davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
White Blanket Over kanssyl
VIII Be Heavier Tonight.
No Extremely Cold Weather L
In Sight, Now, Flora Says.

Temperatures today averaged 3 de-
grees below normal. The wind is
blowing al the rate of 0 miles an hour
from the southeast.
The first real snow of this winter
fell here Sunday night and today. Re-
ports to the local weather bureau in
dictate that the storm was general
over Kansas, and the fall was about
the same in all parts of the state.
The fall continued internationally thru
out today and is expected to continue
tonight and tomorrow. Temperatures
were above normal here today and no
cold weather is expected according to
the forecast which calls for snow to-
night and Tuesday; no decided change
in temperature.
A low pressure area in the south is
responsible for the moderate tenn
peratures and the storm. Extremely
cold weather prevails today in the
northwestern part of the United
States and along the entire Canadian
boundary, and in case the low
moves farther south Kansas will re-
ceive a cold wave. The mercury was
down to 50 below zero at Moorehead,
Mimi, this morning.
The shippers forecast reads to pro-
tect 36-hour shipments north and
west against temperatures of to 10
degrees; east 10 to Is: south, 1 5 de-
CONTINUED on Page Two1
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
Wells COnfesses Murder, Pleads
Self Defense.
Insanity Perhaps-s'Imagined"
She Had a Razor.
KILLED HER and WALKED AWAY
Tainted Him With SneerS
About Her Own Disgrace.
Kansas City Mans Mother
Rushes to Help Defend Him.

Columbus O.. Jan. 15.-Weldon
Wells, the Kansas City brokers' clerk,
today entered a formal plea of not
guilty to charge of first degree muir
der in connection with the murder in
a hotel here last week of Mona Simon,
and was bound over to the grand
jury without bond.
Police officers announced that in
view of Wells's full confession last
night, they believe he is getting ready
to throw himself on the mercy of the
court when his case comes to trial.
Close watch is being kept on Wells,
as it is feared he may attempt suicide
A Fallen Woman's Revenge.
Columbus. O., Jan. 15.-An outcast
of society, wandering the streets
homeless, Mona Simon, IS, once re-
sought revenge on the class of men
she blamed for her disgrace and
spread a social scourge.
Then she laughed and sneered at
her victim, tainted him and inquired.
What are you going to do about it?''
Her death by murder at the Deshler
hotel last Thursday night was the an
Confesses to Police.
Weldon H. Wells, %, of Kansas City,
confessed to the murder, police say.
Immediately after being brought to the
city prison last night from Hunting
ton. Ind.
Il noticed that something was the
matter with her and she told me she
was a social victim said Wells.
Il was crazy, raved and was out OF
my head for minute. I was worried
and scared to death. I cursed her.
She laughed and sneered and said
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
StubbOrnneSS of Kansas Com
mission Most Costly.
Topeka Could Have Enjoyed
Lower Rates Weeks Ago.
DOHERTY OFFERED 32-CT RATE
But Bristow Body Still Insists
on ascent Order.
November and December Bills
Could Be Reduced.

