The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-13
Commissioners DenOunceS the
Park Story as False.
SAYS He Did Not Bar Children
From Parks.
WAS A MISREPRESENTATION
Parks Are for the Children and
They're Invited to Come.
But StOttS Will Protect Shrub
berry Much. as Possible.

Eugene Stotts, city commissioner, IS
angry about the story printed recently
alleging that he had barred children
from playing in city parks. Mr.. Stotts
denounces the story as untrue and
without foundation. He today made
the following statement in answer to
the charge:
MY attention has been called to n
story published in last Sundays Daily
Capital headed with the largest type
in use in the Office, 'Stotts Has Ruled
Against Children No unfairer or
more untruthful statement could have
been printed although it is along the
line which this paper has permitted to
be published since the day 1 took the
cath as city commissioner. do not
complain against this constant line of
misrepresentation from a personal
standpoint as much as from the fact
that many of the stories reflect on the
city and the community.
TT is true that 1 have refused per-
mission to a man to ruin Willow Park,
for the park is a small beauty spot
thickly planted with trees, flowers and
Shrubbery. 1t is true that this man has
a living to earn and prefers this labor
less avOcation, more fitted for some
woman or girl than to a calling where
labor is necessary. His statements as
mentioned in the article in the Capital
are in the important points untrue but
1t served as text to hang an anti
Stotts story on.
Now as to Willow park and all other
parks under my jurisdiction: There IS
not sign in any of them warming any
one to keep off the grass any state
ments to the contrary notwithstanding
and there never will be as long as I am
in charge. 1 have held from the firsta
that the parks are more especially for
the children than for their elders.
Hundreds 1f
ment has been placed in the parks for
their pleasure and only last week a
drinking fountain was placed in Ches-
ney park solely for the benefit of the
noys and girls who frequent that beau
tiful little grove.
"Chesney park is being used as a
playground and half a dozen other
parks were offered to Professor Starr,
superintendent of the city schools, for
the same purpose. This man who
furnished the text for the CAPITAL re-
porters story refused to consider eth
er Garfield or City park because he
said that he did not like the class of
people who visited them. although
best people of Topeka. Professor Starr
called me over the telephone after
reading the story in the Capital and
informed me that he was in no way
responsible for its appearance.
Topeka has a number of parks
which are admirably adapted to
Fairgrounds and Professor Starr or
any other responsible party in charge
of such movement may have the use
of them for the asking. However,
do not intend to permit irresponsible
men to make ball diamonds and 9th
wise disigure such parks as Central
ana Willow.
mo child is barred from entering
them and using them for their recre-
alton and play whether accompanied
by their parents or alone. The grass
is theirs; the 'teeter' boards, swings
and Maypoles and all other attractions
that may be in them. I have worked
necessarily to give Topeka a system of
parks worthy of the name and places
where old and young alike can go and
enjoy themselves to their hearts con-
tent
"All children are welcome at all
times at any of the city parks despite
anything to the contrary which they
may see published in the morning pa
per. To those who wish to be fair
to all, would give this advice: IF
you see in the morning paper, and it
refers in any way to Stotts. verify it, -