davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
Phone men COMING,
Annual Convention Of Independent
Association in Topeka.

The annual meeting of the Kansas
Independent Telephone association
will be held in the National hotel. To-
peka, January ST.. There are 630 In
dependent companies in Kansas. The
attendance at the meeting OF the as
sociation in Kansas is expected to be
between 800 and ESQ.
The Topeka Commercial club will
arrange for complimentary theater
party for the visitors the evening OF
January 5, and will give a smoker the
evening of January 6.
T. L. Youmans of Osawatomie. Fred
Coulson of Topeka is secretary-treas-
urer. Samuel Tucker Of Pleasanton
il vice president
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
Special Rule for Each Voted
Out by Committee.
THE HOBSOn AMENDMENT
Receives the Unanimous Sup
port of the Members.
The MOndel Amendment Is OPP
posed by Democrats.

Washington, Dec. IA prohibition
amendment will be brought into the
house December % and when it has
been disposed of woman suffrage will
be taken up.
The rule for consideration of the Hob
son constitutional amendment for ma
ton wide prohibition was voted out
unanimously by the committee. Its
supporters and opponents were willing
to submit it to a record vote in the
house 1t provides eight hours of gen.
eral debate and unlimited opportunity
for amendment.
The rule for vote on the MOndell
woman suffrage amendment was voted
out, to 3. Representative Foster,
Democrat, of Illinois, by Joining the
two Republicans and the one Progress
sive on the committee, overcame the
three Democrats, who were opposed to
1t.
Chairman Henry declared one day
ositionS and that the house would be
kept in session until they were dis
posed of.
Representatives Campbell. Lenroot
and Kelley. with Foster. outvoted the
Democrats-Henry. Pou and Cantrill
and Representative Goldfogle. another
Democrat. declined to vote. The suf-
frage rule would allow six hours OF
general debate and the usual Oppor-
tunity for amendment.
1t will be necessary for the supporters
of both proposals to get a two-thirds
majority for the adoption of the rules
and then a two-thirds majority for each
resolution. Opponents say the neces-
sary votes cannot be gotten
The plan to begin the consideration
of the questions on December % makes
| it apparent that the Democrats are de-
termined to curtail the holiday reces:
as much as possible.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
GETS IT
Secretary Of State Made Cap.
per's Private Secretary.
Announcement Made by Gov.
ernOr-Elect Today.

Arthur Capper, governOr-elect, an
nounced at IL o'clock this morning
the appointment of Charles Sessions,
secretary of state. to the Office Of pri-
vate secretary to the governor after
Capper goes into Office in January.
Charles Sessions has been secretary
of state the last four years and was
appointed by Capper upon the gov
ernor-elect's urgent request.
Sessions is regarded by men in
touch with the political conditions as
perhaps the best man available for the
private secretaryship and the appoint
ment was accepted by the retiring Sec
retary Of state at the personal request
Of the gOvernOr-elect. January IL,
Sessions will walk across the state
retary of state to the Office of private
secretary to the governor. During the
first term of Governor Hoch, Sessions
served for time as the Marion mans
private secretary. He resigned to go
to Washington as correspondent for a
Kansas City publication.
'Mr. Sessions was not an applicant
for the position said Mr.. Capper to-
day in discussing his first appoint
ment. He accepted the appointment
upon my urgent solicitation. His
years of service as a newspaper man
has put him in close touch with the
public affairs of Kansas and his four
years experience as secretary of state
has given him thorough Familiarity
with the details OF the state govern
ment. This training, together with
| his natural qualifications, make him
| to my mind the ideal man for the po-
sition and I am much gratified by his
| acceptance
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
TO WIN. WATSON. AN ANSWER.

