The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-24

candidate for county Office with one or
two exceptions was on the picnic
mountaineering to beat the band.
When the crowd left the grounds last
night the roadway, the grass, the I'M
derbrush and the creek bottom was one
solid carpet of campaign cards Of ev-
cry color, size and description.
And the county candidates were not
all. Frank Ryan, who is racing for
railroad commissioner; J. S. West who
wants TO be justice of the supreme
court; Tom McNeal who wouldn't mind
going to Washington and several others
were on the spot Tom McNeal came
primarily to deliver a speech (nonpo-
liticaD but several times he was caught
treating the country lassies to red lem
onade.
Everybody had a good time. Even
the rival candidates met in the woods
and congratulated each other. During
one especially joyous perid c. Z.
Burge. oscar swayze and Sam Zim-
norman, candidates for county clerk,
were seen walking UP to the sodapop
stand with their arms around each 9TH
er's necks. And Matt Weightman and
things about each other. And SO on,
and on and on.
Farmers Left Fields.
And the large number of farmers
who left their gaping fields to attend
the spicnic rather enjoyed the candi-
dates. Free cigars, lead pencils that
would write all colors fans and in
Vulnerable treats at the "ice-coId'
stand were welcome. In fact. almost
every farmer on the ground hunted up
the candidates-it was fun to listen to
their "con" talk and their painful at
tempts to inquire as to the condition
of the crops. Every candidate on the
grounds claimed that he was born
and raised on farm and was mighty
sorry that he had left it." And here is
a secret: Only seven of the entire
bunch ever lived on a farm in their
lives.
In fact, the whole day was a regu-
lar Fourth of July celebration for the
people in this part of Shawnee and
Usage counties. The little boys dressed
up in their detestable stiff collared
shirts romped like colts. The little
girls brought their dolls, but soon de-
serted them The older boys brought
their ''steadies'' and spent the time
"settin' 'em up" and wandering I'M
chaperoned and unmatched through
the hundreds of lovers lanes" The
farmers and their wives grandma and
grandpa-in fact, everyone was there
even old Shep was allowed to leave
the house uncared for and trot to the
big doings at Picnic StahPs.
Seriously speaking, the annual Stahl
picnic has lately been designated as
the Shawnee and Usage County Tenn
perance and Sunday School Union A
program fitting the temperance move
ment was rendered. Singing, praying
Bible reading, Sunday school drills
/ and temperance talks were included
In the morning after the more serious
part of the picnic had been called tic
order Rev. Clerin Zumwalt of the State
Temperance union gave an instructive
and excellent address on the PAS
Fifty Years of Temperance Work
Then came the dinner-Oh, you fried
chickeni
| In the afternoon the program was
taken up by the Prairie Center Sab
bath school under Superintendent
Harry earle; the Sharon Sabbath
school under superintendent Rober
/ Chapman and the Wakarusa Valley
Sabbath school under Superintendent
Morrow. Songs, recitations and mag
nificent drills entertained the biz
crowd.
McNeal and Lindsay Speak.
Then came the speeches of Tom Nc
Neal and Frank P. Lindsay. Tom Nc
Neal was at his best Not only did h
give a straightforward. honest and di
lrect talk on the temperance question