The Topeka state journal., 1906-04-23
GOT $500 IN Cash
One Of Results of Auditorium
Mass Meeting.
General Sympathy Expressed
for San Francisco Victims.
GOV. HOCH PRESIDES.
People Loudly Cheer Mention Of
FunstOn's Name.
Disaster Proves Men Are Better
Than They Think.
GOV, HOCH PRESIDES.

One of the largest crowds which has
been inside the doors OF the Auditorium
in a long time was there last night at
the mass meeting which was arranged
ox tie Ministerial Union of the city as
an expression OF sympathy for, and a
tender Of aid to the stricken people Of
san Francisco.
More than three thousand Topekans
gathered at the meeting and they rep
resented ia the main the membership Of
the various churches in the town. Ser
vices in all the churches were dispensed
with last night in order that the mem
bers their congregations might meet
IN g sort of a u ion service at the
Auditorium, which was what the mass
meeting Of last night really was
A collection for the fund which is
being raised by Topeka in variety Of
ways for the s-fferers in alifornia was
taken up and ar 7unted to mething
less than $500. a hIrried count of the re-
eeipts and pledges totalling $405.05. And
while this collection w=s not large in
view Of the numbers present at the
meeting, 1-evertheless it was a good one
under the circumstances. for most Of
those present had contributed at the
morning services in their churches to
the special Elections which were taken
UP for the Topeka relief fund
One thing is certain. Last nights
meeting will give a stimulus to the 9TH
er plans which are being developed in
Topeka to make its relief fund of a size
worthy of the well known generosity of
the town, for the exhortations of the
speakers on the necessity OF every one
lending a helping hand to allay as far
as possible the suffering which will be
inevitable for som time to come in Cal
ifOrnia were greeted with an enthuS-
iasm, evidenced by hearty applause, on
the part of the audience. although the
meeting was quasi religious in charac-
ter.
Those who addressed the meeting in
cluded Governor 4. w. Hoch. who pre-
sided; ayor w. II. Davis, DR.. S. S.
Estey, pastor Of the First Presbyterian
church; p. H. COney, commander Of the
Kansas G. A. R. and John E. Frost.
The Rev. T. NJ. Hayden, rector of the
Church Of the Assumption. T. A. Nc
Neal and David Overmyer were on the
program to speak Father Hayden
sent his regrets with a substantial check
and the other two were not heard from
The Auditorium was decorated espec-
tally for the occasion. Hanging from
the ceiling over the stage was a banner
of American flags and other red white
and blue emblerns in the center of Whicn
was the seal of the state Of Kansss
with the states motto, "Ad Astra per
Aspera," words peculiarly appropriate
to the occasion, blazing forth in letters
Of gold. Circling the front of the plat
form was q row of palms studded with
Easter lilies and below these, lacked on
the edge Of the platform was a line Of
huge imitation sun1owers, the e1nble-
matte flower of the state On the plat
form with the speakers were represen-
tatives OF all of the church eh0irs in
town, and a g0Odly number of the Mo-
docs. who led in the singing Of hym MS
under the direction of W. NJ. Shaver.
w F. Roehr presided at the pipe organ
and played number Of selections while
the audience was gathering.
Tt was some minutes after eight
o'clock when Mayor Davis opened the
meeting with a few words in which he
presented Governor Hoch who presided.
speaks well for the charitably inclined
of Topeka" said Mr.. Davis. our
country is confronted with the greatest
calamity in its history. The great fires
at Chicago and Baltimore. and the
foods at Galveston and at our own door
here in Topeka. all combined, are bat
drop in the bucket when compared
with the property loss the people of San
Francisco aid other portions of Cali
farnia have suffered. It is for the Deo-
pie Of the United States to come to the
rescue of their stricken brethren and I
am sure we viii see that Topeka viii do
It's share"
On being introduced Governor Hoch
announced a hymn. Count Your Many
Blessings" which was sung by the
choirs and the audience.
DR.. Charles NJ Sheldon. pastor of the
Central Congregational church. then de-
livered the invocation in which he ex-
pressed thanks to God for the great
tide of sympathy which is pouring out
throughout the country for the stricken
people whio IS an evidence of the ties
that bind the people of this country to-
gether as nation.
Governor Hoch's speech.
Gov ernor IIoch next delivered a brie,
address saying among other things.
There are two kinds of people il
this world, the Optimists and the pessi
Eists. One class believes that tn,
world is growing better all the tim,
and the other classes believes that ii A
growing worse. Sometimes the pessi
mist seems to have the better Of tn,
argument We are inclined to agre
with him when we read in the newspa
pers Of the countless crimes which ar
being committed all over the country
when we look into the commercia
world and see the strong crushing tn
weak when we look into the politics
world ana finding the contestants rend
ing and tearing each other like wili
beasts; when we see in the great cifie
countless thousands eking out a 200
and miserable existence. while CRATER
are ueSpvA4itl8 tISn OF tneir rights an
even their property and wallowing Il
luxury.
But the events of the last five day
gloTiously give the victory to the Opt
mists- The noble response which (
being made all over the country for tn
sufferers in San Francisco is evidenc
that we are growing better as a people
IF a vision was possible which woul
permit US to look over the length an
breadth CT kansas we would see me
and women running I'D and down tn
streets with subscription lists for tn
relief of the i'll fated people. We woul
see carloads Of provisions donated i
the most generous spirit being rushe
to the coast from Topeka Salina, VVich
tia. Council Grove, Emporia. ChanutS
olathe, from every point in Kansas, i
fact. And could that visign be extend
ed over the United States we would Sc