England's child America? Yes
Born in the rising tide Of England's
grandeur,
Proud of the land. the folk, from which
she sprang.
Gladly with her baby strength she
helped her parents greatness grow
But robbed, defrauded of a daughters
rights,
A vassal held by her greedy dam;
Her sons by Englishmen denied
Those rights the English hold most
dear,
She rose in the strength Of lusty youth,
Hurled the growing burden from her
back,
And lett for aye the roof she could not
call a home
Then lone beyond the Western Sea
She reared aloft fortress grand;
Its bulwarks builded deep and strong
Upon the ken of mankind's rights,
That one small boon the parent land
could not withhold
And welcoming to it's sheltering walls
The k.ng-bound. class-bound high and
low
OF every country. every cline,
Not Albion's child alone is she
But next of kin to all the, Earth.
CARL p. POLMAR.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12

Nevertheless it is now being said by
British commentators that something
went wrong with the timing of the
operations for the re-
lief Of Cracow, Galicia. The converg-
ing columns apparently failed to effect
junction. with the result that Gen
eral Dimitrief. former Bulgarian min
lister at Petrograd, seems to have been
able to inflict a sharp reverse on the
Teutonic force by repulsing the indi
vidual armies before they had time
to concentrate.
Further to the north the capture OF
Lodz by the Germans, so far as is
CONTINUED on Page Sikh
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
Dealing in Stocks Is Resumed
in Wall Street.
NEARLY 700 MEMBERS OUT
Visitors Gallery Is ThrOnged-
Many Women Present.
Ripple of Cheers Greets Sound.
ing of the Gong.

New York, Dec. 12.-Wal street came
into its own today. The stock ex-
change, closed for nearly four and a
half months. except for limited trading
in bonds during the last two weeks.
was reopened at 10 o'clock this morn
ing for active trading. One hundred
and ninety-two issues were approved
by the governors for trading and though
other issues were barred, notably U. S.
Steel, activity on the floor of the ex-
change revived memories of big days
ten years ago.
Not for many years has there been
such a throng of brokers on the floor
as that which waited patiently for near
ly an hour today for the signal to re-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12

The Meyer account shows the pay
ment Of $3.50 to Mrs. Frank Meyer.
$82 to Maude F. Meyer and @127.50 to
Frank Meyer. All was for board ana
room rent, the Kincaid report shows.
There are no items in the Koester
account showing that he paid money
to relatives. although his expense
while living in Wichita was $241.9O.
Hodges Doesn't Like Looks.
Whether the members OF the COM
mission will be asked to resign before
the Investigation Is completed by the
attorney generals Office. was not stat
ed today by the governor. He said he
would probably await the decision OF
the attorney generals office.
While Governor Hodges named all OF
the present members Of the commisstou.
he declared that he would not hesitate to
take such action as conditions warranted.
In fact he personally turned the case over
to the attorney general.
''The matter is in the hands OF the at
torney generals Office and they have my
authority to do whatever they deem ad-
visable," said the governor. ut looks To
me like a plain case of paying board TO
relatives and living at home. II the re
port from the attorney generals Office
bears out this theory. they will have my
cooperation in any steps that may be
taken.'
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
Both Message and NOOn-Day
Speech To Be Short.
RETRENCHMEN1 IN BUILDINGS
Institutions Must Be Satisfied
With What They Get.
Taxes Increase More Quickly
Than Population Here.

