The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-14
Effort to Open Theaters on
Sunday Falls.
Bitter Debatein City Council on
the Question.
BLAKELY ANRHUGHES
Third andSixth WardRepresent-
atiyes Exchange Compliments.
Dog Ordinance Will Also Stand
for Present.

Theaters remain closed on Sunday.
The city council pursed its lips and
said mo" to the request for repeal
of the ordinance declared constitu-
tional by the state supreme court.
The vote stood: For a repeal, Coun-
cilmen Lannan. Miller. Horn, Fraser
and Hughes; against, Councilmen
Jordan, Van Ness. Howard, Blakely'
Tandy. Kutz and Stanley.
Blood may be thicker than water
but il heats up quicker-especialiy
southern blood. This may not be
found in the pages between the
covers of a book on physics but II
can be proved in the laboratory OF
practical experience.
1t was proven beyond peradventure
last night at the council meeting
when the tall courtly Kunnel Blakely
from Kaintucky, yes, sub, and the
portly military Kunnel Hughes from
Tennessee, who said. mo, subj to the
other gentleman's Eyes sub" with a
flushed face and hurled vigorous
nouns pronouns and adjectives at
BlakeIy with an air of nonchalance
despite the presence of the chief or
police and the humping gavel OF
Mayor Green.
Councilman Hughes says the
trouble was melted by Councilman
Blakely's personal remarks while the
latter says that there was nothing in
his remarks to justify Huhges' dis
play of anger.
To the three hundred who had
crowded into the suffocating council
chamber and craned their necks to
ha n the npnnlQ who
stood in front of them in the corri-
doris leading into the council chamber
the little encounter at near fisticufs
was the only exciting Offering OF the
evening. The other trimmings of the
theater fight were most subdued,
the oratory driveled in little drips and
the vote was clearly indicated in adj
vance. So it was with bated breath
that the women watched the two
councilmen clash and Hughes adj
vance towards Blakely and shake his
fist menacingly at the latter as he sat
in his seat. But the women never
screamed-the threatened fight siz-
zled out like the fuse of a firecracker,
"pst."
Following long and vehement
speech made by Hughes in behalf OF
the repeal OF the law Blakely arose
and called attention to Hughes posi-
ton taken last year with reference to
the Sunday closing of theaters. He
termed the change of front of Hughes
as "grandstanding."
why has he changed so? He sat
there and voted for the application of
the ordinance to the theaters at that
time, why didn't he vote against 1t
then. / should like to inquire the
reason for this change of front" con-
tinued Mr.. Blakely.
''I tell you that no renegade Ken
lucky Democrat can show me"
shouted Hughes who jumped up from
his seat
Mr.. Blakely continued unmoved, ct
tell you l appreciate the man who
stays by his convictions. 1 honor the
man who differs from me and states
his position honestly and believes sim
cerely in what he says. like Mr.. Ian
nan there. 1 honor that man. But
the gentleman from the Sixth seems to
have forgotten the jewel of consist
ency."
st don't want any man to question
my sincerity" said Hughes advancing
in front of the mayor. When voted
for the enforcement of this ordinance
last winter against the theaters l never
dreamed that the supreme court would
find that 1t was so far reaching in its
effects as this decision shows. Neither
did the gentleman from the Third
. ward. Neither did any other gentle
man. l was here before Mr.. Blakely
was ever thought of as councilman
and 1 will still be here after he goes
Blakely reiterated that he liked to
see a man consistent.
you curb yourself. young man."
= shouted Hughes shaking a finger in
the direction of Blakely.
There have been no personal allu-
sions; what Mr.. Blakely said was in
order and perfectly proper" said the
mayor in reply to a remark of Hughes
that he would not stand for personal
tiles.
II certainly have not been intending
anything of that kind" said Mr..
Blakely. 'I simply want to let the
people know that he has experienced
a change of heart
at makes me tired to have a man
talk a lot of rot about consistency"
retorted Hughes, when by his posi-
ton upon this very question. the en-
forcement of an ordinance against one
class of men and not against others,
he shoys that he doesn't know what
the word means"
The cloud of dust settled down. The
vote was taken and during the little
break that occurred while people were
leaving the chamber, Hughes walked
over to where Blakely was sitting at
his desk and resumed the controversy,
clenching and unclenching his fist
Spectators hung around waiting de-
velopments.
81 want you to attend to your BUSH