The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-18
GIVES UP FIGHT
No DandeIiOn War at the State
House This Year.
Secretary of State Sadly Admits
He Can't Kill Crop.

| Secretary of State Charles Sessions
| has served notice that he has abandon
| ed at least one state house reform
| That reform is the fight on the 1913
dandelion crop. This year the dande-
lion will be allowed to blossom ana
prosper without interference on the
part of the executive council or it's
members.
When Sessions became secretary of
state two years ago, he declared war
on the dandelion. In his declaration
he enlisted a good bit of sympathy and
wide commendation. AS a newspaper
correspondent for years prior his cleo
ton as a state house official, Sessions
had observed with much disapproval
the unchecked growth and prosperity
of the little yellow flower to the exclu-
sion of the blue grass sod. So the new
secretary of state started in to rid the
state of a common nuisance and eye
sore.
The first year that Sessions mare his
fight on the dandelion, ne wasn't very
successful. But last year the secre-
tary of state started early. He began
his fight with the first days of spring
and never stopped until frost came i'm
mediately following the November cleo
ton returns. That fight which Ses-
sions waged against the dandelion will
for years be part of the unwritten
history of the state.
With a sympathetic executive coun-
ell behind him, Sessions put every jani-
tor on the job. First he tried digging
the several million dandelions out by
the roots. But that was a slow and
tedious process. Then public spirited
person told the secretary of state that
salt was sure death to dandelionS at
a distance of ten feet. Sessions used
three barrels of salt in the experiment.
Next gasoline was suggested. In the
fight on the dandelions in the south
4
gallons of the very best gasoline made
by the Standard Oil company. Then
cold weather came and Sessions told
his friends that with the coming of
new spring there would be no dande-
lions south of the state house.
Old Crop Prospered.
Possibly gasoline was just the thing
that the dandelion needed to insure
it's greatest development as flower
Sessions says he dosn't know. But
this spring the south park, as well as
the park on the north, east and west
of the state house, is matted with yell
low beauty-a blooming tribute to
Sessions greatest endeavor. Sessions
gave up in sorrow and disgust.
THE fight is over so far as I am
concerned" sighed the secretary of
state today as he sadly looked out of |
his office windows onto a park of yell
low and green. eff there is anything |
that will stop the growth of dande- |
lion 1 don't know it-and I've tried |
and experimental with every dande-
lion crop killer which 1 ever heard of. |
No. sir you can just put it down that
I am not in the dandelion fight this
year. I give up
but, who will conduct the fight ?"
Sessions was asked.
81 don't know. Anyone who wants
the contract can have a disclaimer of
honor from me. Fact is" admitted i
Sessions 81 don't think there is any
one or anything that can in any way Il
discourage the growth and develop Il
ment of that flower.
1t was suggested that Governor
Hodges be given the honor of con-
Quoting the 1913 dandelion crusade.
But the new Democratic executive was
inclined to view the offer with some
He thought the dandelion
should be suppressed, admitted that
even a Democratic legislative enact
ment wouldn't help and suggested that
General Dawson be consult
ed to search the statutes and conStitu-
tional provisions for possible relief.
Dawson said there were no remedies
at his disposal-in fact he didn't want
to be connected with the dandelion
scandal in any manner.
And now the executive council is
awaiting the offer of volunteer patriots
to continue the fight which Sessions
started two years ago. II