Arthur Capper. governor-elect. will
send short message to the legislature
in January and his inaugural address
January II will be equally brief. In his
legislative message, the new governor
will urge a conservative action On the
part of the law makers in the passage
Of appropriation bills,
For several days Capper has been
working at odd times on his inaugural
speech He has also drafted portion
of his message to the state legislature.
Both will be Short was the assur-
ance which Capper gave to a newspaper
reporter who inquired concerning the
two official documents.
Whether. however. the daily stream
of job hunters has forced the new gov
ernor to be brief with his own work,
or whether he will write a short mes
sage as a matter of choice. he did not
state. But persons who attend the
inaugural ceremonies next month need
not miss their noQn-day meal to hear
the sentiments of the new state ex-
ecutive.
In both his inaugural address and
legislative message, Capper will doubt
less urge economy in state affairs. He
will ask that the legislature go slow in
the passage Of fat appropria ton bills
and that state funds for new buildings
at state institutions be held at a min
I imum.
Retrenchmcnt Policy.
I'm view of the general tendency to-
ward retrenchments throughout the
nation. Kansas should go rather slow
in the expenditure Of large sums for
buildings at state institutions and espe-
cially for extensions not positively
needed" said Mr.. Capper. mo doubt
there are many instances where large
sums Of money could be used to advan-
tage at state institutions, but unless
there is a positive need, these expendi-
lures should be kept down, especially
in view Of existing conditions.
Appropriations for new buildings
seem rather necessary at the state
prison and at the Pittsburg normal, re-
Gently partially destroyed by fire.
While it is far from probable that
the new governor will openly oppose
building appropriations for any of the
state institutions. he does not favor
heavy expenditures at this time.
"It has been difficult matter to keep
down taxes the last few years." said
Mr. Capper, land 1 know that the
tendency looking toward improve
ment the next few years is very
great. But in te last ten years
Kansas as made very little gain
in population and er taxes for
all purposes have virtually doubled.
Ten years ago. annual taxes for all
, purposes-state, school, city. township.
and county-was little more than six
! teen million dollars. Last year the tax
| for the same purposes was In excess or
| thirty-One million dollars
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
SNOW IN KANSAS
Nearly Four Inches Fell in To
peka This Morning.
First Real @Blanket" of Great
Value to Growing Wheat.

The growing wheat in the eastern
half of Kansas, short and dangerously
exposed to the wintry blasts was COW
cred by from one to four inches OF
warm wet snow early this morning.
Reports received in Topeka indicate
out the eastern and central sections of
the state. West Of Dodge City no snow
is reported.
1t was the first real dampness of
value to the wheat since early this
fall. Following the snow a light mist,
famed by southeasterly breeze. caked
the solid white blanket and formed an
excellent protection to the growing
crop.
The precipitation at Topeka was the
heaviest for any entire twenty-four
hour period since October IL, when there
was .21 of an inch of rain. A light
mist was falling at eight o'clock this
morning. and there were snow flurries
later in the day. The depth measured
81 inches.
There is a southerly wind and the
temperature has been gradually rising
since seven o'clock Friday night, when
the government thermometer at To-
peka registered % degrees. The read
ing at seven o'clock this morning was
"a degrees.
The highest temperature recorded on
the local records have been kept was
"A degrees in 1889: the lowest was in
1903. The stage Of the Kaw river was
81 feet.
The forecast: "Snow tonight and
possibly Sunday and colder"
Shippers forecast: Protect ship
ments until Monday north and west
against temperature of from zero to 8
above; east and south, 10 to Is de-
grees.'
Sunny Flora, the local observer,
looks for a temperature of IA degrees
by Sunday morning and possibly an ad-
ditiOnal drop the following night Of 4
or degrees, or to or 10 above.
The temperature at two o'clock this
afternoon was 80 degrees. This is the
highest point reached by the quicksil-
yer since Tuesday. There will be a
drop in temperature tonight. The
temperature this morning in Montana
was four degrees below zero. The
wind was five miles an hour from the
west this afternoon.
The hourly readings
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12

sumo trading. There are LOO members
of the exchange and nearly 700 of these
it is estimated were on the floor.
Many of the others smiled down. with
their families and friends. from the
members gallery on the west wall.
The visitors gallery was thronged.
Half or more of the hundreds who
gazed down at the unusual scene on
the floor were women.
Although admission to this gallery
was by ticket only. and the issuance OF
tickets was rigidly vised, door
keepers eyed keenly each person
admitted in order to make sure that
no person of bomb throwing tendencies
should enter.
The first chime Of Trinitx,s church
bells at 10 O'Clock has long been the
signal for sounding the opening gong
on the floor. AS the church clock struck
a wave of cheering ripp1ed over the
exchange and swelled to a vast ROAR
as the brazen gong clattered noisily in
response. The volume of sound that
echoed through the building has not
been equaled for many a day.
Almost before the echoes of the
gong ceased ringing the cheering had
died down to a great hum, and the
hundreds of brokers were grouping
themselves in knots around the trad
ing posts. The galleries gazed down
in dwindling interest and slowly began
utes the floor Of the exchange was
white with paper snow-the torn
fragments Of thousands OF memor-
anda-
Opens With a Rush.
There was hardly need, it seemed
during the first few minutes Of trad
ing for the posting of minimum
prices. The market opened with a
rush and an old time upward swins
that sent the principal issues whole
points above the rock bottom figure.
determined upon by the committee IL
advance.
There was one feature that was no
at all in keeping with the activity o.
the big days of more prosperou.
times, and that was the small volume
of single trades.
Most of the trading was in block.
of 100 to 800 shares, and much of +
| was in blocks Of less than 100 shares
Around posts 1 and 12 on the floor o
i the exchange the crowds were thick
est
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
CITY ''H0ME RULE
Kansas municipalities Seek
Constitutional Change.
Committee Agrees on Needed
Laws in Topeka Today.

