The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-28
TO BOOST KANSAS
Commercial Club Will Adopt
State Motto of Its Own.
"And Kansas Is a Great State"
Makes Big Impression.
NO LIMIT ON SLOGAN
Topeka will BE Unselfish in
Her Advertising.
Topeka Kan, Topeka WHIP to
Be Augmented.
NO LIMIT ON SLOGAN

This is the motto which hung above
the heads of the speakers at the big
Auditorium banquet last Thursday
night when the Topeka Jobbers' and
Manufacturers association was en-
tertaining the 1000 Kansas mer-
chants-and this is the motto that has
been ringing in the ears of every
one who attended that banquet
since-"And Kansas Is Great
State"
The motto was suggested by Mr.. E.
w Thompson, general agent of the
National Life Insurance company of
this city and was painted on a huge
canvas and placed in the Auditor
ium the afternoon before the banquet.
The suggestion came from Mr..
Thompson through an experience he
had in railroad advertising many
and soul in the support of the
slogan ever since. Mr.. Thompson
has had many years practical work
as head of the advertising on the
the people want and what takes
with them. As result he has
taken up the matter in an informal
way with the Topeka Commercial
club and they have fallen into it with
as much spirit as Mr.. Thompson has
supported it-"And Kansas Is a Great
State"
AS Mr.. Thompson has said and as
the members of the Commercial club
think-in the advertising of city
which so depends upon the state as
Is the case with Topeka it is abso-
lutely necessary that some honorable
mention be made of the state. The
city slogan is Topeka Kan, Topeka
Wflf'-this brings in the state part
of it. But in Topeka's situation she
draws on Kansas for everything. Be
ing the capitol city she depends upon
Kansas for her magnificent state in
stitutions and the many inhabitants
OF the higher class brought to the
city through this source. Topeka is
distinctly a state institution in her
self-"And Kansas Is a Great State"
While enjoying the banquet at the
Auditorium the other night Lafayette
from Des Moines and the honored
guest of the evening was greatly i'm
pressed with the banner hung above
his head. He spoke of it several
times to his neighbors at the table
and commented upon it in his speech.
81 don't believe / have ever seen any
thing that impressed me like that
motto up there" said Mr.. Young in
mittee near him-"I can't quite ex-
plain how it effects me but the
words and the very spirit carry an in
fluence of their own-it is one of the
best notices have ever read and is
enough to make every one, of those
thousands merchants there in the
audience feel proud of their native
state" and Mr.. Young one of the
greatest Iowans in America repeated
And Kansas Is a Great State
Mr.. Young was not the only man
who felt the influence of that motto |
at the banquet. Hundreds of the
thousand merchants who were there
Thursday night talked about it the
axf low in q
Journal reporter one of them said:
81 am going to take that motto home
with me in my mind and whenever
We have gathering of any kind q
banner just like the one we saw here
In Topeka is going up. I read that
motto a hundred times last night and
each time it meant more to me. I
think it is by far the best motto ever
credited to Kansas" This was but
one Of the many ideas expressed and
they all united in the one idea-"And
Kansas Is a Great State"
The Topeka Commercial club has
taken the matter up and it is thought
that in a very short time the motto
Kan, Topeka Will" The members
all agree that in order to touch the
people of the state it is necessary to
touch them locally and make them
realize first that they are in the right
church but the wrong pew. Topeka
has reason to believe that she is the
hest city in Kansas and the prettiest
city in the world. In order to make
Kansans feel the effect of the in
fluence of a city in their midst they
must realize that Kansas Is even
greater than Topeka-but being great
Topeka is her greatest city. There
fore the Commercial club will take
up the idea of advertising Kansas as
we'll as Topeka. To advertise the
greatest city in great state-"And
Kansas Is a Great State.''
The first thing to be done is to in
stall upon the stationery of the Com
mercial club the new motto. 1t should
also be placed upon all the advertising
matter sent out over the state and
country by the Topeka boosters. Mer-
chants. iobbers and manufacturers
could allow this slogan to be printed
some place on their stationary and
everything along this line would bear
the message-And Kansas Is a Great
State.
Then there is another chance to
make excellent use of the motto All
conventions coming to Topeka-and
Topeka is the convention city of Kan
sas-should be provided with a big
banner bearing the new state slogan.
Tt should be placed before the au-
diences and the gatherings just as the
iobbers and manufactures did Thurs
day night. Additional banners should
he painted to place in a prominent po-
sition swinging over Kansas avenue.
All the window and street advertising
schemes could be adopted along the
Kansas people and to give them the
royal welcome they deserve they
should he impressed with the great
ress of their state as we'll as the
greatness of the city they are visiting
And Kansas Is a Great State
This scheme is altogether something
new in the state of Kansas. All cities
have relied upon their own resources