The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-08-26
ARE TIRED OF PLAYING WAR
Real Action or for Return to
Their Homes.

TOpeka.-The Kansas soldiers are
getting tired of playing war down on
the border. They are anxious either
to get in real action or to come home.
And their parents and other relatives
feel about the same way.
Applications for fur1oughs are COM
ing into the state military department
in large numbers. However, the state
is poWerless in the matter. The troops
are now under the federal govern
ment and furloughs must come
through the war department. Rela-
tives of many of the boys, especially
parents or wives, are pleading daily
with the governor to have them sent
back home. 1t is generally believed
that all danger of war is over and no
good reason can be seen for keeping
the militia members on the border any
longer. At least 10 per cent of the
boys are going through college. Some
of them only have one more year.
Their parents want them to be dis
charged so that they can finish their
schooling
News has been received at Fort
Riley that recruits for the Kansas Ma
tional Guard regiment will be sent to
this post for preliminary training. A
force of men has been started to work
putting the barracks into shape and
the newcomers will be housed in Fort
Riley proper instead of on the camp
grounds at Pawnee Flats. The first
contingent of recruits is expected to
arrive next week.
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Hamilton to Succeed Murphy.
w. G. Hamilton of Norton is slated
for chairman of the Democratic state
central committee. It is probable that
he viii have no opposition in the meet
ing Of the state committee, August %.
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Poor Alfalfa Seed Year.
According to the reports from the
Kansas Agricultural college and to
the state board of agriculture there
has not been enough wind or enough
insects to pollinate the alfalfa blooms
and the seed crop prospects are rather
slim. Ordinarily the best crops OF
alfalfa seed Kansas produces are in
the dry years. This was the driest
July the state has ever had, but it
doesn't look like a good alfalfa seed
crop year. Two crops of the best hay
the state ever has produced already
have been harvested.
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For Prisoners On Road Work
The Kansas sheriffs look with much
favor on the plan of Governor CappeT
to use the county prisoners in build
ing roads in Kansas. Recently the
governor sent a letter to all the
sheriffs of the state asking if they
thought the plan were feasible for
Kansas. The replies of the sheriffs
are just beginning to come in. Every
one of the officers who has replied,
has declared himself heartily in favor
of any. plan that would enable them to
get the prisoners out of the jails, par
ticularly in the summer.
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To Build Irrigation Plant.
The state will establish deep well
irrigation plant at Weskan, Wallace
county. ]. W. Tough, state irrigation
commissioner, wired the governor
that ne will begin sinking wells i'm
mediately. He expects to put in a
plant big enough to irrigate $50 acres.
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Boy Drowned in Kansas River.
Noah Farley, years old, was
drowned in the Kansas river while
swimming with six companions. Eff
forts to recover the body have proved
unsuccessful.
+ + r
Would Connect Two Forts
A good roads meeting to take the
initial steps for building a brick or
concrete highway from Fort Leaven-
worth to Fort Riley viii be held here
soon. The Topeka Commercial Club
and the Topeka Automobile Club is
sued a call for the meeting to orga-
nize the Kaw Valley Improved High
way Association The county commits
sioners, motor clubs and good roads
boosters OF Leavenworth. Douglas,
Jefferson. Pottawatonie. Wabaunsee,
Riley and Geary counties were IA