At a meeting of the legislative COM
mittee Of the Kansas League OF Mu-
inequalities, in which one hundred and
twenty cities of the state are affili-
ated, being held here today, with
Arthur Capper, governor-elect par,
ticipating, a resolution was adopted
recommending that the next session
of the legislature submit an amend
ment to a vote of the people changing
the constitution of the state: so as TO
make possible the passage Of what Is
called a "home rule" law Tor cities
whereby each city shall be able TO
make it's own charter, the only ilm1ta,
ton being the state constitution ana
the criminal laws of the state.
The submission and adoption OF
this amendment would among other
things give cities the right to adopt
the city manager form of government
1t would also make it possible for
school boards and city commissions
to be combined, thus placing the edu-
cational matters of city under the
same control as other municipal! az.
fairs. In short. the plan Is to make II
possible for cities to adopt charters
whereby they may do anything they
may chose to- do. that is not In con-
flict with the state constitution or the
criminal laws of the state.
Those attending the meeting today
| are: c. w. Green, mayor of Kansas
City, Kan, president of the league;
! r. J. Higgins, city attorney of Kansas
! City, Kan; Roy L. Bone. city COM
missioner of finance, Topeka; H. w.
Dale, commissioner of public works,
Coffeyville, Kan; Earl Blake, city at
torney of Wichita; l. NJ. Platt, city at
torney of Junction City; c. H. Tab
bot. Lawrence, secretary of the league
The other members of the committee
are Thomas Harley, city attorney OF
/ Lawrence; Charles F. Pusch. mayor OF
Marysville, and Ray E. Corbin. city
attorney Of Enterprise. w. A. s. Bird
of Topeka, representative in the state
! legislature, also attended the meeting
( I'VE do not wish to be quoted as
| saying that Governor-elect Capper Ia
vors the recommendations we have
! agreed upon" said one member OF the
| committee, but he talked over vari
Gus subjects connected with the plal
/ with us and we have agreed to make
| the recommendations"
(! The committee is in session this aft
| ernoon outlining the work of prepar-
ing the proper measure for presenta.
ton to the legislature. The commit
tee will be divided into sub-commit'
tees and work assigned to each.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12

of about twenty years, engaged in a
street fight with some other boys at a
ball game. The young man was ar
rested and taken to the city Jail and
locked up. There a gang of prisoners
held a kangaroo court on Blakeman's g
case and fined the new prisoner fifty
cents for "breaking into our house"
Brakeman didn't have fifty cents with
which to pay the fine to the irregular
court composed of his new associates.
So the fellow prisoners Leaf the boy
Continued on PAGE Six.l
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
For the Relief of CracOw For.
tress in Galicia.
FORCES WHIPPED IN DETAIL
By the Russian Army Com
manded by Gen. Dimitrief.
Capture Of Lodz Appears To Be
an Empty Victory.

London, Dec. 12.-The close of the
eighteenth week of the war finds the
stirring operations in the eastern thea
ire of chief immediate Importance.
Since the military headquarters on
both sides profess satisfaction with the
situation. as it's affect their respective
armies and are givink outsiders only
scant opportunities of forming indepen-
dent judgment it is difficult to esti-
mate precisely the significance of what
is happening.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
Case From Sedgwick County
Given Consideration Today.
REVERSE FIRE MARSHAL CASE
Holding Assessment Against
Companies Was Unjust.
Decision on Burglarizfng al
Night and Day Time.

