The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-02
FULL OF FIGHT.
Old Soldiers Holding Out fer
Their Rights.
Want First Floor of Memorial
Hall.
WAS BUILT FOR THEM
They Feel They Are Entitled to
First Choice.
Commission Divided and Row
in Prospect.
WAS BUILT FOR THEM

The question that IS bothering the
Memorial building commission at this
time is: Shall the Grand Army museum
be merged with the state museum and
the records of the former become q
Fart of the state historical society?
And this question is causing some
friction among the officials in charge
Come members Of the commission claim
that all should be thrown together and
placed in one complete whole. The G.
A. R. say that they want a floor in the
building to themselves and do not want
the relics of their wars and their bat
ties placed among the relics of the
great and the small of Kansas.
Commander Rickel. of the Kansas
Grand Army. is radically in favor of
the separation of the relics; he seri-
ously objects to any mixture whatever,
and he goes on to declare that the
Kansas Grand Army should have the
first floor of the building all to them
selves. In speaking of the matter the
commander said:
Opposes Merging of Museums.
There are those on the commission
who insist that the Grand Army mus
cum be merged with the state museum
and our records become a part OF
theirs. object most strenuously to any
such action. I believe as / have said to
some of the members of the commission
surrendered the Grand Army posts
pass into history, should in my judg-
ment be kept separate and distinct so
that when our descendants, their friends
and all appreciative men and women
shall 1--we after US, can go into what to
them will be most holy presence and
view and contemplate with patriotic
emotion the things that belonged to
the saviors of this great country"
In speaking of the floor space used
and the arrangement of the building,
Commander Rickel said further:
MY contention is that we should
have the entire floor next above the
basement in which should be located
such suite Of offices that the Sons of
Veterans and all the auxiliary organi-
cations can have them for headQuar-
tiers for their state organizations. They
need them at this time and are only
establishing such headquarters at the
homes of the commanders or presidents
for the lack Of room at department
headquarters.
1.-The G. A R. hall should be used
by all patriotic organizations for their
conventions and special occasions. then
suitable rooms for a. Grand Army
museum, banquet and committees.
These in my judgment are equipments
and conveniences that we are entitled
to and I am assured the patriotic senti-
ment of Kansas will favor such an ar
rangement-"
Demand the First Floor.
Comrnender Rickei is positive that the
patriotic sentiment Of the state will
favor such an arrangement but he is
not able to rely upon the sentiment of
the memorial building commission. In
speaking of the sentiment over the
state for this plan the commander con-
tinued:
THE great soldierly state of Kansas
cannot afford to be beggarly with her
defenders. Justice, and both state and
rational policy demand the most pro-
found recognition of the unselflsh SER
vice and suffering endured by the men
whose memory this structure is to COM
memorate. 1t will do this and more to
place Kansas in line with her sister
states that have spent millions to show
their appreciation Of the nations de-
tenders"
The G. A. R. council has listened to
the words of their commander and at
their last meeting they adopted reso-
iutions demanding that they should
have the use Of the first floor of the
new memorial building and that the
museum be separate and apart from
the state museum and historical soci-
ETY..
The memorial building commission is
composed of Governor Stubs, Lieuten
ant Governor Fitzgerald, Secretary
Martin of the state historical society,
Commander Rickel of the G.. A. r.,
Representative ]. W. Burke of Salina
and Senator c. S. Huffman of Column
bus. It Is natuIa to suppose that the
fight over the occupancy of the first
floor lies between commander Rlckel OF
the G. A R. and Secretary Martin of
the state historical society.
The members of the Memorial hall
commission, all agree that the structure
will stand as monument to the heroic
men who saved the Union and that
every inscription on the outside of the
building shall be indicative of the fact
and there are no objections urged
against the commodious memorial and
Grand Army hall together with suit
able offices, but there are plans being
fostered to merge the army relics and
those of the historical society and the
old soldiers are not going to stand for