The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-24
1t Seeks Segregation in All
Cities of the Second Glass.
Measure Introduced by Repre-
sentative Sparks of Galena.
COlORED LOBBY GETS BUSY
Fight Starts When Bill Is Rec
commended for Passage.
Nick Childs Calls CO1Ored La
dies to the Rescue.

Topeka's colorcd population inter-
ested in legislation, is running in a
circle. The house has recommended
for passage a bill which will segregate
the coiored school children in cities OF
the second class. Following the rec
concentration on the bill, the colored
patriots invaded the lower branch OF
the state legislature and have started
one of the warmest little fights car
ried to the lawmakers during the press
ent session.
Representative Sparks, of Galenss
offered the bill which started all the
heated agitation among the negroes
In fact, Sparks came to the Legislators
with the bill specially and specifically
in mind. The measure is not an idle
pastime with the south Cherokee
| county members. 1t is close to his
heart and he proposes to fight 1t thru
the legislature whether a few thou
sand colored voters like it's provisions
| or not
| Somehow the Sparks bill slipped
thru the committee of the whole house
without anyone seeing 1t. This MORN
ing the bill appeared at the foot or the
calendar under third reading and was
recommended for passage. Right
there the colored lobby got busy.
Negroes Pour in Fast
State legislatures are accustomed To
the spectacle of concern in the labor
lobby, in the corporation circles ana
among temperance and welfare auvo-
/ Gates But the colored invaders TO-DAY
lset a new standard for organized
third house members to work by.
I Nicodemus. Childs, colored editor ana
tpubIisher, spotted the bill. He put IN
twenty minutes with a telephone Ten
fha
| was headed toward the state house on
4 foot, in street cars or jitney buses.
| Someone talked to Representative
Finney of Sumner county about the
bill. F'inney made the move that
gave the negroes first blood in the
fight. When the bill was called up
for passage on third reading, Finney
moved to re-refer the bill 10 the COM
mittee of the whole house. Sparks
wasn't looking for such move ana
the play rather took his breath away
Before he could organize fight or
relieve himself of such feelings as ne
possessed, F'inney had won his point
and the bill went back for further
consideration.
Bill Comes Right Back.
Sparks bill didn't stay buried long.
Walter A. Layton of Osborne, speak
er pro tenn, came to the Galena mans
rescue and the bill was called up
when the house went into COMMITTEES
of the whole Frank l.. Martin of
Reno joined Layton in the fight for
the bill. So did Sparks of Crawford,
Watkins of Montgomery and others
For thirty minutes the house saw a
right lively tilt. Allen of Wyandotte.
with az large co1ored constituency and
segregated schools, Joined Stone OF
Shawnee in protesting against the bill.
Allen spoke most feelingly against the
bill. His seat mate, Jones of Usage,
! oil he
house that the legislature had wan
dered considerable distance from the
John Brown spirit. But it did no
good. The house put the, bill back
on the calendar under third reading.
1t will come up for passage, without
amendment or debate, during the
Thursday consideration of bills.
People Want Law.
II came here pledged to work for
this bill' declared the rather wrathy
and much concerned Mr.. Sparks. MY
people in Galena want it. In fact,
the bill was agreed upon by both
white and colored leaders in my town.
Grant Waggener, who was in the
house two years ago, was beaten be-
cause he wouldn't introduce this bill
two years ago. j was in New Mexico
during the campaign and was elected
on this platform. So you know how
my people feel about it The colored
people are unduly excited. That's
ALL"
But the colored lobby is quite conf
dent that it doesn't want the bill.
| why all the rights and, privileges
and liberties afforded school children
of colored families are destroyed I'M
der that BILL" said the alarmed and
very active Nicodemus Childs. We
simply don't want that bill passed and
colored ladies who are interested in
such matters get here Then there