davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
HORSES ARE BURNED.
Ten Dead and Nine Will Die From
Livery Stable Fire.

Ten horses are dead and nine are
expected to die as a result of bad
fire at the w. T. Lawless livery SIG
Quincy street, early Sunday morning.
The building was damaged only to the
extent Of about $500 and it is estimated
that the horses average $3.50 each, max
ing a total actual loss of about $500
and a probable loss of $3,340. The
owner of the stables and horses, w.
T. Lawless, is out of the city and his
employees claimed to know nothing of
the insurance.
The fire started in pile of baled
hay on the second floor. The horses
were stabbed in the second floor also.
None of the horses were burned-all of
them being suffocated. The employees
of the stable were unable to lead the
horses from the second floor down the
runaway to the first floor on account
of the dense fire and smoke-as a re-
suit the animals persisted in their
stalls
The fire was a dangerous one to fight
and a hard one to control. The baled
hay was stored in under the roof over
the heads of the horses. The alarm
was delayed somewhat through a tele-
phone mistake and when the fire COM
panies arrived on the scene the loft
was ablaze and the smoke was suffocat-
ing. Five lines of water were turned
on the fire and it was extinguished
any Ol TIE IhOTSGS were
and only $500 damage to the building.
Several firemen were overcome by
the smoke and had to be carried from
the building by comrades. One mem
Der of chemical company No. is in
bad condition today-Claude Sherburn.
His condition is not consid cred seri-
Gus. The work of lighting the flames
was especially dangerous on account
of the horses that ran throughout the
second floor of the stable, wild and
frantic. Several firemen were knocked
to the floor by the blinded animals,
but none was injured.
On Sixth avenue a street car ran
over a hose, cutting the line in two.
There were thirty-two horses in the
barn at the time and twenty-five out
side OF these thirty-two animals, ten
of them died and nine are expected to
die Criticism has been heard because
the horses were stalled on the second
floor with only one outlet and the hay
directly over them. This is custom
all over the country. There is no law
against it.
No one can account for the cause
of the fire. No electric light wires are
near and the men were not allowed
to smoke on the second floor. When
first discovered, employees attempted
to uuench the fire with buckets of
water. but it went beyond their con-
troI in few minutes.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
YOUNG ENGMsHMEN ARRIVE.
Two Who Have Seen Railroad Service
Arrive in Topeka.

Two young Englishmen dropped in
at the Commercial club this noon di-
rect from Lancaster. They were we'll
dressed, of the strictly English type,
and gave their names as Herbert
Brockbank and G. E. Brooks.
These men are here through the eff
forts of the immigration committee of
the Commercial club with r. D. Blaine
as chairman. The committee is work
ing to induce settlers of an excellent
class to locate in Topeka. and already
a number of Englishmen and Scotch
men have found employment through
means of Mr.. Blaine and his commit
tee.
Brooks has seen service in the book
ing department of the London and
Northwestern railway. and Brockbank
has for a number of years been with
the goods OF freight department of
the Midland railway. Both men are
looking for the same kind of employ
ment in this country.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
HURRAH FOR KANoPoLIs.
That City Is to have a Train of It's
Own.

Kanopolis is to take her proud sta
ton once more as a peer of western
cities. The state railroad board has
secured consent from the Missouri Pa
Cific to extend it's passenger service
from Wichita to the Ellsworth county
town instead of stopping midway at
Geneseo as has been the custom of
passenger trains on this branch road.
KanopoliS has chafed for years under
the sights of the Gould system and
petitioned the board often for recog-
milton of it's rights. Finally the board
set date for a hearing in this case,
but before the hearing came on for
trial the railroad capitulated and
agreed to have its train run on to
Kanopolis where passengers could
connect with the Union Pacific main
line.
Time was when Kanopolis had
dreams equal to those woven by Proc
tor Knott for Duluth. That was in
the palmy days of long ago (to quote
from D. Leahy) when the townsite
was laid out for a city of 100, 900
population. Kanopolis is said to be
located in the exact geographical CEN
ter of the United States and it started
out as a boom town. But now not
even the Missouri Pacific is SO poor
as to do it reverence. only under COM
pulsion. There are salt mines located
at Kanopolis and some five hundred
people live there and these will be
thankful to the board for getting pas
senger service from Wichita. Here
tofore the Wichita train on the Pa
cific only run to Geneseo and stopped
there several hours before making the
return trip. Under the agreement
reached today the train will run
straight through to Kanopolis and stop
there several hours
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
TWO HOTELS ARE RAIDED
Liquor Is Found at But One OF
Them.

