The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-25
when TAFT COMES
Greatest Crowd Expected on
September %.
Committees Are Busy Making
the Arrangements.
SOLDIERS ARE COMING
Sons OF Veterans Taking Inter
est in Event.
Excellent Program in Keeping
With Occasion.

Topeka will entertain the greatest
crowd of Kansans September %. ever
assembled in the state. In every coun-
ty and community the people are talk
| ing about the big reception being
planned for the entertainment of Presi-
! dent Taft. The real spirit of the oc-
| casion is taking hold of them, for on
| that day we celebrate the states fifty
years of history. The coming of Presi-
dent Taft to take charge of the cere
monies which will usher in the second
half century period of Kansas history
and achievement, will make of this
great gathering of Kansans a notable
event.
The committees in charge of the ar
rangements for the Kansas Semicen-
tennial celebration are the busiest men
of Topeka. They realize the stipend
Gus task that is before them in plan
ming for the care, comfort and happi-
ness of the thousands who will come
| to the capital city to meet and greet
the president. The men in charge of
| arrangements are determined that this
event. which is a purely state affair, If
which every man, woman and child
has an interest, shall be carried out on
a scale befitting the great event it
commentaries.
This was shown at the meeting of all
the committees held at the G. A r.
headquarters in the state house. Every
one of these committees reported pro-
gress, and all are working harmoni-
ously for a common purpose-to make
the coming of President Taft to To-
peka, in point Of attendance of Kan
sans and soldier organizations, the
GROWING event of a half century OF
matchless progress and achievement.
For twenty years there has not
been so much interest shown in
state soldiers reunion as is manifest
now in the great patriotic meeting
planned for September "a to % This
is due to two things. The ranks of
the soldiers of the Civil war are fast
being depleted; death is annually
claiming them by the hundreds and
thousands. This may be the last
grand reunion many of the veterans of
Kansas will attend and linked as it
is with the splendid history of Kan
sas made possible by their sacrifices
and services to their country. they feel
it their duty to come and meet their
old comrades once more. Too the
veterans feel highly honored by the
visit from President Taft and they are
glad to combine with that pleasure the
joys and happiness of rousing old
time reunion.
Sons of Veterans Coming.
The Sons of Veterans, too, are COM
ing several thousand strong In every
camp in the state. as in all the Grand
Army posts, plans are being made for
excursions to Topeka. The Spanish
Am erican veterans, the Woman's Re
lief corps and other patriotic organi-
cations are active in their plans for
the big reunion. These organizations
alone will send many thousand visit
ors to Topeka Every report tells of
their planning for the trip, most of
them making arrangements for several
days stay.
But the coming reunion of soldiers
of the Civil war, auxiliary societies
and other patriotic organizations does
not embrace the whole scope and pur-
pose of this great event 1t is broad
er than that; it touches the pride and
patriotism of every Kansan, because it
celebrates the close of a period of his
tory unparalleled in the world. It will
really be a grand reunion of all Kan
sans assembled in a great home-com-
ing at their capital city to do honor to
their president and to rejoice and give
thanks for the blessings of peace and
prosperity that have been so gener-
ously bestowed upon them
The reports of the committees
showed that the general program
throughout the reunion will be in
keeping with the spirit of this great
gathering. A great chorus of 1000
voices will fill the state house
grounds with a flood of song. and
bands will provide music for the Wis
itors. The homes of the city will be
thrown open and a real Kansas vel
come will be accorded to every visitor