The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-06

signed their letters "Sunflower Protec-
ton Club and the presence of the eld-
erly lady from Middle Creek in Elm
dale yesterday, the truth of the matter
might never have been known, and To-
peka would have raved on in
ignorance against the unknown who
had distilled poison and sent it broad
cast to do injury to that city Even
the head of the Sunflo wer Embroidery
club can make mistake. But now
that Topeka knows that it was only a
pretty girl who struck the blow, and
that this girl knew not what she did,
why there is nothing more to say.
The story surely did but little harm.
Why, even Elmdale, proud home of the
Middle Creek club of Embroidered s
Of tales, will send a big delegation to
the fair. A. F. Anime, proprietor of
the Palace hotel of that place. is au-
thority for the good news. And by the
way this same hotel keeper is also a
person of parts. He has sign painted
in large characters and hung in d
prominent place in his hostelry that
reads as follows: TT is the man who
has always been accustomed to corn
bread and bacon at home who does the
mist kicking at a hote1.'' The State
Journal reporter was as gentle in his re-
partee at the Palace table as he was
during his interview of the belle of
Middle Creek.
Hutchinson Is Cleared.
1t is evident therefore that Hutchin-
son had nothing to do with circulating
the letters. The following letter has
been received by Secretary Badders
OF The topeka Commercial cluD:
Mr.. George S. Badders,
Secretary Semi-Centennial Com
Inittee, Topeka, Kan.
My Dear Slr-Communication are
being sent out to news papers in dit-
ferenI parts of the state with a small
pox scare about Topeka Several OF
these have been sent to the Hutch
inSon papers, and L have interested
myself IN trying to keep them out OF
print. In one case, however, one of
these pieces was printed in the morn
ing paper here, and on that account
L write you TO assure you that the
Semi Centennial committee here re-
gretS both that this occurred and that
it was made possible for it to occur.
These communications were mailed
from Elk postotfice, in Chase county,
and were signed by Dewig E. Hegwer,
which sounds to me as if it might be
a bogus name. One of them was sent
the News recently and was turned
over to me by the managing editor OF
that paper, and 1 enclose the same.
I'VE have horns and tail and eat
fire here, but we would not encourage
a smallpox scare on your meeting at
Topeka Our idea has been to get all
of the attendance we can, and allow
Tie OlLSL lSl1OW ~ NO NAAC H~AAAASs
to the best of my knowledge and be-
lief no one here has tried to do any
thing to hurt the other fellow 1t is
quite possible that you already have
the information 1 have given you- so
far as I can learn those 'communlca-
tions' have come from one man. l
do not think he has been able to
spread his talk to any extent, or that
it has done any harm, but still, it is
possible that it might be best for you
=, L ar III
Trusting that you will appreciate
the genuineness of our regret in the
matter of this attempt of someone to
spread this smallpox yarn and with
kindest personal regards, am,
Very truly yours,
(Signed) F. W. T4 LEt-
Secretary Semi Centennial Com
mittee.''