The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-10
Gage Park .Wadiag Charge
Brings Down Protests.
Kfddies without Nickels Barred,
Says DR.. Harding.
sSWill Rent Us Shade Soon,' >
Says One Woman.
YOungster Ordered Out Of Wa
ter with tsWaist."

DR.. Eva Harding and Miss Blanche
Boies who have enlisted themselves in
behalf of the children of the city, and
are demanding free wading at Gage
park for the youngsters, want to know
whether the water in Gage park be-
longs to the people Of Topeka or to
persons who have purchased conces-
sions there.
persons have called me by tele-
phone to tell me that children could
not wade in TIE water at Gage park
planned DIR. Harding. Il called up
Mrs. Elizabeth Barr Arthur. police
woman and asked her to investigate.
She told me such work would be out
of her line OF duties, but that she
would be pleased to look into the mat
ter. She reported to me that no
charge was made for wading. but that
a charge was made for bathing suits.
"Just to find out the exact situation
Miss Blanche Boies took five little boys
to the park Saturday afternoon. They
wore bathing suits under theiy good
clothes Their clothes were removed
in a closed carriage and the boys went
into the water. They had been there
only few minutes when park po-
fceman ordered them out, telling them
they must patronize the bathhouse.
''W. L. Porter, city commissioner OF
parks, in commenting on, the affair
was quoted as saying that no charge
is made for children to wade in the
water, but that objection had been
raised because the boys were using
the open park as a dressing room.
Ordered Over Interview.
"a woman in North Topeka, who Is
a widow and who makes her living by
clerking in one of Topeka's depart
Ink kop n n n
and thinking no charge was exacted,
permitted her small son to go to the
park to wade yesterday. The young
! ster was no sooner in the water than a
park policeman ordered him out In
| q way that drew general attention to
| the embarrassed boy.
| The boy was wearing white
waist. The policeman told him that
white waists were not permitted to be
worn by those in the water. The bath
ing suits which are rented by the per-
sons having that concession are all
of dark color. 1 am satisfied that the
| objection to the color of the boys
| waist was simply an excuse to COM
pei him to pay 25 cents for a suit from
the concessionaire there. I am satis-
| fled there is an organized effort to
compel every person who uses the wat
er in Gage park to pay five cents for
the use of the dressing rooms. and
| 26 cents for the use of a bathing suit.
For Benefit of Poor.
1.-The city pays to maintain these
things at the park, and it pays per-
sons to be there and attend to things
and 1 can see no reason why privileges
should be farmed out to private per-
sons. The park is supposed to be for
the full and free enjoyment of the
| people of Topeka. About the only at
traction Gage park has is its water
and the persons who need and who
! would enjoy it most are the poor
kids who have few or no nickels to
Ispend. Our city parks are being COM
mercialized and the very persons most
in need of them are being deprived of
their pleasures because charges are be-
ing exacted for things that were in
tended to be free"
w. L. Porter, city commissioner of
parks. is out of the city attending a
meeting of the state Federation of
Labor at Pittsburg. Kan. However, at
the meeting of the city commission
this morning, a written recommends
ton from him was presented, to the
effect that the city enter into an ex-
elusive contract with o. T. BrOwneH.
Ills East Eighth street, excluding all
others and giving Brownell a monopoly
of selling ice cream and soft drinks
at Chesney park when band concerts
are held there.
Put Boys Out of Business.
Heretofore enterprising youngsters
this business. Mr.. Porter's recommen-
dalton will put them out of business.
The proposition Is for Mr.. Brownell
to pay the city ten per cent Of his
gross receipts for the exclusive priv
fflege, MT. Brownell to do his own aud
fting of accounts.
W. c. Ralston. city attorney. has
drawn a contract in anticipation OF
favorable action by the city commits
sion. He explained that the matter
should not be delayed as Mr.. Brownell
desired to begin business Wednesday
night when Marshalls band will give
a concert at the park.
This thing will start a lot of trou-
ble," objected Commissioner Bone.
''And we will not know anything
about what the receipts will be- in
terjected Commissioner Tandy.
1.-The receipts will not be enough to
pay the cost Of printing the ordinance
authorizing the contract said Bone.
However, the city attorney was au-
thorized to enter into a contract with
Mr.. Brownell. with the understanding
that it should not be signed until
Wednesda by which time Commits
sioner Porter will have returned.