The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-27

In Speech Today by Governor
Hodges.
RESPONSE BY Col. HARRISON
Dedicatory Address by Com.
mander Gardner.
Thousands Attend Imposing
Dedicatory Ceremonies.

Memorial hall was officially dedi-
Gated today before a crowd of more
than 10000 people which packed
Tenth avenue and jackson street,
overlooked onto the state house
grounds west to Van Buren, street.
crowded the east and south steps of
the state capitol building and sought
points of vantage on roofs of build
ings, porches and in windows and tree
tops. It was one Of the largest crowds
that ever attended a public ceremony
in Topeka.
owing to the fact that the parade
this morning was nearly an hour late,
there was a slight delay in starting the
program at the new Memorial nall.
But the big crowd was not impatient
Men and women sought places from
which to view the dedtcatory exercises
and swarmed over nearly ten acres OF
ground in the vicinity of the building
dedicated to the memory of the veter-
ans of the Civil war.
AS the parade stopped in front OF
Memorial hall. 5000 Topeka school chill
dren cheered the veterans OF 81 ano
waved flags and pennants while hal1
dozen bands played patriotic music. 1t
was the fitting conclusion of one of the
most impressive ceremonies ever wit
messed in Topeka. Low hanging clouds
that each moment threatened rain, but
withheld their moisture until the final
moments of the dedfcatory service,
doubtless kept several thousand peo-
pie at home. But a larger crowd tnan
the one which witnessed the official
dedication and flag raising, would have
been compelled to view the ceremonies
from Harrison street, two blocks away.
There were cheers for Governor
Hodges. washington Gardner. national
commandments OF the G. A. h,
and for Col. ]. N. Harrison. state de-
partment commander. as they stepped
on the platform.
isn't II great" said Commander
Harrison, as he pointed to the crowd
and turned to the new half million dol
lar Memorial hall. "Pve lived Tor years
to see this It is the greatest moment
of my life"
Welcomes the Veterans.
Governor Hodges this morning wei
coined the Kansas veterans and their
wives to Topeka and as CHIEF execu-
tive of the state officially turned the
half million dollar marble and gran
lite Memorial hall over to the keeping
of the Grand Army of the Republic
through it's commander. Col J. n
Harrison. In a thirty minute speech,
the governor paid tribute to the men
who fought in the Civil and Spanish
American wars and at the close of his
remarks, the big monument erected
to the memory of the boys Of 81 was
delivered to their keeping.
/ The speech by Governor Hodges
was the first address in the celebra-
ton Of the official dedication of Mem
orial hail. AS he concluded his re-
marks. Commander J. N. Harrison
accepted the memorial on behalf OF
the Grand Army of the Republic OF
Kansas. Then came the dedicatory
address by Washington Gardner. ma
tiona1 commander-in-chi OF the g.
A. r. His address was the feature
Of the Memorial hall dedication.
Governor Hodges Address.
cit is my privilege to welcome you
to the capital city of our great state, ;"
said Governor Hodges in beginning his
welcoming address, and to ask you
to Join in the dedication of this mag
niflcent memorial, erected by the state
of Kansas in honor OF Its soldiers and
sailors who took part in the great
Civil war of 81 to '65. The magnffi-
cence of this building only BELTS the
glorious record of the soldier boys
from Kansas, the history Of whose
deeds it is intended to preserve and
perpetuate.
kansas owes her greatness as a
of pride of every Kansan that our
state furnished more soldiers in the
Civil war than any other state In the
Union in proportion to her population.
Indeed, she put more soldiers into the
Civil war than she had voters when
the war began-and it did all OF this
without once resOrting to draft.
I'VE who were not with you dur
ing that memorable struggle and only
gain our knowledge as matter OF
history, can but imagine that we hear
and see as II in dim and distant
past, anguished and whitened faces of
mothers and wives when a son OF hus-
band first declared. that he must go.
Those mothers and wives. Spartan like.
took up the work in the fields. in the
| factories and in the mines. Fair hands
grew callous. Rosy cheeks soon
scanned Upright forms became bent
and broken. But no word of COM
rofc women who took UP mans work
i that q great nation might Live.
MY message to you today il to not
only remember those who died that a
nation might live, but to give to the
few remaining ones yet among us the
kindness and consideration that graft
tude and love can offer as a token
Of a nations everlasting debt OF APP
probation.
II Lincoln We're Here.
ST speak today Of one nation, and one
flag. Yet 30 general is that feeling be-
coming that believe If Mr.. Lincoln
were alive today. and would journey
| through the south, he would be accord
ed the greatest ovation ever rendered
man-and by the people whose homes
| he festooned with crepe. Two figures
stand forth in the eyes OF American
people rs giants unapp-oachable =
George Washington the father, and
Abraham Lincoln, the savior-Of this
j country.
those who lie sleeping over there
spiritually clothed In the stars and
stripes. We meet to pay homage to
those who gave up their lives that truth
might triumph and justice reign su-