Kangaroo courts in Kansas re-
ceived black eye today when the su-
preme court held that the holding of
such a session constitutes mob violence
where a person may be injured in a
personal encounter and makes the city
or county liable for damages in a civil
action. That was the ruling of an ap-
peal from the Sedgwick county district
court in the case Of George Brakeman
against the city of Wichita.
Several months ago Brakeman, a boy
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
Snow Over State.

Atchison, Kan. Dec. 12.-The first
heavy snow of the season is falling
here today. Already it amounts to
four inches and the storm continues.
Hutchinson, Kan, Dec. 12.-Central
Kansas is covered with light fall of
wet snow. Grainmen say it has i'm
proved the chances of the growing
wheat
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
Claimed That They Received
Money From State Illegally.
CHARGED RENT WHILE At HOME
Members Said to Have Re-
ceived Money for Relatives.
Clarence Mathews Of Topeka
Involved in the Proceedings.

Governor Hodges today asked
the attorney generals office to
investigate the affairs of all of
the three members of the state
barber commission. The investi-
cation is based on evidence
which came to light today show
ing that the three -Chas.
C. Meyer, Wichita; Clarence
Mathews, Topeka; and F. w.
Koester, Atchison-have been
illegally, it is claimed, charging
the state with board and room
rent while in their home towns.
In the cases of Mathews and
Meyer more than $4OO has been
paid to relatives for room rent
and board.
May Mean Shakcup.
That the startling facts brought to
light through sworn vouchers will
cause a shake-up in the personnel OF
the board Is the general opinion Of
persons in touch with the case. While
Governor Hodges did not state what
action he contemplated. he declared
that he would insist on the most thor
i,
Whether the attarney generals office
will declare the action Of the three
members Of the barber commission q
violation OF law upon which q crimi-
nal prosecution may be based, is not
being discussed. There was no effort
either in the Office OF the attorney
general or governor to conceal the
fact that the records of at least
Mathews and Meyer did not look
right
| Under the law members OF the COM
| mission are allowed IS q day for their
services. In addition tg this they are
permitted to collect their expenses
| when out OF town. Members are paid
| for only such time as is actually de-
vote-- to their official work. There ID
no provision in the act creating the
commission which enables q member
to collect expenses while living in his
home town or with his family.
| Against Topeka Member.
In the itemized expense account Of
Mathews, the Topeka member Of the
| board, it is shown that he spent
$216.45 for board and room rent
while living in Topeka. These items
cover the period from July I, 1913, tC
September 80, 1914. All but 80 cent
of the total amount in the Mathew
Topeka expense account seems t(
have been paid to some member Of
the Mathews household. These are
the Mathews items as shown by the
special report filed by Jasper IT. Kin.
caid, state accountant:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
Gardner Resolution Lost.

tive Gardner's demand for a hearing
and his resolution for an investigation
into the military preparedness of the
country was voted down today by the
house rules committee by a straight
party vote of five t three. All the
Democrats voted against 1t.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
FILES FORMAL CHARGE
George Crawford VIII Face Complaint
Sworn by Myrtle Baskins.

sworn by Myrtle BaSk1nS.
George Crawford yesterday ap-
peared and gave bond after he had
been sent word that a formal COM
plant had been fled against him on a
statutory charge by Myrtle Baskins
the young woman who last week COM
menced suit for $4,000 damages for
breach OF promise
Crawford was out of the city on
business when the warrant for his ar
rest was issued, but put in an appear
ance as soon as he learned of the for
NAL charge. He gave notification
that he would fight the criminal PROS
ecution as well as the civil suit.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
Wheat Duty SuSDendetl.

Melbourne. Australia, Dec. 12.-
Owing to the shortage of the Aus
tralian wheat harvest. the govern
ment of the commonwealth has sus-
pended the import duty on wheat
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12

Chicago, Dec. 12.-There were 120
murders committed in Chicago this
year, an increase OF IL over 1913, ac-
cording to a report from the munich
pal courts today Robberies also
showed an increase of 500 over last
year. 1856 having been committed
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12

Weather Forecast for Kansas.
ably Sunday.