow is report
ed to be four feet deep on the level and
still falling, and railroad traffic is SER
iously impeded in consequence. At
Helena and Butte and over the range of
central and eastern Montana the storm
has turned into a binding blizzard, with
eight inches of snow at Helena six
rapidly dropping temperature. South
ward in Wyoming, Nevada and Utah
there has been little precipitation so far,
but high winds have prevailed for near
ly "A hours. Telegraph service has been
practically wiped out, prostrated teIe-
graph poles and wires buried in snow
drifts resulting in the Pacific northwest
being almost completely cut off from the
outside world for the greater part of the
day, while conditions were almost as
bad to California.
IN BLINDING SHEETS.
Butte, Mont, Nov. 12.-In Butte and
adjoining counties the worst blizzard
in years was experienced yesterday aft
ernoon. The snow came in binding
sheets, making it impossible to see
distance greater than half a block
Temperature about 20 degrees above
zero.
10 BELOW AT GUNNISON.
Denver, Nov. ia special to the Re-
publican from Gunnison, Colo, says the
mercury stood at 10 degrees below zero
at 8 o'clock this morning. A high wind
prevailed there, the air being filled with
snow.
BLIZZARD IN MICHIGAN.
Detroit, Mich. Nov. 12-Specials from
northern Michigan tell of blizzard
through the copper country and the
same conditions at Cadillac.
TORNADO IN INDIANA.
Petersburg, Ind, Nov. ia terrific
W1DQ STORM passed through tIle WeSleiH
part of this county today doing an i'm
mense amount of damage. The White
River chapel church, five miles west of
here, was lifted from it's foundation
and carried a distance of 25 feet, turn
ed completelyo around and demolished
Houses, barns and outbuildings were
demolished in number of places. The
building completed by the ]. D. Car
ter Glass factory in the western part
of the city last Saturday at cost of
$50 900 was blown from its foundation
and badly wrecked. The building was
200 feet long.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
Thief RETURNS IT
FOrger Who Secured State
Money Is COntrite.
Sends Back $50 Drawn in Sid
ney Blakeman's Name.
HE WAS HARD UP.
Says That Was Motive for Conf
mitting Crime.
Takes Pains 10 Conceal His
Identity.
EVIDENCE OF FORGERY
Indications That 1t Was Prac-
ticed in Wholesale.
Signatures to Vouchers and
Warrants Not Genuine.
EVIDENCE OF FORGERY
Indications That 1t Was Prac-
ticed in Wholesale.
Signatures to Vouchers and
Warrants Not Genuine.
Some one las fleeced the state.

Some one has heeced the state.
Positive evidence of forgery in the
Brakeman case has been secured. Some
person whose name is unknown drew
$50 by signing Mr.. Blakeman's name to
vouchers and warrants.
The money was returned today in an
envelope postmarked in Topeka with a
letter admitting the fraud. There was
no name signed to the letter and the
identity of the writer is not known.
WELLS DOUBTS IT.
Auditor Wells does not believe the
story of how the warrants were secured
as told in the letter. The force in the
auditors office was new at that time
and it was extremely careful in guard
ing the books and warrants
Il think this fellow is lying about it
in this letter." said Auditor Wells. Il
don't believe he got hold of them in any
such way. If he was a house employee
there will be some other signature on
the warrant register that will resemble
the one written for Brakeman. 1t looks
TO me as though this is written and
the money returned to cover up some
thing eIse.'
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12

names of James Waugh. Cora Shields
and George K. Cooper.
This would indicate that the forgery
of oaths was not uncommon. Whether
the names of these persons were also
forged in making out the vouchers and
receipting for the vouchers as appears
to have been done in Blakeman's case,
is not yet known. This may account
for the fact that there were many more
employees on the pay roll than could
ever be checked up on the floor of the
house.
The four forged oaths which appear
in the original house journal are all in
the same handwriting. Not only are the
blank spaces filed in and the names of
the various persons purporting to take
the oath signed in this handwriting, but
also the signature of Speaker Pringle
appears in the same hand in each case.
Twelve oaths of office appear in the
house journal of the eleventh day of the
session, January 20. The originals are
simply stapled in the journal of that
date Each is on a separate blank or
printed form, but the four which appear
to be forgeries are on different forms
from the eight which seem to be genu-
ine The eight genuine oaths are those
of William Fox, janitor; L. Work, Felix
North. janitor: Harrison Fouse, jani-
tor; George NJ. Harlan. doorkeeper;
Charles Lercher, assistant doorkeeper;
Harry Coon, assistant doorkeeper; and
Ire Dennison, assistant doorkeeper.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12

