The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-28

ware stores were giving out goods to
help the sufferers and taking little ac-
count, Won was issuing orders and or
dering goods to help himself.
In regard to some other transactions
or Mr. VOLTS in connection with goods
issued to flood sufferers this paper pub
lished fac sfnnile of one of the orders
and an interview with Mr. Cline of
North Topeka showing that Wolf
charged slips for the sets of sadirons
which commonly retail for but 81
Mr.: Wolf says he was a flood suf-
Ierer' and was therefore entitled to the
big end of the trade. Wolf owned a
third interest in the Sturgis Hardware
company, it is true. and this firm was
given more orders than any other
North Topeka firm. His store on this
slde OF the river was entitled to no
special consideration.
The H. NJ Cline hardware firm in
North Topeka, which suffered as heav-
lily as did the Sturgis Hardware COM
pany, ordered large supply of gaso-
line stoves to be sold to the relief
committee, as well as a big stock of
t1nWare, tubs and similar articles Wolf
corrailed such large share of the
business that the Cline firm was
obllged to throw itself on the mercy
nifty gasoline stoves be taken back,
and the wholesale house consented to
do this. Mr.. Cline says that his firm
has hundreds of dollars still tied I'D in
surplus stock ordered at the time Of
the HOOD, to be sold to the relief COM
mittee. Little of it was disposed of
because Wolf issued all the orders on
his own firm.
Wolf says that a regular schedule of
prices was fixed by the flood relief COM
mittee. and that therefore it is ride
ulous to charge that his firm was
guilty of robbing the flood sufferers by
overcharges. It is not claimed that
Mr.. Wolf raised the scheduled prices of
dc 1.r44
lcai;y that on numerous articles Mr..
Wolfs firm gave a poorer class of
goods than did other concerns
Mr.. Wolf also says in his denial ST
never was in George Klauers joint in
my life. and 1 do not go into such
places
This sounds very much like a joke.
IL is not taken seriously by those who
know Mr.. Wolf. But it will do for
campaign talk, if Mr. Wolf can make
people believe it. One prominent bust
ness man not far from Eighth and
Kansas avenue, who can't be quoted
because he says it would injure his
trade, but whose name can be ascer-
tanned very easily, says:
Il was in a joint between Seventh
and Eighth street not long ago when
Wolf came in with W. J. Stage, and
drank three WHISTLES. They came in
the back door of the joint, and appear
ed to be perfectly at home there"
Mr.. Wolf has been on several trips
to Leavenworth, Wichita. Kansas City
and other points with the city council
and some of the city officials. Any
member Of the council who is willing
to talk can tell whether or not Wolf
went into such places on these trips.
In speaking of the statement made
in the State Journal to the effect that
joints are running wide open in To-
peka, Mr. Wolf says: Those that are
doing business are not running wide
open, as stated That depends on
what Wolf means by wide open. If he
means that they are located in front
rooms, on the ground floor, without
screens, he is right. But wide open"
in the generally accepted sense, means
with unlocked doors, through which
anyone can pass without question at
any time of day, and that is exactly
the way joints are running today On
Kansas avenue in the city of Topeka;
the sole proviso being that they sell
the trust" beer.
What the people would like to know
is who is getting the Doodle for this
condition of affairs. No one imagines
for an instant that the jointists, or
the beer combine back of them. are
not putting up literally. But it is
very difficult matter to fasten the Of
tense to anybody. People can only
take the evidence before their eyes,
and draw therefrom the most reason
a Ja conclusions