The Topeka state journal., 1908-04-15
WHAT IS NEEDED.
Commodious Home for State
Historical Society.
John C. Nicholson Talks About
It's Importance.
HAS A GOOD START.
Would Use $4,000 Secured
From Government.
He Wants 10 Go to Senate to
Push It Along.


Kansas state claim agent who recent
ly secured $4,000 for the state from
the federal government on civil war
claims, came to Topeka today from
Washington, and announced that he is
a candidate for the Republican nomi-
nation for state senator from the
Harvey-McPherson district to sue
ceed Senator Hughes.
AS a member of the state senate,
Mr.. Nicholson says that he would ad-
vocate the passage of a bill appro-
priating the money received from the
government, together with sufficient
additional funds, to erect a memorial
hall to the Grand Army of the Re-
public, this memorial hall to be used
as headquarters for the Kansas war
museum and the Kansas State His
torical society.
The state under its contract will
pay Mr.. Nicholson about $1,000 for
collecting the claim from the govern
ment, leaving about $4,000 available
for the erection of the building. 1t is
Mr.. Nicholson's idea that this fund
should be materially increased so that
large, thoroughly fire proof build
ing may be erected.
1--WE certainly need a better place
for the State Historical society,"" said
Mr.. Nicholson. People do not realize
the vast value of the records of that
society. Had it not been for the files
Of the Historical society, I would
have been unable to collect this $97,-
900 from the government, and might
have been unable to get the back pay
for the Kansas soldiers in the Philip
pine war. The Historical society
records are simply invaluable. and at
present they are not properly pro-
tected from danger by fire.
DO NO MI CIV
which is coming from the govern
ment will be sufficient to build the
right kind of a structure, but 1 have
some plans in mind which I believe
| will increase that fund considerably.
| I am not yet ready to say what those
plans are. The money from the gov
ernment will come into the state
| treasury as soon as congress passes
| the deficiency appropriation bill
There is no doubt that the state will
get the money. That part is all set
tied. 1t is merely matter of form
| in putting the appropriation through
the congress.
"Of course this money can not be
used by the state until it is appro-
| priated by the legislature. If am
elected as a member of the state SEN
| ate, will do what 1 can to have this
appropriation made. One of the
| most difficult things will be to obtain
a suitable site for the building. The
state ought to own that site where the
First Baptist church or the Santa Fe
| offices are located. I believe we
should erect a fine building, one that
will be to this state what the con-
| gressional library is to the federal
| government. The question of making
| the building large enough to include
| the Goss collection, the Academy of
| Science collection, and other state
| museums is a matter which 1 have
/ t. lit 20
provide a place for the State Histori-
cal society.
| 1--WE have two more state claims
| pending before congress, which 1 ex-
pect will be acted upon favorably
| either at the present session or the
| destruction of the old Free State no
tel at Lawrence by the border
ruffians. We want $4,000 for that
and the New England Emigrant So
ciety, which owned the building has
| given it's claim to the State univer-
| sity. One of the most interesting
features of that claim is that old
Edward Everett Hale, chaplain of the
senate of the United States, was the
president of the Emigrant Aid society
and is intensely Interested in having
that claim paid. He appeared before
titled concerning the erection and
| value of the hotel. When Atchisor
and his raiders seized Lawrence they
were after two places in particular
the Free State hotel and the Herald
of Freedom Office. The first cannon
shot of the civil war was really fired
in Lawrence against the Free State
hotel.
1--WE think that our claim for the
State Agricultural college will prob
ably be acted upon favorably by thu
present congress. When the govern
ment allotted lands to the Agricultu
raj college, considerable portion O
the allotment was put In at doubl,
minimum value, instead of minimum
This was an error, and we want tn
| government to set aside 1000 NOR
acres of government land for tn
State Agricultural college to make vi
this deficit. It will be a big thing TO
the Agricultural college, and I thinl
there is no question that it will b.
| allowed