The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-27
Work Of Topeka Commercial
Club Was Praised.
Enthusiastic Membership Meet
ing Monday Night.
SMOKER FOR THE KNOCKERS
Complaints Will Be Heard ON
Another Occasion.
Awarding of Campaign Prizes
Feature of Meeting.

Awarding Oh Campaign Prizes
Feature of Meeting.
That the Topeka Commercial club is
an essential element in the development
of Topeka and that the organization
could be an even greater factor for good
were more Topeka citizens shouldering
their portion of the responsibility in
carrying out the work, was the senti-
ment at a get acquainted" smoker
held at the club quarters Monday night.
There were $50 men present at the
meeting-old and new members. It was
a happy" affair. Aside from several
good entertainment features which lent
variety to the meeting some rousing
talks were given by new and old MEM
bers.
First Of Series.
Suggestions were made looking to-
wards the betterment of Topeka. j.
Will Kelley. secretary, announced that
monthly meetings. He stated that one
Of these meetings will he given over en-
tirely to the Knockers" 1T will give
us a chance to see ourselves as others
see u.s." said Secretary Kelley. Henry
Bennett presided at the meeting.
Among those who spoke were: Henry
Bennett, w. H. Davis. Secretary J.
Will Kelley. Charles Mitchell, r. D.
Blaine, p. F. Schilling, F. c. Rockey.
H. L. Cook, r. E. Mcintosh. Charles
o. T. Chopper, P. ]. Monaghan, w. w.
Webb, F.. -. Reklites, Frank Curry and
w. ]. Rickenbacher.
Entertainment Features.
E. F. Maxwell. manager of the Nov
city theater, brought the De Grey Four
quartet from that popular play house.
This musical combination was given
L. n yorA
amusing to say the least-and they
could sing. Fred Ullman, a compare
lively recent addition to the club men,
bership. gave a clever impersonation OF
a woman. He rendered a soprano solo
in approved style.
persons were initiated into the mys-
teries of the Self Starting club. An
initiation fee of 10 cents was charged.
Richard Wilson collected a large num-
Der Of these fees with the stipulation
that the persons from whom the coin
was taken should be initiated at a later
date. The money collected in this
manner-six dollars-was turned over to
the Red Cross fund today. A five dol
lar prize awarded to the membership
campaign team consisting of w. w.
Webb. Ed A. Thrill and Robert Stone.
was also turned over to the Red Cross
fund.
Prizes Were Awarded.
One of the features of the meeting
was the awarding of prizes to the cam
paign teams as a token OF apprecia-
ton of their work. The team bringing
in the largest number of members con-
sisting Of George Godfrey Moore, H. H.
Pugh and Fred Coulson, was given a
handsome silver loving cup offered by
the Long View club. the membership of
which is confined to Commercial club
men, who have as an object the res
toration Of the lost art Of conversation.
The other prizes were offered by
Topeka merchants and other business
men.
AS a BOBBY prize the committee un-
der George McDermott received q
huge rag doll.
The following committee chairmen
received prizes in the order named:
George Godfrey Moore, w. w. Webb.
C. H. Matthews. DR.. E. S. Pettytohn.
]. e. Spalding. E. L. Overton, Richard
Wilson, G. r. Harries, C. E. Bascom,
S. E. Cobb, E. F. Maxwell, w. J. Rick
enbacher, Harry 3. Wright. A. D.
S. Elliott, Harry Snyder and George
McDermott.
DIR. e. s. Pettyjohn and Frank Curry
composed the committee on awards.
An Original Member.
w. H. Davis, who aside from c. s.
| original members of the Topeka Com
mercial club present at the meeting
| gave an interesting bit Of history. 1T
i was some struggle I tell you." said
Mr.. Davis. 1--WE had a little room over
across the street.
]. Will Kelley spoke of the objects
! of the Commercial club. II believe
F., the man who joins this organization
with the view that he will reap i'm
mediate personal benefits Is doing SC
under a Misrepresentation" said Secre-
tary Kelley. Membership in the Com
mercial club requires sacrifice. A
member must give up time and some
| of his money SO that Topeka may 60
ahead. This must be a concrete or
ganization that will be q factor fol-
good"
win Do His Part
DR. o. L. Cook, new pastor of the
First Christian church who lived In
Topeka fourteen years ago. said: I'D
/ tend to help in building up Topeka.
want to do my little part. Topeka has
! improved wonderfully. There is just
| one point that looks natural and that
is the corner of Tenth and Kansas ave-
nue!"
H L. Cook, formerly secretary OF
the Kansas State Fair association
made a talk that appealed to the club
members. Mr.. Cook said: The main
thing we want to do Is to make this
| here. The best advertisement city
can have is that the people are pros
porous. Let's get the club behind the
retail merchants. and behind this great
educational instit dticn-WaShburn col
| lege.
Washburn an Asset.
1.-THE educational institutions offer 9
wonderful advantage. I don't believe
the people generally appreciate the
value Of Washburn college to the city
! Another asset Is that Topeka il 9
beautiful city in which to live. 1t i
the best retail city in the western
/. country. 1t is more safe for out Of
/ town shoppers. ard the stores are ex.
| cellent. 1 believe the advantages ex-
eel those Of Kansas City"
George Godfrey Moore: ''In the pas
we have had an organization we had