The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-28
HOTEL men FUSS.
Quarrel Over Award for Topeka
Day Banquet.
National Says ThrOOp Is in Bad
Standing.
REPLY ''SOUR GRAPES
ar. Hamilton Says That the
Others Are Jealous.
Wanted Him to Enter COmbine
aud He Refused.
REPLY ''SOUR GRAPES

There is a fair sized row on between
the hotels Of the city and the entertain
ment committee of the Commercial
club over the Topeka Day banquet to
be held at the Throop hotel on Deem
Der s. The management OF the Cope
land and National hotels are complain
ing because the committee let the
Throop hotel secure the banquet with
out competing bid and at a meeting
OF the committee at which the only
hotel man present was c. 3. Hamilton.
president Of the Throop Hotel company.
Furthermore James Chapelle. manager
Of che Copeland and Chas. I. Wood Of
the National claim that Hamilton is in
open rebellion with the Commercial
club and refuses TO pay his portion OF
the entertainment subscription which
was assessed against him by the club.
II think that we should reconsider the
whole matter. said c. K. Holiday,
president OF the Commercial club Il
don't think that it was the proper thing
for the committee to let the banquet to
3 hotel which is at outs with the Com
merclal club. These other two hotels
have paid in their subscriptions prompt
ly and they have amounted to from 800
TO $500 think that we ought to bring
up the whole matter for TecOnsidera-
ton. Chapeue and Wood have Justice
I'm the representations which they make.
20 those who are members in good
standing OF the Commercial club"
In a letter which Chas L. Wood has
sent in to the Commercial club he
threatens to withdraw from the Com
nercial club and also expresses a SINH
lar intention on the part of Mr..
Chapelle. The letter says in part:
-'1dr. Chapelle OF the Copeland and
myself have contributed and are pay
ing towards an entertainment fund.
The proceeds Of this fund go to pay for
such banquets and we are assisting our
competitor in this method when he is in
open rebellion against the Commercial
club. having refused to pay his part of
the entertainment subscription. We do
not think this should be tolerated by
the club. especially when we take into
consideration the fact lat no other hO-
tel had an opportunity to bid on this
banquet
''The committee met with but FIVE
members present and a vote was
taken and the decision reached with
ont further consideration, and I wish
TO say that we do not care to con-
trib1te further towards the CONNER
cial club if this is allowed to go un-
noticed"
I'VE don't accuse Mr.. Hamilton of
using underhand methods in securing
that banquet" said Mr.. Wood IT
couldn't for my part take the banquet
al the figure which Mr. Hamilton
agrees to give It. I couldn't afford to
have done it at any cheaper price.
But We do object. Chapelle and my
self, to the action of the committee
when no chance is given US for rep
resentation. For all the committee
knew. we might have bid so cents a
plate instead of the 81 a plate which
was the Throop hotel bid. We are
members Of the club and we think
that we ought to have been cOnsid-
cred when the bids came up. I am
no longer a mernbe of the entertain
menC committee. and I presume that
the committee just supposed because
none Of the other hotel men were
present that they did not want the
banquet"
Its simply a case of sour grapes
said c.. 3. Hamilton. 1.-THE other two
hotels are jealous of me and have been
fighting the Throop ever since we
came here. AS far as my standing
with the club is concerned. I have
always tried to keep my dues paid
up and have never refused to pay
them yet. If the bills for entertain
ment have been presented I have
never seen them. I am i'm just as good
standing as these other hotel men. At
the committee meeting MT. Blitz
stated that Mr.. Chapelle would not
bid on the banquet. The Commercial
club has never held a banquet here in
the ThrOop as yet, and this will be the
first time.
I'VE have been securing large
proportion Of the hotel business in
the city. and I think that the trouble
owes its origin to a feeling of jealousy
1--WE are not in any combination,
though the other two hotels have been
TRYING to get us into a combination.
We prefer TO go alone and paddle our
own canoe"
1Ir. Chapelle is out of the city