The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-16
Members of Kansas House Play
Checkers During Session.
Business of Legislature Pro-
notes Sporting Efficiency.
ROLL CALL DIDN'T BOTHER A BIT
Checker Game Goes Right On
During State Legislation.
New Method of Procedure Indi-
Gates Tagging Session.

Homesick and longing for the old
days in the corner grocery back at
Grigsby's Station, legislative memb ers
from the short grass district are losing
interest in the routine procedure of
passing new laws and debating cOnSt1-
tutional questions. With spirit of
several days gathered in little groups
during the day and talked over the
need of early spring blowing, the
price of wheat and the crop outlook.
now a checker game has been started
on the floor of the house of repre-
sentatives and the checker loving law
makers are willing to stay in Topeka
another week.
The checker tournament started in
the house Monday night The new di-
version followed a listless day of rou-
tine procedure wherein the reading
clerk had nlumbled page after mage
of printed matter relating to the needs
of the various communities and the
state at large. Time after time the
clerk had called the roll and not once
had there entered into the proceed
ings a slight diversion to make the
country members forget that they
were staying in Topeka at their own
expense.
Then things changed. There was a
growing demand for a new brand of
excitement. So Moorehead of Nemaha
came to the night session with
checker board under his arm. Moore
head is Democrat. But even a
Democrat is human. So Moorehead
was declared genius AS an evil
dence of good faith and to show that
he was properly appreciated, a few
Republicans asked Moorehead to move
over on the south Side-the badge of
honor and esteem in legislative pro-
cedure.
Moorehead moved. So did his
checker board and checkers. He found
a seat that was not occupied and the
game started.
Instead of soap boxes for seats and
a sugar barrel for a table, the corner
grocery scene was improved when the
checker players sat in the leather re-
volving chairs and played the game
on the oak desks. 1t just happened
the desk occupied by Sampson of
Cove, a Republican. Samson's knoWl-
edge of indoor sports includes a tech
meal knowledge of checkers. So Sam
son challenged Moorehead for a game.
All Watched 1t,
For a time it was just an innocent
sort of game, with no one showing
much concern. Then q couple of pages
saw the playing and stopped to watch.
Soon the surrounding seats began to
fill with members from both sides of
the house and they passed judgment
of the two men at the boards. Fred
Lewis, sergeant-at-arms, was attract
ed to the scene of activity and he be-
came official referee. One or two
members from the press table wan
dered over to watch the game. Wis
itors in the galleries began to give at
tention to the checker tournament |
and interest in legislative proceedings
Jagged.
reading clerk was yelling frant-
ically to drown the din that came !
from the awed spectators at the !
checker game. The roll was called. |
Several members who had conferred |
their interest in the game, admitted |
they didn't know what measure was
under consideration and asked to be i
excused. Their names were passed. |
The game continued.
Shortly after 9 o'clock Samson
arose from his seat, yawned, stretched /
his arms and declared that Moorehead |
was a bum checker shark. The Cove
Republican had beaten the Nemaha
Democrat three straight. Now pro-
fessionals from the outlying districts
willingly took the places vacated by
Moorehead and Samson The passing
of new laws by the legislature con-
tinued
But it was all a matter of small
Checkers had been officially
eSta biShed in legislative procedure