Peanut politics by the Kansas pub
lie utilities commission is expensive. It
is costing gas consumers thousands of
dollars month. November and De-
cember gas bills were g cents a thou
sand feet higher than would have been
charged had the state commission ac-
cepted an offer by the Doherty inter-
ests. Before leaving for Washington,
Robert Stone of Topeka, an attorney
in the gas case. declared Doherty had
offered to furnish gas for 80 cents
instead of so cents. But the commits
sion insisted on IS cents Now the
public will pay the extra 18 cents
dious litigation.
More than a year ago J. L. Bristow
and the ommission-eXcept Judge
Foley. Democrat-safd that % cents
was sufficient gas rate. Judge Fo-
ley, however, wrote a dissenting opin-
ion. But neither opinion seemed to
provide much relief to the public.
The gas case was freely discussed in
the political campaign, but the public
received neither gas nor lower rates.
Then the Kansas Natural prepared to
sell to the Doherty interests.
Doherty Baked.
VI lIle SldlC COMMISSION
heralded a 28-cent rate. But Mr. Do
herty came to Kansas and refused to
accept the 2S-cent order. After a con-
ference with his attorneys, however,
he offered to provide an adequate sup
ply of gas for Kansas consumers at 80
cents thousand feet. Bristow and
the commission refused to accept the
offer. They demanded 2S cents or
nothing. After the conference Mr..
Doherty went home. The rate re-
manned at so cents-l,.S cents more
than the offer made D = the gas cbm-
pany in seeking a compromise of the
case.
Bills for the last two months have
meant an increase of thousands of
dollars in gas cost above the amount
which would have been charged under
the present truce in the gas contro-
versy- Under the present rate, gas
consumers in Topeka pay SO cents i
thousand feet for the first 5000 feet
of gas More than rs per cent of the
consumers in Topeka use less than
5000 feet of gas a month and are
affected by the straight 50-cent rate.
The present rate for more than 5000
cubic feet of gas a month is 35 cents
Doherty would have been so cents for
the first 1000 feet, with a straight 81
cent rate for all gas in excess of 1 900
feet.
Made in Good Faith.
81 made the proposition to Bristow
and the commission as an attorney for
the. Doherty interests said Robert
Stone of Topeka, member of the state
legislature and speaker of the 1915
house of representatives. The offer
Continued on Page TWo1
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
Famous Prohibition Organiza-
ton May Dissolve This Week.
Its Labors Are Finished, Many
Members Believe.
BIG FACTOR IN DRY FIGHT
This Weeks Annual Meeting
May Be Its Last One.
The Legislature Is Expected to
Make State "BOne Dry"

The dissolution of the Kansas State
Temperance Union-a 'bulwark in
the fight for the expulsion of liquor
from Kansas for more than fifty years
may take place at the fifty-second
annual meeting which opens tomorrow
afternoon at the First Baptist church.
Should the eighty-six delegates to the
meeting decide that with the Stone
bill giving every evidence OF passing
the present legislature marks the vir-
tual end of the prohibition fight in
Kansas the union may be dissolved.
Should the problems of enforcement
still be deemed pressing it will con-
tinue its organization
Another proposition is also W. be-
fore the convention. The Kansas
branch of the Anti-Saloon Lea que of
America, founded in Lawrence Decem-
Der 4, 1916, is asking for cooperative
merger of some sort to be formed be-
tween the two organizations. The
committees from both will confer and
the propositions will be placed before
the delegates to the Temperance union
Wednesday morning.
Organization Founded i'm 1866.
The Kansas State Temperance so-'
ciety was formed in Lawrence in 1856
with the Rev. John d. Fisher its first
president. In 1879 the name of the
organization was changed to the KAN
SaS state temperance Union with John
p. st. John president. The prohibi-.
ton bill of 1881 was to large extent
an accomplishment of the organization
and the president, st. John. was elect
ed the first prohibition governor of
Kansas. The strengthening measures
to the original prohibition amendment
such as the HurreH seizure bill, the
1903 act which stopped the drug store
sale of intoxicants. the Mahin law of
1913 and the so-called 'inquisition
law" owe their existence TO the deter
mined efforts of the society. Turnout
hts existence it has insisted on strict
enfore ement of the dry laws and
large credit for the excellence of en-
forcement goes to the union.
Among the prominent speakers on
the program for the annual meeting
here are:
President ]. f. Harmon, president
CT Kansas Wesleyan college at Sa-
lima. PURIFY f. Baker. superintendent
of the Anti-Saloon League of Amer.
lea! Ex-Governor Hoch of Marion: w.
II. Cowles, Mrs. Lillian sMitchner,
president of the Kansas VIC. r. u;
Governor Capper. Mrs. Mary Sibbitt of
Wichita, and j. Hayden Kerschner,
also of Wichita The opening session
will be held Tuesday afternoon at 8
o'clock IN the Baptist church and the
annual meeting will close Wednesday
evening.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
FREE TEXT BOOKS!
ID. A. n. Chase Wants State to
Furnish Them to All Children.
Cost To Be Provided by the
Regular School Levy.

