The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-19
TALK OLD TIMES.
Adoption of WyandOtte COnst1-
tuition Celebrated.
Well Known Kansans Orators OF
the Occasion.
MANY GOOD TALKS.
White Compares Old Insurgents
With Present.
They Should Profit by Record of
the Past.

Kansas City, Oct 19.-Kansas City
Kan, and the Mercantile club were
the hosts last night at a banquet CIV
en- in the Masonic temple to celebrate
the adoption of the Wyandotte con-
stftution by the people of Kansas. "A
number of prominent Kansans who
have been identified with the deVel-
opment of the state occupied places
at the speakers table. Among the
toasts offered were:
1.-The City's Place in National Ll1e'
Senator Joseph L. Bristow, editor OF
the SaIina Journal
Sunny Kansas" Henry ]. Allen
editor of the wichita Beacon.
'',The Pioneer" John A. Atwood,
Leavenworth.
kansas Under the Wyandotte Con-
stitution," Edward H. Madison.
Fifty Years in Kansas" F. Dumont
Smith.
1.-The Old Insurgents" William AL
len White. author, and editor of the
Emporia Gazette.
Among other we'll known men VINO
made short talks were Governor
Stubs. Tom McNeal. George w. Mar
tin and Congressman Charles F, Scott
editor of the lola Register.
1t is planned to make the banquet
an annual affair. -.
This is the first of a series OF DIM
ners to be given by the Kansas City
Mercantile club to celebrate the
event The list of invited guests In.
cluded not only the five members OF
the constitutional convention now
living, but a dozen men Who' Whlle
been active in the development OF the
state. The three members of the
Wyandotte convention still living ana
invited to attend are John T. Burns
of Olathe, r. G.. roster OF DeAnlson'
Tex, and S. E. Hoffman of ST. Louis.
The visitors were taken for drive
through the city this afternoon and
the survivors of the famous conVen-
ton were asked to point out the site
of the old constitutional nall, long
since disappeared.
A state like Kansas and people
like KansanS can accomplish Won
ders in fifty years. Testimony OF tnat
was manifested in the addresses. the
dinner was in the Scottish Rite Tenn
pie. Seventh street and Ann avenue
At one of the tables sat three of the
five survivors of that Wyandotte con-
vention494- Fifty years ago they came
riding on horseback in their caps of
coonskin and their suits of homespun
to the mouth of the Kaw river to
make the states charter. They met
in an old frame building down on the
levee. That building persisted long
time ago and the site upon which now
stands the temple in which the semi
centennial dinner was held, was then
q forest.
The room was decorated with flags
and flowers and on the wall back of
the speakers was that Kansas motto,
sym bolic of strife and victory, "Ad
Astra Per Aspera."
The speakers program contained
the names of the firebrands of Kan
%s~v- TF10
when they think something and be-
lieve something, have no hesitancy in
saying something about it. They are
opponents of that old. homely, time |
tried saying, 'Hew to the line; let
the chips fall where they may" Gov |
ernor' Stubs. the BOSS Buster"
Joe" Bristow. the insurgent United |
States senator; "Bilr' White, the writ |
err; Henry ]. Allen, now of Wichita, |
the speaker of the Kansas language, |
the other United States senator, could |
not attend on account of previous |
engagement.
q. S. Guyer. mayor of Kansas City. |
Kan, was POSTMASTER and when he |
said he was proud to be the chief ex- |
ecutive of the largest city in the world |
without an open saloon an open gam |
bling room and den of vice, his hear
ers cheered.
ovation for BristOw.
Senator Bristow was the first speak
pr. When he was introduced as the /
real insurgent in the national senate |
the guests arose, clapped their hands, |
cheered and beat on the tables. After |
taking their seats again they did it all |
over before they would permit the /
senator to speak. The effect of the |
reception was manifested in the man
ner of the speaker. At first his words !
showed deep emotion. Mr.. Bristow is |
tall, awkward. He is rough in diction, |
but polished in earnestness and sin |
,erity. He has high cheek bones. long |
legs, a severe face, but kindly, big |
eyes. He stood with one hand in his /