AS a result of evidence gathered by
County Attorney Simon and Clerin
Zumwalt. Temperance Union detective,
Sheriff Norton's force. assisted by city
police, made a Saturday night raid on
the Throop and Chesterfield hotels and
the house of Henry Murray at S2S
Jackson street.
Thirteen arrests were made, includ-
ing the proprietors of the hotels. A
full barrel of beer and another nearly
full were taken at the Chesterfield. No
liquor was found at the Throop, but
IS sales counts and a nuisance charge
are held against the place.
Two and one-half quarts of whisky
were found at Murray's house against
which three sales and a nuisance
count are preferred. Murray was
around today asking what right the
county attorney had to arrest him. He
had a little law in reserve for argu-
ment and informed James Mcclure.
assistant county attorney, that the law
provides that every man is entitled to
keep a gallon of whisky in his house.
He contended that he had a quart and
half under the limit and immune
from arrest. When Mcclure told him
he was going to be tried for selling to
three different persons and not for
keeping the liquor in his house Muir
ray backed out of the office.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
Published in The Topeka State Journal
March Is, 1911
SENATE Bull No. $50

SENATE BILL No. $50.
AN ACT relating to boards of education
and schools in cities Of the first and
second class and repeating certain acts
and parts of acts in conflict with the
provisions hereof.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the
Section /. That in each city of the first
and second class except those cities haV-
ing a population of more than $1,000 and
sus of 1910. there shall be a board of edu-
cation, which shall constitute a body
corporate and polite possessing the usual
of six members. to be nominated and
elected by the qualified voters of the city
at large, three of whom shall be elected
April of each odd numbered year, and
shall hold their office for the term of
duly elected and qualified, and said term
of office shall begin on the first Monday
in August. succeeding their election. Pro-
ylded that no member of the board of
education shall be city commissioner or
member of the city council, and no city
commissioner or member Of the city
council shall be a member of the board OF
education. The territory attached 70
cities of the first and second class shall
constitute a part of such cities for the
Sec. 2 That in cities of the first and
second class as provided in this act in
which at the time of the passage OF this
act the board of education consists of six
members, there shall be elected at the
general city election in 1911, three members
who shall hold their office for a term of
four years from the first Monday in Au-
gust, 1911, and at the general election in
| 1918 there shall be elected three additional
members who shall hold their office for q
| term of four years from the first Mon
day in August, 1913, and thereafter at the
general election in each odd numbered,
year there shall be elected three members
| Tor term of four years: provided, that
those members of the board of education
at the time of the passage of this act
whose term of office expires the first
Monday in May. 1911, shall continue 20
serve as members of the board of educa-
| ton until the first Monday in August,
| 1911, and those members of the board of
education whose term of office does not
expire on or before the first Monday in
| August, 1911, shall in connection with the
board of education until the expiration
of he term for which they We're elected:
provided. that the members whose term
of office expires the first Monday in May
or in August, 1912. shall continue to serve
| in connection with the other members un
tn the Ilrst Monday in August. 1919
Thereafter the board of education shall
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
new SCHOOL LAWS.
Summary of Those Passed by Recent
Session of Legislature.