by the tariff act Of the United States,
approved July "a, 1897 or as may be
provided by any tariff law OF the United
States subsequently enacted
THE rates of duty herein granted by
the United States to the republic eof
Cuba are and shall continue during the
term of said convention preferential in
respect 70 all like imports from other
countries:
.Provided-That while said convention is
in force no sugar imported from the re-,
the soil or industry. of the republic of
Cuba shall be admitted into the United
States at a reduction of duty greater than
20 per centum of the rate duty thereon as
provided by the tariff act of the United
States. approved July "a, 1897, and no SUI
country shall be admitted by treaty or
convention into the United States while
of duty than that provided by the tariff
act of the United States, approved July
"A, 1897, and provided, further, that moth
ing herein contained shall be held or con-
strued an admission on the part of the
house of representatives that customs du-
ties can be changed otherwise than by an
act of congress- originating in said house
Sec. 2. That so long as said conven-
ton shall remain in force the laws and
regulations adopted or that may be adopt
ed by the United States to protect the
revenues and prevent fraud in the declara-
uons and proofs that the articles of mer-
chandise to which said convention may
apply are the product of manufacture OF
the republic of Cuba, shall not impose
the articles Imported excepting the con-
sular fees established, or which may be
established by the United States for is
suing shipping documents which fees
shall not be higher than those charged on
the shipments of similar merchandise
from any other nation whatsoever; that
articles of the republic of Cuba shall re-
ceive, on their Importation into the ports
of the United States, treatment equal %
that which, similar articles OF the United
States shall receive on their importation
into the ports of the republic of Cuba;
that any tax or charge that may be i'm
posed by the national or local authorities
of the United States upon the articles of
merchandise of the republic of Cuba, en-
braced in the articles of said convention
subsequent to said importation and prior
to their entering into consumption into
the United States shall be imposed and
collected without discrimination upon like
articles whensoever imported
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12

and elevated roads. In addition team
sters and drivers were carrying passen-
gers to work from all parts of the south
side to the down town district.
The mayors attitude is shown by a
proclamation adjuring all curiosity
seekers to keep of the streets and warn
ing against crowds.
The worst disorder of the early hours
was at Clark and Van Buren streets,
where two Wentworth avenue trains
followed by mail cars We're blockaded-
On the rear passenger train man be-
I.eved to be Boss Farrell, the strike
breaker. rode beside the motorman,
fiOuriShing a revolver. A brick thrown
struck the arm holding the weapon but
did not disable it.
The crowd yelled: Just like St
Louisr'
The first train out on the Cottage
Grove avenue line finally succeeded in
making a round trip, but the crews are
said to have deserted when the barns
were reached. A crowd of 200 or more,
mostly boys, stopped a -nurthbound Cot
tage Grove avenue cable train between
Forty-Seventh and FOrty-eighth street
by blocking the cable slot Bricks and
stones were hurled at the members of
the crew and William Watson, the grip
man, and H. S. Norton. the conductor,
We're injured. A riot call was sent in,
but the crowd dispersed before the ar
rival OF the police.
One by one the stalled cars broke
through the blockades and upon giving
assurances that they would run the cars
back to the barns the crews were allow
ed to proceed Wrecking crews were at
work ON the disabled trains. Nearly ev-
cry car was returned with windows
shattered and plentifully Uttered with
missiles of every description. The police
in many instances rode upon the plat
form OF the car and frequently found it
necessary to draw their clubs to drive
the crowds back.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
GRANT LETTER FOUND
In Which the General Wrote
.sLet Us Have Peace"

Hartford, Conn.,, Nov. 12.-The his
toric letter of General Grant accepting
the nomination to the presidency, and
ending with Let us have peace" has
been sound among some waste paper
here by a scavenger.
The letter was addressed to Gen.
Joseph r. Hawley, president of the
National Union Republican convention.
After General Hawley went to Wash
ington as senator the letter disap-
peared, and was believed to have been
lost.
Workmen taking waste paper from
the cellar of the Courant building to
send to the rag man, tossed out a
bulky envelope which was picked up
by the man in charge and taken to
the office. 1t proved to be the long
lost epistle, the last paragraph of
which reads:
Peace and universal prosperity, its
consequence with economy of admin
istration, will tighten the burden Of
taxation, while it constantly reduces
the national debt. Let us have peace. -
The letter is dated May 90. 1868.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
NONE ARE READY.
Construction of New School Buil1-
ings Delayed.

