The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-28
John C. Nicholson at Memorial
Building Celebration.
He Is the Man Who Made Struct-
ure Possible.
GOT MONEY FOR STATE
Appropriated at His Solicitation
by Federal Government.
Other Well Known Kansans
Also Will Participate.

Several Kansans will share the hon
ors with President Taft when he comes
to lay the cornerstone of the Memorial
Hall and Historical building Septem-
Der p. Prominent among these will
be John c. Nicholson of Newton, the
state agent for Kansas.
Credit must be given to Mr.. NichoI-
son for reviving the dead Memorial
hall bill in 1909, and later securing Its
passage. When he returned from
Washington, in January of that year
he found the bill dead in the hands of
the committees. He held a hurried
conference with George ". Martin,
secretary of the State Historical so
ciety, and w. A Morgan, department
commander of the G.. A. R. Soon in
terest was revived and the bill later
was passed almost unanimously. Mr..
Nicholson, who had secured the ap-
preparation from the federal govern
ment of funds due to Kansas, drew the
bill. the first draft of which was given
to Miss Zu Adams for the files of the
historical society. The second draft
which became a law providing for the
erection of the MemOria hall, whose
cornerstone will be laid by President
Taft September 27. was changed at the
suggestion of Senator Huffman to in
clude Spanish-American war soldiers.
John G. Nicholson, as state agent
for Kansas. secured the money with
which to build Memorial hall. He
launched the idea of so using this
money at a dinner which he gave to
the Kansas congressional delegation at
Washington, on the day the auditor
of the war department made the first
allowance. In all, the claims which
were allowed by the government to
Kansas for monies raised to repel in
vasion and suppress Indian hostilities
in its early history, amounted to $425.-
064.43. More than half of this sum
is being used in the construction Of
Memorial hall. During his work with
the departments in Washington Mr..
Nicholson paid his own expenses. and
then the legislature cut $4,000 from
his fee which he claims he was justly
entitled to.
In a letter to Topeka friend. Mr..
Nicholson saws. ssF'rOn1 the beginning to
the end in the prosecution Of these claims,
SenatorChester l. Long and Congress-
man w. A. Calderhead from the Fifth
Kansas district were in close and con-
slant touch with the work, and cOunSe1ed
and advised the state agent and often
appeared before the auditor of the war
department. To them and their high
standing in congress and the departments
IS largely due the credit for securing the
money with which to build Memorial hall
Senator Curtis and Representatives
Madison and Scott were active and strong
allies and appeared before the auditor
and committees.
In view of this splendid service to the
state and as a proper recognition of their
efforts. it is proposed to specially invite
Senators Long and Curtis, John c. Nichol-
son and Congressman Calderhead. Madi-
son and Scott, to be present on the day
of the laying of the cornerstone of
Memorial hall by President Taft to ad-
dress the people. This plan, which will
probably be carried out by the program
committee, will fill the day with interest
ing addresses.
President Taft will arrive from Hutch
inson at 40 on the morning of September
27. At o'clock he will be escorted to
the Country club for breakfast. He will
return to the city before 10 o clock for the
services attending the cornerstone laying
capitol grounds. Soon after II o clock he
viii leave by special train for Atchison.
AS planned by the program committee,
the gentlemen above named viii be invit-
ed to address the assembled visitors dur
ing the afternoon on the state house
grounds or in the auditorium. Appro-
pirate music is being arranged for