The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-19
Bale WAS HAPPY
Senator Waggener's Annual Pic
mic a Great Success.
Five Thousand Children Enjoyed
Every Bit of 1t.

AIcnlSOn, Ran, july lS.-SendtOT
Bale p. Waggener's sixty-ninth birth
day was celebrated at Forest park
Tuesday afternoon by more than 5000
children. Although special trains into
Atchison were abandoned this year by
Senator Waggener, hundreds of out of
town children came in on the Central
Branch, Santa Fe, Burlington, Rock
Island and Missouri Pacific
Activities began with a big picnic
dinner at Forest park. But, in reality,
they began earlier in the morning. 1t
had been advertised that small Ameri-
can flags would be given to children
under 16 at the office of the Railway
Light & Power company, Fifth and
Commercial
/ Long before employees of the COM
pany were ready to give them out,
throngs of children swarmed around
the front door, blocking the entrance
to the building, the sidewalks for
yards around and a portion of the
street. Senator Waggener drove up in
his motor car and drew a great cheer
His title, THE Childrens Patron
! Saint" once more was justified His
heart was touched by the youthful
crowd and he ordered his chauffeur to
drive to a 10-cent store
Five Hundred Dollars for TOYS.
/ Both his son and brother had pre-
vailed upon Mr.. Waggener to give up
the plan of giving toys to the children
ana ne consented. But when he saw
( that mass of children, and remen-
bered he had nothing but America
/ Rags to offer them, he bought out
practically every toy department in
Atchison- 1t is believed he spent
more than $500 on toys for his little
| friends.
These were taken to the office of
the Railway, Light & Power COMPANY
ana given out. An officer or two
was required to keep the children in
order, as employees of the company
passed the toys and souvenirs of all
descriptions out the front door, where
they were hemmed by eager, childish
hands and faces
Seven members of the drum corps
from the Military home at Leayen-
worth paraded Commercial street
Gr1zzled veterans they are, but their
agility with fife and drum really tool,
one back to the days of ga, when
noustacned and bewhiskered young
men went forth to war Thew looked
older than the soldiers of the present
day on account of facial foliage. But
they were just as young The seven
members OF the corps are between Sc
and II years old.
Capper Gives S25.
E. c. Willis. superintendent of the
Soldiers Orphans home. spent the
day in Topeka. He called on Gov
ernor Arthur Capper at the state
house During the course of the con
versation, the governor remembered
that 1t was Mr.. Waggener's birthday
He was told all the children of the
home were going to attend. He
wrote out a personal check for s25
and handed it to Mr.. Willis
Il want them to have a good time u
he said
The money was apportioned amone
the $50 children of the home, and
each was given his share TO spend as
he pleased.
Senator Waggener seems to have
been on pretty good terms with the
weather man the last sixteen years
Each day he has had a beautiful day
Tor his picnic. Once, several years
ago, j. Pluvius staged a little demon.
Start1on of moisture and thunder and
lightning early in the morning. but
the sun came out before noon and the
day was all the more pleasant Per.
maps Mr.. Pluvius merely wanted tc
add to the success of the day.
Senator Waggener enjoyed himself
Immensely. That expression of pleas
ure on 5000 childish faces was re-
Elected on his own. He wasn't able tc
leave his car to mingle with the chill
drcn and lead them around by the
hands, but his car was in evidence or
Commercial street and at the park
arc everywhere he was given q
he arty demonstration
The picnic cost Mr.. Waggener close
to $4,000. Some of those in the past
have cost 5000. If he has his way
the celebration of his SEVENTEEN birth
day will cost even more.