The following are some of the more
important educational bills passed by
schools
Raising the minimum length of
term from five. months to seven
months and giving state and county
aid to weak districts
A certificate law giving the state
board of education considerable lati-
tude in fixing the subjects required for
gradually increasing amount of high
school education as a qualification in
order to secure the first certificate.
The requirement of one year of high
school education will go into effect in
1913.
A new law for the consolidat of
rural schools requiring but a majority
of those voting to carry the PROPOSE
ton, making it easier to consolidate
with graded schools, and making the
transportation of pupils mandatory in
such districts where they live beyond
two miles from school.
A pension law for cities of the first
class, the law being voluntary both on
the part of the city and thu teacher.
The reduction of the size of boards
of education in cities of the first and
second class to six, and requiring them
to be nominated and elected at large
biennially for a term of four years.
A much more satisfactory law rela-
tive to the organization of boards of
education in cities of the first and sec
ond class.
A law authorizing the esta blishment
of township high schools in rural COM
munities.
A law by which normal training in
high schools may be extended to 40
more schools, and an appropriation
sufficient to pay each of such schools
$500 each. The law provides that such
schools may receive $3.50 additional
if they provide a course in agriculture
and domestic science.
A law placing the authority to fix
the standard for the issuance of state
board of education where certain
state educational institutions had
heretofore been made the standard.
A law fixing the maximum for
bonds for the erection of school
buildings at 2A 20 of the valuation.
The annual school meeting was fix
ed at the same date for all district
schools, that date being the second
Friday in April.
The legislature gave district boards
the authority to provide for the trans
portation of pupils living two and one
classes of dictricts. District boards
had not heretofore had such author
ity.
A law providing for the free tuition
in high schools to all pupils in coun-
ties having a population less than TO-
900 and in which such provision does
not already exist
A revision of the law providing
that two or more counties may join
together in conducting a county nor
NAL institute
The salaries of county superinten-
dents were increased $1.00 per
teacher and in some cases where the
salaries were low an additional in
crease was made.
A provision was made by which
vacancy in the office of county super
intendent may be filled from outside
of the county where no one is eligible
for the office within the county.
A law authorizing the annexation
of territory for school purposes to all
cities of the first class.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
GUILD EXPLAINS 1T.
Makes Addresses Concerning Men
and Religion Movement

The Rev. Roy B. Guild of New
York city. formerly a student in
Washburn college, and now executive
secretary of the Men and Religion
Movement made d number of adj
dresses Sunday in explanation of his
work THE Men and Religion For
ward Movement said he, at the First
Congregational church in the morn
ing, lis for the purpose of enrolling
men in a cause in their behalf based
on the work of the men today.
There may be something new in
the methods employed, but it is the
same old principle. There is nothing
new in the aeroplane-simply new
combination. The Men and Religion
is simply a new adjustment
of the forces working for boys and
men. 1t is to be a unity of action
the brotherhoods of nine denomina-
lions. the Sunday schools with nearly
a million members, the Gideons, and
the V. NJ. c. AS all banded together.
There is a national committee 81
which believes that the church has
not done all it can do. 1t is composed
their time and money back of the
If the work is to be done
it must be done by the locality. You
can't import a man who can Chris
tianize Topeka. If you are going to
christianize the Chinese you must get
the Chinese to do the work. The ge-
MUS of the movement is that each
church must do it's work.
I'm everyone of our magazines next
October will be an article on the Men
and Religion Movement. The editors
of the periodicals are taking an inter-
est in the plan
Rev Mr.. Guild spoke also at the
Novelty meeting for men in the af-
ternoon, at the Scoville meeting at the
First Christian church, before the
Christian Endeavor societies of the
First Congregational and First Pres
byterian churches, and at the First
church in the evening.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13

