The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-22
OPEN FOR ALL.
Merchants Banquet Viewed by
General Public.
Galleries of Auditorium ReserV-
ed for OnlOOkers.
BIG PLANS FINISHED
Everything in Readiness for the
Opening Day.
TOpekanS Are Enthusiastic Over
Entertainments.
BIG PLANS FINISHED

4 very important announcement
was made last night at the meeting
OF the Jobbers and Manufacturers as
sociation when it was stated that the
general public of Topeka would be
allowed the privileges of the gallery
of the auditorium during the big
merchants banquet which will be
held there Thursday evening. The
doors of the big hall will be open at
o clock when the banquet will start.
The speeches, music and vaudeville
commences at about 8 o'clock and at
this time the doors will be closed and
qutetneSS must reign.
At the meeting last night the men,
bers were undecided as to the proper
course to take along this line. The
big banquet will be one of the most
brilliant affairs ever held in Topeka
and it is no more than right that the
: general public should take part. Then
it was argued that the merchants of
the state would be more impressed
with the banquet if they were shown
the general good spirit of the people
of the city. The galleries of the au-
ditorium will be the only parts open
to the public and they must be filled
and closed by o'clock.
Some of the manufacturers and
jobbers thought that the people
should be required to pay a small
price of admission. The banquet will
be well worth the money. Band mu-
sic, orchestra music and pipe organ
music will be the main attractions
followed by vaudeville acts of all
kinds and a lot of quartette work.
This alone is worth fifty cents. Then
it will be treat to listen to such
speakers as Governor Stubbs, Tom
McNeal and Lafayette Young. 1t is
expected that after this announce
ment the big hall will be crowded to
the rails.
Merchants all over the state of
Kansas have heard of the big Topeka
pipe organ. 1t is the largest organ
between Chicago and Salt Lake City
and was installed at a cost of S1S,-
600. This will not only be chance
for the out of town people to hear
the organ but a number of Topeka
people who have never heard the or
gan without paying an immense price
of admission will have a chance for
free hearing. The Topeka pipe or
gan is also under the care of some of
the finest artists in the west today
and the music will be high class In
every respect. ut might be mention
ed that one of the prettiest things
ever heard on the organ was my Old
Kentucky Home played in varia-
tions.) This is a hint for another Sc
lection of this kind. The average
man appreciates classical music and
the like but a little mixture of good
old time stuff will make big hit
Big Electric Fans.
In speaking of the many good things
connected with the banquet it might
be mentioned that plans are being
made to install 20 huge electric fans
around the banquet ROOM This is one
matter that will come as a God-send to
the people of Topeka who realize how
hot the Auditorium is in the middle of
the summer. Gas has been used for
lighting purposes altogether and the
big lamps are as hot as furnace. But
with these electric fans the big hall
will be cool and comfortable.
At the meeting last night the final
plans for the big doings tomorrow, the
next day and the next day were made.
Those who attended the meeting never
dreamed of the great work of the COM
mittees and when some of the an
nouncements were made last night the
applause was tremendous-and when
host is pleased over the coming enter
tainments it is a sign that something
is doing. Gee, this a rip-snorter Of
a meeting" commented the sedate
George BadderS during the progress of
. the reports last night
There will be no excuse for a. n1er-
chant to feel that he is not being looked
after. The reception committee re-
ported last night that they would meet
every train coming into Topeka
Wednesday and Thursday. This will
catch every merchant who comes to the
city. They will be conducted to the
Commercial club rooms in automobiles
and here provided with the official
time card" and the proper directions.
All 2 merchant has to do when he
alights from the train is to grin-and a
grinning coterie of Topeka men will be
waiting for them with open arms,
pocketbooks and automobiles.
The Seeing Topeka cars are going
to be elaborate and gaudy in every de-
tail-they will glide up the streets and
avenues like circus floats. Each car
will be decorated In red, white and blue
and flags and banners of all kinds will
be protruding from all parts Of the cars
We will give a prize to the man who
can tell the color Of the car said one
Of the men last night. The decorations
viii cover everything Each car will be
provided with man, a voice and a
knowledge of the city. He will tell the
visitors of every place of interest as it
is passed.
Since the request in the State Journal
last night a clerk at the Commercial
club has been busy the whole day an
over the city who have rooms for rent
and who will open them for the bene-
At OF the coming merchants. At the
n esent time almost 200 rooms have
1peen registered at the club rooms and
they will be assigned to the merchants
as fast as they arrive in the city. These
rooms are for Thursday and Friday
nights. If any of the merchants de-
eide to stay in the city permanently the
Commercial club promises them a.
house and lot
Details of Arrangements.
In speaking of the plans Mr. George
McEntire. chairman of the banquet
committee. said to State Journal re-
porter:
THE doors viii open at D. M The
guests viii pc admitted through the
two main front entrances at the
Auditorium while the citizens will en-