The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-05
Organization Formed to FOrmu.
late Definite Plans.
is IMPORTANT TO CITY
DR.. Van Horn Tells Necessity
From Physical Standpoint.
Park Supt. Reinisch Advocates
Big Park and Lake.
Mrs. Monroe Speaks for the Club
Women.

Although during the past few
months there have been numerous
meetings to discuss the Fairgrounds
question for Topeka, not until last
night was any action taken in the way
of launching a great movement with
q view of realizing on the plans which
have come up for consideration.
Gemmell hall of the Central Y. NJ.
c. A. was well filled with interested
men and women who are vitality inter-
ested in seeing Topeka get in lire with
many other cities throughout the
country.
Among those who have been partic-
ularly instrumental in stirring up en-
thusiasm for Fairgrounds might be
named DR.. Eva Harding. Superintend-
ent L. D. Whittemore. Mrs. B. F. Shu-
mate, Harold T. Chase and G. H. Fens-
termacher, boys secretary of the CEN
trail association.
At the close of the meeting last night
officers were chosen for permanent
organization as follows: Arthur Cap
per, president; DR.. Eva Harding vice
executive committee of eight was ap
pointed to act in conjunction with the
above named officers as follows: DR..
G. B. Van Horn, Mrs. Frank MacLen-
nan, j. Il. montgomery, w. w. Mills,
Mrs c. ]. Evans, L. D. Whittemore,
Mrs. B. T. Shumate and c. G. Nichol-
son.
1t was a disappointment to those
present to learn that DR.. John H. Out
land, who was to give an address, had
missed his train and consequently
could not be present. All others, how
ever, who had been placed on the pro-
gram were on hand and spoke, with
the exception of DR.. Eva Harding, who
al Of oh tn
listen to the views of others.
Kansas as a Leader.
In the opening remarks of Mayor
William Green, who presided, he said
that Kansas has always been known
to be a leader in new movements, but
in respect to Fairgrounds he feared
that she must be considered as a tail
ender. He believed, however, that To-
peka is going to take the initiative
in the state, as the people are begin
ming to realize that the public play
ground, under proper supervision, can
be made one of the most important
features of the education of child.
Mrs. B. F. Shumate told of the work
which was done by an East side play
ground association which was form ed
several years ago. The women Sc
cured sufficient funds to start a play
ground one fall in the Parkdale school
house yard, and pay for the services
of a superintendent. In the spring,
when it came to securing further
money to maintain the institution, the
coin was not forthcoming and the idea
had to be abandoned for the time be-
ing.
The East siders believed. however,
that the time would come when the
citizens of Topeka would become thor
Oughly aroused to the value of the
playground in the educational system
Topeka has been flooded with play
ground literature, and it is now evil
dent that the seed sown is taking root.
Fairgrounds and Health.
The next address was an interesting
one, giving the scientific value of the
playground. DR.. c. B. Van Horn dis
cussed Public Fairgrounds and Public
Health He said:
From an 1rgumentative standpoint
the subject resolves itself into the
question, Are Fairgrounds conducive
to public heal.h?' If so, in what way
To what extent? And by what man
agement are they so to the greatest
extent?
THE question has long since been
settled in the affirmative, but from the
obpect and character of the program il
seems to be the intention of the com
mittee that 1 should attempt to
enumerate some definite benefits to be
attained.
There can be no doubt as to the
immense physical benefit to the chill
dren from a well regulated and proper
ly conducted public playground Not
withstanding my peculiar interest in this
phase. and my possible prejudice from
profession, 1 can not but place the
physical secondary to the moral and
civic good they must do if they meet
our expectations.
Here is another chance for the city
to strike for the betterment of our
future civic life OF the $4,000 .O0C
Fairgrounds of Chicago, President
Roosevelt said: They are the grand.
est civic achievement the world has
ever seen. We have just awakened
to the fact the activities of the schools
provide but a small fraction of the
exercise necessary for the health OF
the child in the larger meaning. No
in the school, but on the Fairgrounds
can the deep instincts of workman.
ship, imitation, rivalry and co-opera.
ton find their true and genetic ex
PRESTON
Mr.. Curtis in The American City
hkens the boy without a playground
to the man without a job. If he loaf.
through his childhood he will prob
ably loaf through his manhood a.
we'll. If we wish a vigorous manhood
we must secure vigorous CHILDHOOD
and play is the only key to the situa
ton.
Investigation has shown that ju
venile crimes greatly increase durins
the summer months. Street fights
games of chance, petty thefts, tres
passing, and even more revolving
crimes seem to be the product of TIN
end1es opportunity of idle children
when permitted to congregate AM
swap suggestions, for what Nigh
seem only mischievous actions, Nu
which without control ends in tn
commission of punishable offence.
'sIn consulting the records of tn
Juvenile court, 1 find the averag
number of offences for the months o
June, July and August are not great
or than for any other three month
of the year.
During the months showing tn
greatest number of cases (the high
est for one month being 24l I an
informed by Judge Schoch that tn
incraase was due to the uncontrollel