The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-20
HOCH ALMOST SORRY.
Silver Service Causes Too Much
Trouble Governor Says.

If these Kansas jewelers. are going
to get into SO much trouble about the
silver service" said Governor HOch this
morning, I shall be sorry that we did
not adopt the plan proposed by General
Hughes and deal direct with the manu-
facturers.''
The governor made this statement af-
ter an interview with I. M. Blitz of To-
peka, who wanted the governor to grant
an extension of time in which designs
says it can supply him with part of the
designs within the time limit, but not
all of them. Governor Hoch did not
promise to extend the time.
This morning a large fiat box about
six feet square, arrived for General
Hughes from Tiffany. of New York.
General Hughes is out of town, but the
indications are that Tiffany is submit
ting designs direct to the state, and
not through any Kansas jeWeler. This
causes the plot to thicken, and shows
that the job may not go to Kansas
jeweler after all.
'I don't know anything a bout the
Tiffany designs" said Governor Hoeh.
I know that several of these firms
have indicated a desire to submit their
propositions direct to the state. They
naturally think that they would like to
get the credit Of furnishing the ser
vice to the state. For my part, I should
like to see some Kansas jeWeler get the
~
it I am perfectly willing that he should
make fair profit on the deal, too.
But as a business proposition I re-
alize that we could hardly expect these
manufacturers to submit to every jewel
er in the state who took notion to ask
for it, a set of designs for a silver SER
vice. It would be manifestlys impossi-
Bile, for these designs are very expensive
and elaborate affairs
Concerning the letter of introduction
which he pave Ed Vail of Wichita
Governor Hoch said:
THAT letter was drawn up with great
care, and was just such a letter as 1
would be perfectly willing to give to
any jeweler in the state. I had no de-
sire to favor Mr.. Vail above any others,
and have been ready at all times to treat
everybody alike"
Concerning the advisability of having
a punch bowl as one of the pieces of
the services, Governor Hoch said:
Il have been asked by a number of
jewelers. to indicate what sort of a SER
vice would be satisfactory and gave
them all the same reply, that I didn' t
know. 1 told them to bring on their
designs. and I would pick out the one L
liked best All I know about this thing
is that I have $1,000 to spend on q sill
yer service, and I want to get the best
thing [ can for my money. I want those
who are after the job to exercise their
ingenuity in getting up designs, and I
don't care whether they have 40 pieces
or rs pieces. want to see all the
different kinds I can, and then I will
decide which seems to me to be the
best bargain for the state"
Ed Wallis designs, from the German
Manufacturing company, have been sent
to Governor Hoch. They were received
in Wichita by Mr.. Vail and sent direct
to the governor without being opened.
The contract for making the silver
service will be let about the last of this
month. The plan is to bring the service
to Topeka when completed, and exhibit
it in Governor Hoch's office. 1t may also
be sent to some of the principal towns
in the state to be exhibited, provided
this can be done safely. and without ex-
pense to the state. This is about the
only chance the majority of the people
of Kansas will ever have to look at the
silver service. When it gets on board
the battleship. it will only be a lucky
chance that will enable Kansan to get
q glinpse of it.