The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-06
Semi Centennial Preliminary
Committees Are Appointed.
Effort Will Be Made to Unite
Many Organizations.
4 FEAST OF MUSIC.
Inducements to Be Offered for
Bands and Orchestras.
Address Setting Forth the Pur-
poses to Be Issued.

Such interest was manifested in the
preliminary meeting of the committee
of the Commercial club on preparations
for the Kansas Semi-Centennial cele-
bration that the plans for several weeks
of activity are already laid out. and
by the time of the next committee
meeting there should be shown much
actual progress. One of the first efforts
of the semi-centennial committee will
be to interest in the proposed celebra-
ton all the Grand Army organizations
in the state. the women's federation of
clubs, and as many musical organiza-
tions as possible. 1t is proposed to
make the celebration an occurrence of
much musical Importance, and besides
the employment of the Chicago Sym
phony orchestra inducements will be
offered for the attendance of amateur
and professional bands and orchestras
from throughout Kansas and Ne
braska. 1t is expected that the people
of Nebraska will manifest some de-
gree of interest in the celebration. as
the occasion will also be the fftieth
anniversary of the organization of Ne
braska as territory.
Nine different committees were pro-
vided for by motions adopted last
night. But one of these, that on illu-
mination and decoration. has yet been
named. The members are D. ]. Green
wald, E. P. Jordan. Albert Patten. c.
r. MaunselI. and T. ]. Anderson. The
other committees will be appointed
soon. One of these committees will
take charge of the press agency work
of the Centennial. Its first duty will
r 70
people of Kansas stating the purpose
of the big celebration and urging the
cooperation of the citizens of Kansas.
The Semi-Centennial will be nothing
in the form of an exposition. Its open
ing nights programme will consist of
big patriotic concert in the Audi
forum, at which the best vocal ard in
strumental talent that can be secured
will be assembled.
Patriotic songs will be sung by the
audience in the Auditorium. Special
effort is to be made to secure a revival
of the song America" and assemblages
| of every sort throughout Kansas will be
urged to practice the song for weeks
before the semi-centennial opens. The
Topeka Choral union will of course take
a leading part in the musical activity
of the week. At the opening grand con-
cert will be sung for the first time the
song "Quivera," the words of which
| compose the poem by that name writ
a
meeting the committee authorized the
announcement of a prize of $3.50 to be
paid to the person Offering the best mu-
steal setting for the words, the arrange
ment to be for a mixed chorus and the
rendition to occupy twenty to twenty
five minutes. AS soon as a list of com
petitive regulations can be prepared the
committee will announce its readiness
to receive the efforts of musicians who
desire to compete. Major Anderson to-
day telegraphed Charles Beach, man
ager Of the Chicago orchestra, request
ing him to name a committee of Chi
cago musicians to prepare these rules.
An entirely disintereSted committee,
whose names will be kept secret, will be
| appointed to receive the songs submit
ted. 1t will probably be required that
all songs shall be submitted anonymous
ly, the composer placing a mark of
identification upon the music and send
ing in his name and the identified ton
mark under another cover to be opened
after the contest has been decided.
The members of the Semi Centennial
| committee believe that the notice that
will be given this song writing compe-
tition will be one of the most profitable
| advertisements that the celebration can
/ have. 1t will doubtless be given at
tention by the leading musical reviews.
| The arrangement of the poem is said to
| be such as to admit of a successful
musical setting.
Much attention will be paid by the
|
ting up of large parades and street
pageants in the morning and at night.
! Suggestions have already been receiv-
| ed from the great pyrotechnist, Pain,
who displayed a remarkable pryrotech-
mic representation of the Destruction
| of Pompeii in Topeka a year or two
ago but under very unfortunate wealth
er conditions. The use of the state
house grounds will be secured for some
of these displays, although the pro-
gramme for them has not yet been
mapped out. A response to an invita-
| ton extended to Secretary of War Will
! liam H. Taft to make an address during
the celebration, is expected shortly.
| President Roosevelt assured the mem
| berS of the Kansas delegation who re-
| ceiVed his declination of the invitation
to be present that he would request Mr..
| Taft to take his place.
Since its organization the Civic I'm
| provement association of Topeka has
planned that it shall cooperate with
the other organizations in making the
Semi Centennial celebration successful
! and during the months of spring pre-
ceding it will use its efforts to improve
| the looks of the town. The association
has already succeeded in interesting
| the residents of many of the best resi-
i dence streets to observe a uniformity
in tree planting and in park decora-
! tons Work will be continued along
this direction
Best Line toFlorida.
There is a through sleeper running
H.