tax was not direct tax upon pro-
perty, real or personal, but on the con-
trary, was. an excise tax. upon tine
carrying on or doing business. The
tax he continued was not a direct tax
upon shares of the stockholders in the
companies Of the business to which the
tax attaches, or upon the income OF
such stockholders from their shares. 1t
ded. because the company engaged
mainly or even solely, in the business
of handling or dealing in real estate
The various objections to the law were
taken up in turn by the solicitor.
Mr.. Evarts opened the argument
against the law. He contended that the
law invaded the sovereignty of the
state of Vermont: that it would de-
prive the corporation of property with
out due process of law, and that its
publicity feature would take private
property for public use without just
compensation. Throughout he empha-
sized the point that the tax was upon
franchises of a state and therefore I'M
constitutional. Former Senator For
aker, of Ohio. argued that it was an
income tax. John G. Johnson, of Phil
adelphia, made a general attack on the
law. Richard V. Lindabury, or New
York. and other counsel addressed the
court in explanation of features of in
dividual cases.
Relief to the Government.
Washington, March 13.-The deci-
sion of the supreme, court in uphold
ing the constitutionality of the cor
poration tax law relieves the govern
ment from an embarrassing situation.
Had the law been declared unconst1-
tutional the government would have
had to return to 1921 corporations
an aggregate of more than SIG. 100000
paid by them into the federal treas
ury by operation of the law and an
issue of government bonds probably
would have been found necessary
According to the comm Missioner OF
internal revenue there were at the end
of the last fiscal year 262,490, taxable
corporations on the lists of the in
ternaI revenue bureau. These cor
porations had a capital stock repre-
scented by $52,371, 626,752; their bond
ed and other Indebtedness was SAL
3S3.952.696 and their net income was
S3125, 4S1,101.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
USE A BRASS BAND.
Mayor Campaign in Topeka Enters
the Music Stage.

Enters the brass band in city poll
tics. Enters. also. the motor car and
"our hero standing in the tonneau.
Thrilling music, twice thrilling
speeches and thrice thrilling applause
The LuX-for-mayor people are going
on campaign of the Second ward
tonight. The Knights and Ladies of
Security band is going. too. At Z
O'Clock the first meeting will be held
in front of No. fire station At 1880,
at the corner of Third and Chandler.
At o'clock, at the corner of Fourth
and Lake streets and at $50. in front
of the Railroad Y. NJ. c. A.
For eleven nights this tour will be
kept up by the supporters of this pop
ular candidate. Then Saturday night
the last Saturday night of the cam
paign-beginning at O'Clock at Tenth
and Kansas avenues, eighteen motor
cars and the entire K. & L. of S. band
will make every corner from TeEth
avenue to Gordon street on Kansas
avenue.
An enthusiastic meeting of $50 of
the supporters of Samuel E. Lux for
mayor was held in the Knights and
Ladies of Security hall Saturday even
ing, r. d. Blaine acting as the chair
man for the occasion.
n b. Burge was introduced by the
chairman as the man who boosted a
COW pasture until it now has value
of three or four hundred thousand
dollars.
He gave the following reasons why
he was for Sam Lux for mayor and
or the motion of E. F. Strain the rea-
cons were adopted as resolutions by
the $50 people present:
FirSt-Because his stand on the en-
1orcement of law is strong and fir
and because I believe that Mr. Lux
will do as he says-he is a man whose
word with me is as good as his note
Second-Because he is a property
owner and when a question comes up
at the city hall affecting the property
of individuals in this city. he will be
directly interested and what is good
for Mr.. Lux as a property owner. is
good enough for me.
Third-BecauSe he is in touch with
the moral, financial and commercial
life of Topeka and knows full we'll its
needs and requirements to make it a
cleaner, better and larger city.
Fourth-Because he stands for a
reduction of taxes in practical way
not by reducing the number of en-
ployees or their wages, but by getting
more large buildings erected-more
Mills buildings. more New England
buildings, more Wolff Packing plants
more Santa Fe offices and shop build
ing. more jobbing and manufacturing
industries. more taxable property on
$500, 900 building is erected or any
large enterprise brought here, more
revenue in taxes comes into the city
treasury.
E1fth-Because he has never been
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
Mrs. FinsOn Is Asking Ten
Thousand Dollars.
Husband Killed in Seventh
Street Cistsrn Explosion.
PRESENCE OF THE GAS
This Led to the Investigation
and Subsequent Disaster
Fireman Robinson Says Commits
siOner Snyder Lighted Match.

