The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-27
AT The CAPITAL.
Old Free State Hotel Claim
Again BObs Up.
Makes Its Regular Appearances
in Congress.
HOW TT ORIGINATED.
HOW IT ORIGINATED.
Lawrence HOstelry Was Destroy
ed by Government Troops.
Echo of the Slavery Conflict in
Kansas.

grant Aid society of Massachusetts
during the early territorial days. As
is understood. it's site was about that
occupied now by the Eldridge house.
itself an old and famous hosiery.
In 1859, James Buchanan was pres
ident Of the United States. He and his
administration were doing all they
could to hamper the plans of the free
staters, and those who wished to keep
Kansas from being a slave state. He
had some federal officials in Kansas
who did not confine their operations to
simple opposition, but who awaited
themselves of every opportunity to de-
strOy property and lives.
In that year, 1859, a United States
marshal appointed by President Bu-
chanan, and, as he said, operating I'm.
der orders from Washington, RACED the
Free State hotel to the ground. Ever
since that time, effort has been made
by the Emigrant Aid society, the city
of Lawrence, and the University of
Kansas, to collect from the United
States government an amount to COW
er this loss
For some years after J. D. Bower
sock came to congress. he made effort
to secure an appropriation to pay for
this loss Once he passed a bill
through the senate. bur as 1t was not
closely watched during the closing
days of the session, which also hap
pened to be the closing days of that
congress, the bill was not signed by
the president and therefore failed.
In the last session, Mr.. Bowersock
did not press the matter, preferring to
allow it to rest awhile.
Now the case has gone to the court
of claims, to be tried like an ordinary
damage suit in the courts. On its
merits, and after consideration of all
the evidence, there will be a decision
which 1t is hoped will bring remunera-
ton for the destruction of the prop
erty.
The University of Kansas, through
the office of William H. Carruth, a
professor of the institution and it's as
sistant chancellor, is taking an earnest
part in the prosecution of the case in
the court of claims, and securing evil
dence. vac
The Rev. Edward Everett Hale the
octogenarian chaplain of the United
States senate was. and is, president of
the Emigrant Aid society This is the
organization, as has been said, which
originally built the hotel. It was this
society which shipped boxes of
Sharpe's rifles and boxes of bibles to
Kansas in the territorial days. DR..
Hale's deposition viii shortly be taken
in this suit in the court of claims and
his evidence should go far toward es-
tablishing the case against the govern
ment.
DR. Hale, who is a Universalist min
lister, orator, philosopher. author and
distinguished scholar is still quite
active man. He attends the sessions
of the senate regularly, and is seldom
disabled ong account of any physical
temporal disability. His invocations
are very interesting, and he always at
tracts the galleries.
DR. Hale will be remembered as the
author, in 1854, of a work that is now
very rare, but most interesting his
tory of Kansas and Nebraska terri
tories, which included not only a po-
litical history, but one on geography
and physical conditions as well.
There was an occurrence the other
day in the senate restaurant, or rather
two occurrences, which was speedily
noised about the corridors and
brought in curious crowd of on
In the occurrence, the speaker of
Kansas man, DR.. William T. Vernon.
colored. register of the treasury, were
the principals
1t was the day congress adjourned
adjourned quite early; the senate was
waiting for senator Foraker to con-
clude his effort in behalf Of the color
ed soldiers discharged without honor
by the presidents order because of the
riot at Brownsville, Texas, some
months since.
''Uncle joe Cannon seldom goes
over to the senate. end of the capitol,
But this day he quietly walked into
the senate chamber and stood at the
door of the Republican cloakroom
conversing with senators and repre-
sentativeS-
After a little while. he left. and
walked down the one flight of stairs
leading to the senate restaurant. He
hustled up to the marble lunch coun-
ter and told the colored waiter he
wanted "a modest little lunch, that I
can eat quickly, as I am In hurry
to leave" He finally decided on two
very delectable dishes-a plate of
SOUP. and a hunk of pumpkin pie
Meanwhile, a flock of negro walters
approached, trying to "shoo' the dis
tinguished gentleman into one OF the
private lunchrooms, where ne could
curious gaze of the assem- bling throng-
ssTJncle joe demurred. saying he
wanted nothing but his little lunch and
IN he let alone Then few officious
clerks tried to remove the sacred per-
son of the speaker to table near by,
and he again demurred- Even the
suave and truculent manner or the
concessionaire of the senate lunch
rooms when he came up, failed to
move the speaker Turning 10 the
man standing next him, and with
grin on his face, he said: NOW what
IN hell do those -- fools want to
run me away from here for? I'm
having a good time, and know what
I want" For it should be known that
the speaker is not always choice Of his
expressions
When this story was told to Colonel
Henry Casson, sergeant-at-arrns OF the
house Of representatives. he says the
sneaker told him that he lad the finest
luncheon in six months one dSs- Just be
fore the house convened His daughter.
the mistress of his rather luxurious and
comfortable home. had not yet come to
town So one day Uncle Joe. who had
been to the treasury department on busi-
ness walked across the street u Ona of
the ''help-yourself" lunch places and