The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-05
Hundreds of Men Stand Ready
to Gamble With Lii"
Extensive Program, Including
Parade, Ends With Darkness.
SEVERAL CLAIM EXEMPTIONS
Most Men Declare Freedom Tor
Dependent Families.
Incidents Gathered From All
Parts of the City.


Registration at all voting precincts from
! O'Clock in the morning until o o'clock IN
evening. -,
IBevies of Topeka girls stationed at all
precinots pinning badges coat lapels OF
young registering. -
Largest parade in history of Topeka TO
form ut designated points mt I :I5 O'Clock
Parade starts at :45 o'clock
Patriotic addresses by well known 10
Dekans at six street corners on Kansas ave
nue. from O'Clock to O'Clock in the eve
ming. -, a.. r;to
and Drum corps. led by Charles Moon.
will form at sixth and Quincy streets ana
march no Kansas avenue {" 'he s'''e
Al sSndown. retreat with the firing of
guns viii be presented by Adj Gen t. 4
spemkipg mt state house grounds at 3
O'Clock
ToDeks awoke toCay to new dag
in its history, a day when all younS
men between the ages Of Il ana 81
years. rich and poor, alike, take AZ.
equal. a gamblers chance on new
life. a liin filled with hafdsnip ahu
danger and honor. Dark rain CLOUDS
in the SKIES in the morning ana littic
TO dissipa.e the apprehension ard rear
in the hearts of nearly every mousse
hold in the city.
PITY was felt by Topekans few
wears aeo when they read that man
Unfortunate enough to be born the
heir of Il European throne nae neeu
SLAIN in a foreign country. Ihey Htte
dreamed that the assa ssinatlon OF
ono man would kindle a fire that
would burn across the world and TO
the plains of Kansas where today the
mailed fist of Europe begins 10 eN-
act the same sacrifice and heart
throbs that it has beer eXactlng IN
Europe ana Asia for yeors.
Today. Topeka begins TO 10 her
bit for the avowed purpose OF
democrac; and for the world'g God.
The heart of the Teuton, the FRANK,
the Italian. the Russian. the Sci b ana
ali has neen strengthened in taking
thu initial step by much the same
motives. believing they were Fighting
foe thei' Master, II Master who II
memories of Sunday school wears ago
aren't faulty, sent message hlucn as
follows to the world now engaged in
Peace and Good Will Among
Men"
1 Storm Warning.
Strange. il seemed, that the instru-
ments of this great peacemaker should Z
be those that warned Topekans at
O'Clock this morning that it was time
for their youth to prepare to answer
ready to her country's call and take
the first step in the creation or an
army sufficient to cope with enemies
abroad The ring of church bells
which for years had summoned To-
pekans to worship and hear messages
of peace and good will. today rang
out with a new message. a message
that summoned the youth of Topeka
to answer ready to serve and Kill his
felIowman IN the greatest war in his
tory.
Dark rain clouds gathering from
dawn had become darker by O'Clock
and rain in great torrents threatened
for the remainder of the day. SHARP
lightning and roaring thunder made
the ring of the bells hard to distin-
guish
TIirty-Two Registration Places.
\ few minutes later men and wo-
men in rain coats began opening the
doors Of thirty-two homes and offices
They were clerks and registrars. serv-
ing without pay. The young men
many determined to be first to answer
ready. were waiting and followrf
them into the building. gave thea
names. their ages and were presented
with registration certificates attestins
that they had answered their coun-
try's call In a few short weeks many
of these same young men will be kiss.
ing wives and sweethearts adieu fol
months of rigorous training and may.
be death in the trenches of Europe
Meantime, Topeka girls had bravec
the threatening rain and We're in the
registration places with buttons and
these buttons were placed on the Goa
lapels of the young men. On eacT
button appeared these words. For NJ,
Country" Women the world ovel
have beer the drawer and cheericr o
the two sexes and n melancholy ant
damper felt. probably by hundreds O
the young men disappeared at thi
jCnctUre.
A Symbolic Day.
They remem bered that today is ;
holiday. a day when the whole cit,
has closed its doors, has forgotten tn,
pursuit of the dollar and intends (,
do nothing but pay due homage anC
respect to Nem. AS the day wor
on the clouds disappeared thu
So 4. peeking from behind tn
and in a few short hours tn,
sunshine and light flooded the day I
was svn1holical. one might say of tn
CONTINUED on Page Two.)