The board of education is finding de-
lays in every school building in the
city under course of construction or
that are to be built
The heavy rains during the summer,
the scarcity of material and the errors
of the architects are responsible for
the delays. 1t was intended that some
of the buildings should be ready for
occupancy by this term, but none of
them will be and some will not be
completed before September, 1904.
The board of education will receive
bids for the building of the manual
and from present indications there will
be a large number of bidders who will
go after the contract. So far no out
of-town bidders have signified any in
tention of submitting bids.
The board hoped that some work on
the building could be done this year,
but on account of the delays it may
be that no work will be done until next
of excavating may be commenced. The
manual training building is not ex-
pected to be ready for occupancy by
the September term in 1904.
1t was also the intention of the board
to have the contract for the twelve
room building in North Topeka let in
time for work to be done this year.
but the flood delayed matters and the
bids for the building will not be called
for for several months. Work will
The question of the title to the ground
for the North Topeka building is about
settled. The board wishes to purchase
tract of Z10lA feet on Quincy street by
40 feet on Fairchild street J. 3. I.ari-
mer has been engaged in looking up the
title to the land and he has now about
untangled the snarl in the titles
l.. NJ. Wood is at work perfecting the
plans for the North Topeka building
and will have them done in a short time
q rd wi NOT hax
by S15,000 with which to complete the
building. The bonds voted for the build
ing amount to $4,000 but that will not
be sufficient to complete the building
and install heating and ventilating
plant. The North Topeka building is
to be about as large as the Sumner
building and when it is completed and
occupied the old Quincy building, in
North Topeka, will be abandoned. The
new building is to be as modern and
well equipped as the Sumner building
and the total cost Will be from $35, ,0J1
to $4,000.
The Lafayette building, in ParkdaIe,
will not be ready for occupancy before
the school term which begins in Sep
tan1ber. 1904 The board hoped that the
ary but the wet weather delayed the
contractors and after work had COM
menced a shortage of pressed brick still
further delayed the work.
The six room addition to the POtWin
school was also delayed by the heavy
rains and since the work begun has
been delayed by reason of the plans
being changed. 1t is hoped that the
addition viii be ready for occupancy by
February 1 although it was intended
! that the addition should be in use long
before that time.
The heating plant, which is being in
stalled in the Lowman Hill building is
not yet completed but the contractors
are pushing the work and hope in few
days to have the work done. The big
ventilator for the building has not yet
arrived from Chicago.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12

In the meantime Auditor. Wells nro
poses to do all the investigating he can
to ascertain If the story told in the let
ter with the return of the money is
correct He proposes to check over the
other vouchers of house employees with
the names on the warrant register and
see if any more vouchers are missing
There is every reason to believe
there was wholesale forgery in the
house of repre- Senta tives last winter in
drawing the pay for the multitude of
house employees. whose names appear
on the house journal and for whom
warrants were drawn in the state audi
tors office and paid in the state treas
ury2
Circumstances point to such a condi-
tion of affairs, and it is likely that an
investiga ton will eb instituted within
the near future.
Sidney Brakeman, of Leon, Butler
county. concerning whom trouble has
been stirred up and whose name ap-
pears on the house journal as an assist
ant ergeant-at-arms, and in whose
name two warrants. .aggregating ninety
dollars, were caShed by the state treas
ury, says that he was never sworn in
as a house employe, that he never drew
warrant for service as such, and
that If ANYBODY signed his name to any
voucher the signature was a forgery.
The original journal of the house of
representatives also shows that not only
was Blakeman's name forged to the
oath of Office, which he is purported to
have taken but also the signature OF
Pringle of the charge of having signed
any Oaths of Office of persons who never
appeared before him
Not only was Blakeman's and Prin-
gle's signatures forged to the alleged
oath of Brakeman. but four out of
twelve oaths of office which appear in
the house journal on that day are for
geries. The other three are in the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
THE MEMS DEMANDS.
More Pay, Less Time and Recog-
nitien of Union.

The demands of the men in detail and
the position taken by the company re-
garding them are subjoined:
Twenty-eight cents an hour on cleo
trical cars. $3.50 a day on cable trains
with time and half for overtime. The
company says the increase is not pos
sible as an advance was given a year
ago and business does not warrant a
further advance. A work day of not
more than eleven hours nor less than
ten. This was refused on the grounds
that it would hamper the company IN
its duty to the travelling public.
Arbitration-The company accepted
conditionally.
All employees to be union men. This
was refused because it would give the
union absolutely control of the selection,
employment retention in service and dis
cipline of the employees.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
TWO MORE TO GO.
Reported Senator King and Dick
Chase Will Be Republicans.

d. o. McCray brings word to Topeka
that L. p. King and "Dick" Chase.
both old-time Populist wheel horses,
will be in the Republican county con-
vention in Cowley county next year
King has been state senator from
Cowley county for about twenty
years. First he was a Republican. and
when the Populist party was organized
he Joined that and has been Populist
ever since. He has been prominently
mentioned for United States senator
during the palmy days of Populisnn,
and was also a candidate for governor
at the time Leedy was nominated
Chase was warden of the penitentiary
during the Lewelling administration.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
AIMED AT ROOSEVELT.
Federation Considers
a Pointed Resolution.