Free text books in the public schools
of Kansas is provided in a bill in the
house this afternoon by d. A. n. Chase,
representative from Linn county. The
Chase bill provides for school district
ownership of all books, publication to
be at the state printing plant.
Governor Cappers message to the
legislature advocated a law providing
for free school text books in Kansas,
The Chase bill is expected to receive
the administration endorsement when
it is later called up for consideration
in the two branches of the state Iegis-
lature.
All books necessary for use in the
public schools of the state. will be pub
lished at state. expense at the big state
printing plant in Topeka, Chase pro-
vides.
Make Districts Buy.
The bill also makes mandatory the
purchase by individual school districts
OF sufficient number of books TO
meet the demands of the district
These looks are to be the property of
the school district and must be raid
for from the regular school levy.
Books, however. will be provided with
out cost to the children or their par-
ents. the title to the books to remain
in the school district.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15

East Orange, N. J., Jan. 15.-Mrs.
Anna Schofield just chuckled and
chuckled today when asked to ex-
plain her statement that you can al
ways tell a married mai by his ac-
tons" Then she explained.
Mrs Schofield is the East Orange
mother-in-law who just naturally
knew her daughters husband had an
other wife slowed away somewhere.
She suspected that of Captain
Selwyn Joyce, of Boer war fame.
from the first; and after he married
her daughter Dorothy, Mother Scho-
field pooh-poohed his claim to bachel-
orhood and shifted out his other mar
riage record in far off New Zealand.
Dorothy's marriage now stands an
nulled and wife number one is waiting
her divorce suit to jell, all due to
Mother Schofield's eagle eye for bene-
diets. You can see in their faces
she said. 1T sticks out all over them.
Prevaricator, Like All of EN-.
Marriage brands a man as plain
as a hot iron on a cows hip. l saw
wife written on the slick Mr.. Joyce
He was too considerable around the
house to be 39-year-old bachelor.
Like all average married men, he
was an artistic liar in a small way,
ABOUT Things wives ike TO be Hed TO
about. AS to his further accomplish
ments in this respect 1 say nothing,
but that he could praise coffee that
everybody knew was vile in such a
way that it tasted good.
What old bachelor would take the
trouble to do that even if he could !?
Only married man would do it."
He'd Taken Poison!
Some of his oily sweetness might
have been explained if he had been
living at home with women folks who
had trained him bit, but a man does
not get polished up for domestic use
as a soldier of fortune.
81 kept quiet about my suspicious
until one day he and Dorothy We're
fighting. He fought like a married
man. He knew when to talk and when
to shut up.
:" 'Selwyn,' said I, interrupting them,
I wouldn't be surprised if you have
been married before
You can't prove it, says he. get
ting red and turning round real quick
l told him Id just show him, which l
did
Not long after we got the goods
on him he came in with an empty poll
son bottle and said he had swallowed
poison and was going to die and would
we shake hands and tell him good
bye
I'VE said we'd be glad to if really
he had taken the poison. But when
they used the stomach pump on him
at the hospital it was as we suspected.
They did not find anything but free
lunch.
You can tell married man every
time. They show where the harness
has rubbed"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
King of Bavaria Throws Down Gaunt-
let to Entente Allies

Amsterdam, Jan 15.-Lively appre-
citation of the kaiser's defiance to the
allies and acquiescence in his declara-
ton that the entente's refusal of peace
shows their "boundless lust of con-
quest was expressed in a MESA ge
from the king of Bavaria to Kaiser
Wilhelm today, according to Munich
dispatches.
In part the kings message read:
THE strong words expressing indig-
nation over our enemy's arrogant reply
find lively echo in all our hearts. All
the German people share your iron
will to break our enemy's presumption
the enemy whose war aims disclose
their boundless lust of conquest and
desire for our destruction.
The self-sacrificing heroism of the
troops of the empire and of the people
will henceforth defy all attacks and
lead to victory May God continue with
our Just cause.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
Ostlind Thinks It's a Wonder
They Ever Want to Leave.
Mcpherson Senator Opposed to
Amy Further improvements.
men EVEN GET VACATIONS!
Most of Them Better OFF Than
Before 'sGoing Up"
Prof. Blackmar'S Recommends
lions Make Senator Sick.

