The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-01
Uncle Sam Doesn't Like the
Kansas Idea.
This Is Story That Comes From
Washington.
NIGHT MAR THE SHIP.
Yellow Streak Would Be an
Awful Thing.
How Kentucky Used Water for
This Purpose.
light MAR THE SHIP.

Washington, April If the battle-
ship Kansas is not christened in the
time-honored manner with the break
ing of a bottle of champagne over her
bow. it VIII not be the fault of tha
navy department; though the depart
ment is not all-powerful in such mat
ters.
The department. contrary to reports
which may have reached Kansas, does
not look with any degree of serious
ness on the joke Of Governor Hoch to
have the boat showed overheard with
good Kansas oil trickling over her
sides. On the contrary. the depart
ment declares emphatica1Iy that if ci1
should be used, it would probably mar
the ship, and says the construction
company, even though such a sugges-
ton We're seriously made, would not
stand it for minute. The joke about
christening with oil was a little diff
cult to see. reading the lines in the
papers, but the department took ie
for granted that the governor was
merely indulging in a little levity. and
dismissed all thought of it..
The department really has very lite
tie to say about such matters. In the
first place, the ceremonies incident to
seeing that the good Warship Kansas
is properly and auspiciously launched
does not materially concern the de-
partnlent. It is a matter of sentiment,
at best and there are no lines in the
contract between the department ON
I the part Of the government and the
lshipbuilding company which require
any such ceremonies whatever. The
contract specifies that the shin be built
/ thus and so; and that it be ready
within a certain date. That is about
all that concerns the government.
L.
/ nave happened so regularly that they
will not be discontinued. When a
boat IS about ready to 20 overheard,
the shtpbuilding company, proud of its
4 JoD, and as a matter of advertiser enk
/ to the company and proper sentiment
to the state interested. fixes a day for
! the exercises, and the governor of the
state and his party, the sponsor, and
i her friends and the mem bers of the
congressional delegation and others at
tend. One of the things the construc-
ton company does is to provide a
/ banquet in honor of the guests.
80 Iaf as the use of wine is concern
+ ed, the department really has nothing
! to say; this, like all other launching
/ details being left to the construction
/ company. But the navy department
/ strongly inclines to the use of wine. It
/ has always been the custom, save in a
4 few isolated cases, and despite the
clamorings of temperance organiza-
tions, it continues TO be the rule and
/ not the exception. The department has
/ taken strong ground on this matter
! Not long ago. the Women's Christian
/ Temperance union sought to have the
] secretary of the navy prohibit the use
! of wine in launchings. This was
I promptly and ennphatically refused by
/ the secretary. It is stated that of all
/ the many batIIeships and cruisers and
! other boats that have been launched,
/ the cases where water has been used
! number only three or four. Besides, the
o ffra4 ho
/ brings Tidicule to the state; and this
4 will be particularly true with Kansas
/ If there were any really good reason for
! starting such an agitation, or why wins
4 should not be used, perhaps the depart
ment and construction companies would
4 give more consideration to the matter.
There is the one notable case OF the
Kentucky. The governor and the sDon-
+ sOr protested that wine be not used,
! and the construction company, seeing
/ the foolish wrangle might delay the
! launching, and lose the sponsor who
4 was selected, permitted the use of wa
1 its restraint. after the ceremonies Wers
/ over, innumera Bile bottles of whisky
We're hurled at the ship, and q Iudie-
rOus, unnecessary, and disgraceful pro-
/ ceeding occurred. The thing is still in
/ the memory of naval officials, and it fs
/ looked upon as little short of disgrace,
] with the sole cause being the foolish
! contention in the first place for the use
of water.
It is likely the Kansas will be ready
to launch by October /, at least. The
construction company is the New York
+ ShiDbuildFng company, and the place
where the boat is being buft is Cam
den New Jersey Here viii occur the
launching.
It seems to be the desire of everyone.
concerned that Governor Hoch select
the sponsor, which ne VIII no doubt do
The Kansas is now about 4s per
cent complete. Launching usually
occurs when the percentage Of com
pletion is from SO to CO.
The return of Gen. Warren Keifer,
Of Ohio. to the house of representa-
tives in the Fifty-ninth congress Is
I causing much recalling Of ancient con-
gressionaI history. General Keifer
was speaker of the Forty-seventh con-
gress, which met in December, 1881.
/ Following the completion Of his term
he was out of congress until he be-
came d candidate with success last
A political writer on the washing
ton Post. recalling some interesting
facts connected with General Keifer's
last appearance in congress, says.
when Gen. Keifer was elected
speaker. he got the caucus nomination
! over the ambitions of Thomas B. Reed
Frank Hiscock, Julius Caesar Bur-
rows, and Joseph g. Cannon. It was
said that he owed his victory TO the
superb management OF George e
Hazelton, VI Wisconsin, and Horace r
Page. of California, who took charge
| of his campaign and routed all the
I opposing forces. I am not so sure bur
that Dudley c. HASKELL of Kansas
was also a candidate, and it Is tradt-
! ton. among old congressman that
Haskell was the ablesta man kansas
ever sent here. Pig Iron Kelley
though a rank Greenbacker. 50 far as