The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-21

department. of which Mrs. A. A. Rob
inson is chairman and Mrs Bennett +.
Wheeler. vice chairman.
The program began with a group of
songs by Mrs. Frank Whitmore, whose
numbers were: THE Woodpecker,"
The Cookoo," and Spring Has Come
Again She was accompanied on the
piano by Miss Josephine Mckee.
MIR. E. w. Estes, who is deeply in
terested in bird life, and a thoro stu
dent of it, made an address. He
showed a chart he has of all the birds,
pointing out especially those that live
in Kansas. I'VE cannot afford to lose
our BIRDS he said, for it is a nota BILE
fact that all Kansas birds are indus
triOuS, and we have none that produce
only fancy plumage. 1t is estimated
that our quailS are worth Sc a pair to
the farmers who have them on their
property, by reason of the crops they
save. The barn owl is a bird that
should be protected. A few of these
birds are chicken thieves, but not
many of them. The butcher birds
should be encouraged, as they feed on
the wing and catch insects that other
wise could not be fought successfully"
Mr.. Estes spoke at length on the hab-
its of the wrenS and blue birds, telling
something of the construction of the
most successful bird Ecuses for them
and for other kinds of birds. He also
told some interesting stories of the
birds who nest about his house.
The prizes for the bird houses were
awarded by Mr.. A J. Stout, and the
children receiving prizes were present
and assembled on the rostrum to re-
ceive their awards. Among the prizes
was book on bird lore presented by
the vice chairman of the department,
Mrs. Wheeler
Two of the houses that received
prizes were made by young girls.
Mrs. E. c. Wilson, of 1851 Garfield
avenue, and Mrs. E. Gregg of 719
West Tenth street, will entertain at
auction bridge Tuesday afternoon in
the parlor of the Chocolate shop.
X
The Good Government club had A
called meeting Friday afternoon at the
Y. w. c. A. to discuss the cost of food
and methods of controlling further
raises in price. The following resolu-
ton was presented by Mrs. Lee Monroe
and adopted by the club:
Believing that there are many per-
sons who would accede to the urgent
request of the government by planting
garden plots if the price of seeds was
not so high as to be practically pro-
h1b11Ve; therefore, we urge upon our
OFFICIALS the need of Immediate action
and # it becomes necessary to do so,
we are in favor of condemning hoard
ed stores of seed to the public service,
paying therefor the first cost with a
reasonable profit.
Resolved, That we are in favor of
q strict investigation of the food stu
alton, that we urge upon our govern
ment the Importance of getting the
situation well in hand to the end that,
the new crops which are being put out
at such expense may not be wasted
and that the producer may realize
from his labor and that our hungry
neighbors may be fed at a nominal
and reasona BILE expense.
Copies of the resolution will be sent
to the national secretary of agricul-
ture, to the governor of Kansas and to
the city officials. The women of the
club believe that regulation of the cost
eff seeds will help to solve the diff
Guilty of prices, and they are in favor
of the government control of that
branch of selling. The club hopes to
be Of assistance to the farmers.
Some of the speaker blamed the
entire trouble of high prices on the
commission men who, the club thinks,
refuse to trouble with handling any
thing but perfect fruit and vegetables.
giving the poor no opportunity to buy
culls at a cheaper price. Mrs. Frank
P. Lindsay asserted that thousands of
bushels of fruit arc thrown away be-
cause they are not entirely flawless.
Some of the women said they positive
" knew that commission houses had
bought up truck gardens and allowed
the produce to go to waste, making no
effort to harvest and use it, in order
that prices might be kept high. 1t is
for this reason that the club favors
government control, so that the farm
ers will be protected after paying
large prices for seed.
Buying enormous food supplies in
DAYS of panic for fear of higher prices
was pronounced as unpatriotic and
piggish, by the club.
The club will assist in the Red Cross
and Navy league work Mrs. Norman
Keller was appointed the club chair
man of Red Cross work, and Mrs. G.
A. Supple for the Navy league The
members were asked to wash and
far Ia