The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-19
Bale Waggener's Picnic Has
Not to Do With Faction.
Affair This Year Was Up to the
Standard.
10000 ATCHISON VISITORS
MIR. Waggener Is Much I'M
proved in Health.
He Cared for Lost Tot and She
Cried When Parents Came.

There is a combination in Kansas
that makes for peace. 1t is perfected
when Atchison and Bale Waggeners
birthday get together. Atchison ana
Atchison county are divided, politically
on 1854 days of each year. On the other
day. it Gets Together. On Bale Wag-
gener's birthday, bitter political en-
emies meet and shake hands instead
of discussing the relative merits OF
Stubs and Charley Curtis, they hold
fervid but friendly argument about the
health and possibilities of Bale Wag-
eeuer Whether or not the Minnesota
surgeons will leave enough OF the At
Gibson patron saint to run for United
States senator two years hence, IS "A
matter of speculation and concern with
the possible constituents. To hear
hide-bound stand-patter discussing
this weighty problem with follower OF
the bull moose, the chance listener
WOULD not suspect that II Is the nrst
4 he, since the last Waggener picnic,
that anything but abuse and brickbats
had passed between them. The Wag-
gener birthday is the neutral zone,-the
truce.
Waggener Is Feeling Better.
The veteran Democrat looks better
and feels better than he did a year ago.
His condition was a source of joy to the
40 900 friends who assembled yesterday
in Atchison to celebrate his b1rthday
Although he has been carved ana
carved,-and must be carved again, the
surgeons have not removed Bale Wag-
gener's joy of living, which consists
principally, of doing something for
others.
1t was ideal picnic weather. The
preparations went through without a
hitch Everyone seemed to be happy
and the happiest was Bale Wag-
gener Back in a quiet corner of the
bandstand sat the patron of the day,
and watched his money pass into otner
hands at the rate of about 500 min
ute Little children climbed to the
edge of the platform and shouted
greetings and good wishes, and were
those children permitted to vote, they
would elect Bale Waggener king OF
the First district.
Children Smothered Him.
Early in the morning of July Is,
Bale Waggener started out along the
Central Branch with train of twenty
coaches and a baggage car. He rode
in the baggage car, and at each or the
stations as far as Netawaka, set out
two or three cars. On the return trip
these cars were taken up, and he ar
rived in Atchison at 1880 with exact
X 2577 passengers. The cars were
overcrowded, and a few adventurous
Youths were riding on top OF the
coaches Not a cent of fares was col
!ected on that train. The duties of the
conductor were to keep children from
falling out of the windows Mr.. Wag-
gener had dragged rart OF the over
TOW into his private car-the bag
gaga and children were swarming over
him when the train pulled into Aren't
son. Trains on all roads were crowded
to the guards, and every road mao one
or more extras.
The Parade Was Great.
r,,a morning parade. on Commercial
.-aat was the best shown since the
zTagoener picnic became an annual
e,,ant in Atcnison. Three troops Of the
sixteenth United States cavalry came
from I,eavenworth to participate in the
naeeant. Decorated floats, novelty rigs.
horseback riders and autos, competitors
for the liberal prizes offered by Mr..
xVaggener paraded the principal street
behind local and imported bands. After
the parade, an exhibition of Atchison's
s15 900 worth of motor fire apparatus was
eiven. A big truck, similar to the To-
peka departments latest, followed BY
. huge motor fire engine, made 40
miles an hour down the street and
closed with some quick work in rails
ing a ladder and throwing water over
one of the tallest business buildings.
The safety of the spectators was in
sured by the U. S. cavalry, which did
police duty.
Police Protection Perfect.
Last year Mr.. Waggener's pleasure
was married by the operations of a
horde of pickpockets. Over 100 visitors
were robbed in and around the park
and depot. This time the police protec-
ton was perfect. A number of Kan
sas iCty detectives and Chief Jenkins
with a collection of assorted Topeka
cops, were on hand. In every conges-
ton of humanity. an officer was on
watch. When the festivities closed al
night, but one report of loss was re-
coded at the police station One
farmer was short a $40 bill, but as 9TH
er money in the same pocket had not
been disturbed, he was inclined to be-
heve that the loss was accidental
As usual, Forest Park was a free place.
No child under 16 years of age was per-