The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-27
AuNAM .
Interstate OratOricai AssOeia-
ton Denied Use of Auditorium.
Purpose for Which Building
Was Erected Set at Naught.
BREAK THE FURNITURE
COunciImen Fear for Safety of
Chairs.
Topeka May Lose This Greatest
OratOrical Event.
BREAK THE FURNITURE

The interstate oratorical contest, the
biggest thing Of the year in college cir
cles for eleven middle western states,
has been denied the use of the Audi
forum by the public buildings com
mittee. The contest comes to Topeka
on May and it is only once in eleven
years that Kansas has the honor Of
holding the contest once within its
borders.
Fear that the rah. rah boys would
break up the furniture and otherwise
destroy the interior of the Auditorium in
a passage of arms between rival educa-
tional Institutions induced the public
buildings committee to refuse the
rental of the Auditorium.
Not even a bond will serve to alter
the opinion of Councilman J. w. f.
Hughes who thinks that the contest
might be held out in some other
place He fails. however, to suggest
any available place. There is no use
IN asking a bond from the boys" said
the councilman from the Sixth ward.
Ihey Will get enthused, break the
chairs and do just what they feel like
doing. If we ask a bond they will
come around later and make excuses
There are plenty other places in the
city where the people who want TO at
tend the contest can be accommodated
and where they viii not feel at liberty
to break the chairs and smash the
lights"
we were afraid that the furniture
ana that the organ might be injured"
said Councilman Nipps, chairman Of
the committee, explaining the decision
OF the decision of the committee.
1hey don't have any of these rough
and tumble fights in the interstate ora
torlcal contests" said DR.. Plass, presi-
denU or WaShburn college. when an
prised of the action Of the committee
In the first place the distances which
must be Travelled to come to these con
tests is so great that the DELEGATIONS
which each college sends are small
This does away with the fighting and
then in addition I have never heard of
nights taking place at these Interstate
contests, they are not given over to
such things and that sort of thing has
peen discouraged It's entirely differ
ent from these state contests where
large delegations of students partici-
pate.
II think that the action of the com
mlttee is unjustidabIe. The contest will
not come to Topeka If it Is learned that
me AUDITORIUM cannot be secured
Topeka viii lose it. L expect to take
THIS matter up with the Commercial
club and. others and see il the commit
tee won't reconsider it's action"
1t seems the colleges of the middle
west nave made mistake in going in
Tor oratory. They should go in for
poultry contests Chicken shows are
not tabOOed at the Auditorium Chick
en- SHOWS, horse shows, vaudeville acts
winch saw their way into the organ in
putting up their apparatus may use thu
Auditorium but the thrilling spectacle
| of seeing eleven young gentlemen at
tired in evening dress trying to excel
in oratory is tabooed.
The question of settling the tangle in
dates which has ensued in granting the
use of the Auditorium on January %
to both the MidWinter exposition and
| the Kansas Day club for It's banquet
will be taken up by the committee
| again this evening. It came up yester-
day afternoon and after prolonged
discussion, w. II. England, secretary of
the Kansas Day club. and Ralph Brig
| ham of the Midwinter exposition. will
measure the fat floor space of the
Auditorium to discover if sufficient
space exists to set all the tables with
out running up on the incline. Tt Is
/ possible that there is not sufficient
room to hold the banquet at the Audi
torium and. that 1t will have to remain
at the state house corridors.
The application Of the Kansas state
Poultry association for the week of
! January 7-12 was favorably considered
4 though not acted on definitely. The
/ inauguration of the governor will be
I held in the Auditorium on January "A,
] 1907. and the committee wants the as
surance of the poultry men that the
whole building will be scrubbed out
! and deodorized in preparation for the
/ inaugural following the chicken show.
The committee has decided to Sc
cure estimates 70 changing the light
| fixtures at the city hall in order that
natural gas NAV be used for lighting
/ At present the city uses electric lights,
/ but natural gas Is furnished free at the
]