The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-18

sociatiOn.
This banquet of last night, holds a
unique place in history, and will be
when politicians, editors and jurists
attempted to lecture on the subject
of advanced telephones.
Ex-Attorney-General A A. GODDARD,
who is now engaged in the pursuit of
the dollar through commercial chan
nels, was POSTMASTER. Those who
know Mr.. GODDARD and his ability as
toastmaster, will know, without furth-
success His remarkable tact in
choosing easy subjects for the speak
ers of the evening, left nothing to be
desired-except a repetition of the
performance.
After a substantial repast had been
reduced to stems, seeds and parings,
Mr.. GODDARD started the ball by intro
ducing the speakers as a bunch.
Tonight he said, chose who think
they know something of the technical
features of the telephone business.
shall be shocked at their own ignor-
ance The real thing will be diStrib-
uted by these speakers, who, judging
from the subjects they have chosen,
have an unlimited knowledge of tel
ephonic science. The ladies quartette
will furnish the entertainment of the
evening"
Something of Wire Puller Himself.
John Dawson. private secretary to
the governor, was then introduced.
"'This subject, Open circuit transform
ers,'" said Mr.. Dawson, 'is indefinite.
] asked Tom McNeal if he knew any
thing about it, and he thought that it
might be something about the Panama
canal.
but I do not feel out of place
among you. For some time I have
been closely associated with wire-pul-
lers so I do not feel so lonesome
among the wire stringers.''
NTr then dPlVR6 GopnlV into
the public utilities BILL deceased, and
appealed to the telephone men to help
PASS the measure at the next session of
the legislature. He suggested that
those who had made a careful study
of utility questions were more com
petent to make laws to their interests
rnembered that John had much to do
with the utilities bill, and 1t is ac-
credited to himself and lone Fred
Jackson. his speech bordered on '1et
idea. s
In closing. Mr.. Dawson spoke feel
ingly of the telephone both as
necessity and a luxury. He told of the
early days when the ranches of the
short grass country were isolated by
distance. but now connected by tele-
phone lines.
He cited the case of one western
ranchman. who each night regaled
people along the rural line by placing
his phonOgraph near the spout" of
the Bi1lows of the Deep''-evidently
one of the newer popular airs.
The speakers who followed did not
overlook the best. and referred to the
''spout" of the telephone upon the
slightest provocation.
Porter's Jack Rabbit Express.
Shortly before the banquet opened
Judge Silas Porter was captured while
trying to get through the hotel lobby,
and forced upon the programme. He
was kindly permitted to speak on the
subject of Live Wires He compli-
mented the association by making the
statement that 1t would be impossible
to find a dead one'' in that body and
then spoke of the vast improvement of
the telephone over the jack rabbit
messenger system alleged to have
been used in western Kansas during
the early days.
He said that the homing jack rabbit
system was a success until the inven-
for tried to secure a franchise and
mass a law providing a death penalty
for dogs who chased the messengers
McNeaI Follows 'fGoing After Porter.
Mr.. McNeal then attempted to speak
upon the subject assigned to him
which chanced to be, "The Relation
Between a Volt and an Ampere.' He
warned the audience to pay strict at
tention as he intended to expiSin this
suspicious relation in detail. not omit
ting any of the scandal which might
result
'sThis subject said Mr.. McNeal,