The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-17
THE MAYOR IS WBATHY.
Wants to Know Why an Excursion Is
to Go to *. G. Decoration Day.


The SeTni-centennial association and
the Santa Fe railroad are billed for a
bout of several rounds within the next
few days. 1t is all over a Topeka ex-
cursion to Kansas City on Memorial
day for the benefit of the Tribe of
Ben Hur which has a gathering in the
Missouri river metropolis on that day.
cheap rates of S1.25 are fixed for that
date and Major Anderson, secretary
of the Centennial committee. thinks it
viii take people from this city when
they ought to stay at home, and that
in the eyes of the major is an out
is going to put up the association to
speak to the railroad, and try to head
off the deal.
The chances for success in that line
out in the show windows and on bill
boards Then there is another hitch
The railroad is only indirectly re-
Sponslble for the excursion Those
things are made up in a different way.
Any man who wishes to run train
to any point at cheap rates, goes to
the Santa Fe office and makes for
NAL application for an excursion He
deposits $50, which becomes a for
felt unless zoe people make the trip
For instance to Kansas City, with a
rate of 1925 for the round trip as the
fare, the boomer" back of the ex-
cursion, gets 25 cents from each tick
ct, While the road pockets dollar.
There is an agreement between all the
railroads on that subject, whereby
such excursion handled by private
parties can be run on legal holidays
and on such days only.
And yet, of course, the excursion
doesn't go on the Santa Fe, unless the
Santa Fe is willing. So the big Atchi-
son road will hear from the Semi
centennial committee on the subject
Major Anderson is working up the
ammunition and at the next regular
meeting on Friday night. the first gun
to knock that special off the track Will
be fired.
They are going to hear from US,
said the major this morning. You
can just bet they are I think it is an
outrage that ought not be tolerated.
There are two very good reasons. It
is Memorial day to begin with That
is not the day to have excursions,
drunken brawls, cock fights and ball
games. The old boys won't be with us
long any more They ought to be
treated with respect While they are
here. The war was not child'S play
by any means. It was real and earnest
and made the country what it is. Once
1 introduced a resolution into the ma
tional encampment asking that Me-
mortal day be changed to the last
Sunday in May, just for that reason
but that is not the primary ob5ec-
ton" continued the major. Me-
mortal day is the opening and big
date of our Semi-ceptennial- It is
not right that excursions at very
cheap rates should be run to Kansas
City. People are not at work on that
day. That is one of the reasons we
gave it the heaviest programme prac-
tically during the festivities. People
should stay at home and aid us. Right
then is when we need it, and | think
the Santa Fe is absolutely in the
wrong by letting that excursion go.
The Missouri Pacific has one on the
same date running through here from
Junction City to Leavenworth. But
I didn't expect as much from the Mis-
souri, Pacific as from the Santa Fe,
because this IS the latter's home and
birthplace"
This matter viii be formally pre-
scented to the Semi-centennial asso-
citation committee on Friday night at
their meeting at the Commercial club.
and without question the Santa Fe
viii be waited upon in regard to the
affair.