The damage suit for $4,000 brought
against the city of Topeka by Mrs.
Leila NJ. Finson for the death of her
husband, Claude E. Finson. is under
trial in the district court today.
Finson, an employee of the city, was
killed by the gas explosion in the 1re
cistern on Seventh street between Kan
sas avenue and Jackson street, Deem
Der a. 1909. Street Commissioner Frank
Snyder was fearfully burned in the
same accident and his life, too, was
for a time despaired of.
Numerous evidences of gas leakage
along the mains of the Consumers
Gas company led to the examination of
the cistern by the street force under
Mr. Snyder. George Wilmarth, fire
chief, also sent men to watch the
work.
One of these firemen. A. M. Robin
son, caused stir in the court room
today by stating unequivocally while
ON the witness stand that the explo-
sion was due solely to Frank Snyder
striking a match while in the cistern.
Mr.. Snyder is present at the trial ana
has a lawyer watching the turn of the
case. He still wears the dark glasses
made necessary by the burns about his
head and eyes. No blame was lald at
the street commissioners door during
the inquest into Finson's death but
Mr.. Snyder wept on the stand when
questions suggesting such a case were
put to him.
The evidence being introduced in
the case is similar to that in the Carl
Isuengene case against the Consumers
Gas company which was tried recent
" and decided for the plaintiff. This
evidence has to do with the leaking
condition of the gas mains and par
ticularly that break in the gas main
at Jackson and Seventh streets where
a three inch main was broken square
~ off by the weight of water main
laid upon it.
William f. Conklin, city plumbing
inspector and one of those who saw
this break unearthed during the
search for leaks, testified to its exist
ence and the fact that the soil for
considerable distance around the
break was dry and discolored from the
percolation of the escaping gas.
Water Commissioner Shaw also was
called to testify regarding this break
and other leaks being found during a
period following this explosion.
1t is the contention that the gas
escaping from these breaks found it's
way into the fire cistern. In the
I.uengene case. a jury found it had
entered the Bell telephone conduits
and flowed a block to the scene of
explosion.
Recovery of damages is sought upon
the basis of negligence on the part of
the city in sending the men into the
cistern when it was in so dangerous
condition. The case is presented by
Matt Campbell. attorney for the
widow. City Attorney w. C. Ralston
and his assistant, James Clark. are
conducting the defense. Their cross
examination tends to throw liability
onto the gas company but whether
that will be their contention is not
known.
Mrs. Leila Finson is left with two
small children, one ~ years old and
the second one ? years old. Her hus-
band was about 30 years old.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13

an office holder but has been and is
a successful business man in this COM
munity and business is what we want.
Sixth-Because, long before he ever
thought of being mayor of Topeka, he
devoted time, money and energy to the
building up of Topeka and furthering
the interests of its business enterprises.
Seventh-Because he is for more
improvements generally throughout
every part of our city.
Eighth-Because he is an all
around booster; a loyal citizen of To
peka, full of energy and public spirit
and full of hope and faith in our city's
fIture
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
HaIIocI1 succeeds VanderpooI.

H. S. Hallock has been appointed
city sanitary sergeant to fill the unex-
pired term of C. L. VanderDool who
has been judged insane and has been
taken to the Topeka insane hospital.
The appointment was made by NJ. c.
Holman. city commissioner. c. L. Van
derpool was slated to stay in Office un-
til after the city election in April His
sickness interfered and Commissioner
Holman chose H. S. Hallock from
among those who had qualified under
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
New YORK Money Market.

New York. March 13-MONEY-Money
on call steady, 21zG2@ per cent; ruling
rate, 2ss per cent; closing bid "a per cent:
offered at 2ss per cent Time loans, very
2szG3 per cent; six months. S1z@S1z per
cent.
CLOSE: Prime mercantile paper to "A
per cent.
Sterling exchange steady with actual
business in bankers bills at ASSG4 SO. 80
for 60 day bills and at A.S6.15 for demand.
Commercial bills, $4-SSd4 S3A.
SILVER-Bar silver, 531sc; Mexican dol
lars, 4Sc.
BONDS Government bonds STEADY, rail-
road bonds irregular
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
DEATHS AND FUNERALS.

Mrs. P. L. F. Webster died at her
home, 705 Clay street, at o'clock
Sunday evening from an attack of
bronchitis. She was 83 years old. Mrs.
Webster was a pioneer resident of To-
peka and had made her home at 705
Clay street a number of years. F'u-
neral services will be held at the
home at 1880 Tuesday afternoon.
Burial private