The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-31

I would get up suitable bill out of
these for the state of Kansas. I Sc
cured a house stenographer to do thu
copy work for Mr.. Nicholson. After
securing these copies, he and / went
over them together and together pre-
pared the presnt law, rewriting it sew
eral times.
1t was then late in the session, ana
the bill had to come from the ways
and means committee of either the
senate or house. There was some diff
ficulty with the bill before the ways
and means committee of the house. I
went to Governor Stubs and asked
him to help me. He refused to do 81,
saying It was too late in the session,
and that the building did not neces-
that the bill should come out of the
committee with the recommendation
that It should pass, and that the build
ing logically belonged at the capital,
as it was state institution.
Old Soldiers Rallied.
on the night it was presented to the
ways and means committee 1 gathered
up a crowd OF old soldiers and took
them to the committee room, and
when the bill was under consideration,
w. A. Morgan. George Martin, Colonel
Neale and Colonel Seaton addressed
the committee in behalf of the bill.
Senator Huffman had the bill in
charge in the senate, and the senate
bill passed first. The house bill, how
ever was up for consideration prac
tically at the same time, and either
myself or Mr.. W. Y. Morgan moved
that the senate bill which, having
passed the senate, had been brought
over to the house, be substituted for
I the house bill. This was done, and
| the bill was Immediately passed with
out any dissenting vote by the house.
/ was the author of that part Of the
! bill providing for the course of pro-
cedure for selecting the commission
and who should compose 1t wher
was to have charge of the erection OF
the memorial building, and addressed
the legislature upon that section OF
the bill, and made the motion that Joe
Burke of Salina be selected as the
member of the house who was to serve
on the committee.
There were d number of members Ci
the house who rendered valuable ser
vices regarding the passage Of this bill
The first man with whom I had any
discussion regarding the revival of this
BILL was Joe Mercer of Chase county
who entered heartily into the ar
rangement and rendered valuable ser
vices. I do not know about Mr.. Mich
olson's having talked with the Kansas
delegation in Washington about the
use of this money for a memorial
building. I do know, however, that
this idea of building a memorial build
ing, had been current talk among tht
old soldiers of Kansas for the two
years prior to this time. I do no.
claim that I originated the idea. I dc
claim, however, that Mr.. Nicholson
was not responsible by any means t.
the extent with which he is credited
by the State Journal for the erection
of the memorial hall-that there wer.
others.
I know that this matter regarding
the revival of this bill came up the wa!
| I have stated, and that Mr.. NicholsoI
rendered the service in the matter
have stated and no other. I have M
! objections to his being appointed OF
the committee to receive Presiden
Taft when he comes to Topeka, but
want the history of this matter writ
ten right and I propose to have it tina
way if I have to write It myself
E. B. JEWETT.