Boston, Nov. 12.-Resolutions were in
troduced in the American Federation of
Labor convention today to the effect
that the so called open shop policy,
whether under private or government
management, -can not be recognized by
organized labor The preamble fndica-
ted that the resolutions were based upon
the Miller case, growing out of trouble
in the government Office at Washington
and President RooseveIt's decision in the
matter.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
MADE 29 MILES AN HOUR
Lebaudy Brothers Achieve a
Triumph With Airship.

Paris. Nov 12.-One of the greatest
triumphs of dirigible ballooning was
achieved today by the Lebaudy broth
ers, whose airship in one hour and 35
minutes covered As miles separating
Moisson and the Champs de Mars,
Paris. The balloon attained an extra
ordinarily high speed, dashing through
the air some times at the rate Of two
thirds of mile a minute, the mean
speed being % miles per hour.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
MAY SNOW TONIGHT.
That Is the Prediction of Weather
Bureau.

The forecaster thinks that snow is a
DC ssibiIity for Kansas tonight.
The forecast sent out today is Rain
or snow and colder tonight and Fri
dav." The wind at noon was north
westerly, blowing 10 miles an hour
The minimum temperature this morn
ing was SO The hourly temperatures
recorded TODAY by the government
=, ,as.r. n-,nater s.-ar.a &c fnllaMs.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
WHISPERS TOO MUCH.
Emperor William Is Impatient
Under Doctors Restraint.

Berlin, Nov. 12.-Regarding the emper-
or the following bulletin was issued this
morning at the new palace Potsdam:
His majesty gave up his usual walk
yesterday owing to the sharp wind pre-
vailing. The healing of the wound takes
the regular course and the emperor's S
general condition remains good.
WON LUETHOLD.
SCHMIDT.
"ILBERG''
The greatest difficulty of Emperor
williams physicians is to keep him
from over-taxing his voice. They have
ruled that he must only whisper little
and while he is not forgetful of their
command. he whispers a good deal and
occasionally utters an exclamation State
business is piling up Various matters
in which the emperor is personally in
terested are developing and he is unable
to discuss them but he listens to re-
ports, writes questions, objections or his
own views, though the pencil runs toe
slowly and he breaks out occasionally
with whispered remarks pitched near
the danger line. No particular harm
has resulted but as he is getting well
fast his imDatience increases
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
II 81 z%sz..szz.z1

Blakemau's name as it is signed to the
oath of office in the original house
journal.
The cancelled warrants indicate that
they were cashed at the state treasury
and Blakeman's name was forged on
the back This indicates that the war
rants were cashed in the state treasury
without identifying the person present
ing them, and who claimed to- be Blake
man. A bank which eashed a check
without identifying the person present.
ing it, is held liable for the amount. In
this instance. the return of the money
by the thief relieves anyone of liability
in this case.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
Ter,neretures of Large Cities.

Chicago. Nov 12.-T q. m. tempera-
lures: New York sS; Boston 46: Phfla-
delphia ii; Washington 42; Chicago SO;
Minneapolis %. Cincinnati Sc: st. Louis
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12

Speaker Pringle's name as it is signed
90 the Brakeman oath of office-the
same handwriting as Blakemans
name.
i think whoever is guilty of wrong
doing in this matter ought to be found
out and thorough investigation made"
SAID the governor. L would want to
CONFER with the attorney general before
who should make the Investigation or
now 1t should be conducted
1t has been suggested that this is a
good thing for a state accountant to
work on, but Governor Bailey refused
to express himself on that point
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
weather Indications.

Chicago, Nov. 12.-Forecast for Kan
sas: Rain or snow and colder tonight
and Friday; brisk northerly winds
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
Mr. We l l S.
KanS

Postmark and address on envelope in
which the stolen 1noleey was returned
to Auditor Wells.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12
&4oG % 300>kenonoN[

Blakeman's name as it is signed on the
state auditors warrant register.
This letter, however. does not explain
why the house journal of January 20
Shows four forged oaths of office, one of
whom was Brakeman, who says he new
er took such an oath
GOVERNOR SAYS INVESTIGATE.
Governor Bailey believes a thorough
investigation of the entire matter should
be made. but he has not yet investiga-
Ted the subject sufficiently to ascertain
the proper procedure.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12

Continued on Sixth Page.)