I'm sick" said John Ostlind, repre-
sentative from Mcpherson county. who
drifted over into the senate chamber
today.
whats the matter, John, the
grippe?" asked two or three senators
in chorus.
Nav replied John, tits nothing
like that I've just Keen reading and
listening to some of this snake-1octor
stuff about modern penitentiary-
some of Professor Blackmar's stuff,
and it makes me sick"
John Ostlind has been in the house
three or four sessions and knows what
to expect in the way of proposed leg
isla ton. He is fairly well hardened
to legislative exposure, consequently
there was instant interest in the sub
ject that had brought about his indis-
position or diStemper.
II gather from what I've been read
ing and hearing that they want to fix
up things over at the penitentiary so
the poor man who is sent there by a
Judge and jury will congratulate him
self" continued the man from Nc
Pherson.
Prisoners Have a Good Time.
Il have been over at the peniten-
tiary on several occasions and have
spent some time investigating. I have
eaten the food the prisoners eat, ]
have tasted it and smelled it. I have
been in their cells and on their hunks
/ have been around them when they
were at work and when they were al
play. Taken all around they have a
mighty good time considering they
have violated the rules of society and
| the law of the land.
II can go out in my own county and
find dozens of men who have never
| broken Notwithstanding. honest
| men with fan1iiies-who1 have a hard
er time day in and day out than those
prisoners. They work from dawn I'M
til night and have nothing to show for
it. The living conditions around them
are not as good as those surrounding
the prisoners at the penitentiary
their daily food is no better and of nc
greater variety.
II don't want to see any prisoner
die of neglect, but believe me, they
are not going to do that at the Kansas
Continued on Page Two.I
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
AUTO DEALERS HERE.
Meeting of Newly Organized Trade
Association of Kansas.

The meeting of the state automo-
bile dealers association, scheduled to
begin at the rooms of the Chamber of
Commerce today, was delayed, by the
on-arrival of many of the members
of the association.
The preliminary meeting is being
held this afternoon, and it is planned
to have still another meeting this
evening.
The automobile men plan to better
their financial condition by lobbying
for a bill. drawn by Senator Paul kim
ball of Parsons, to modernize the old
lien law to protect the dealers from
deadbeat customers, and may also ask
the manufacturers of cars to extend
credit to the dealers, who at present
are required to pay cash for their
cars, which are usually sold on time
In the past month large number
of branch organizations have been
started in all parts of the state.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
RAID HOMES OF SUFFS
Mrs Panl1hurst's Lieutenants Are Vic
tims-Seize Publication.

London. Jan. 15.-The printing
plant and the headquarters of the
Woman's Social and Political union,
as well as the homes of several of Mrs.
Pankhurst's heutenants in widely
separated sections of London were
simultaneously raided yesterday by
the police and military authorities,
acting under the defense of the
realm act. The suffrage publication
Britannia and two taxicabs full of
documents were confiscated
Britannia has been criticising the
government, protesting that there
were in reality two governmentS-one
of Premier Lloyd-George and the peo-
pie who wanted to win the war, and
the other a remnant of the late gov
ernment. which favored a peace COM
promise.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
DEWEY IS DYING
Can't Live Another SO Hours
Say His Physicians.
Hero of Manila Bay Uncon-
scious at Washington Home.

Washington, Jan. 15.-Admiral
Dewey is dying at his home here. Late
this afternoon he was unconscious and
his physicians said his chances for
living another thirty-six hours were
remote A general break down with
arteriaI sclerosis was given as the
cause.
Washington, JAN 15.-Admira1
Dewey, hero of Manila bay, who has
been confined to his home here for the
la st five days by a general breakdown
was reported as SLOWLY sinking by
his doctors at o'clock this afternoon.
Washington. Jan. 15-Admiral
Dewey's condition was such this morn
ing that his doctors said he was very
weak and it was feared his once great
vitality might fail at any time.
In a bulletin issued this morning by
DR.. A. NJ. Fauntleroy, U. S. N, the
senior surgeon in charge of the adj
miraPs case, and DIR. Luther Sheldon,
ir.. U. s. NJ, who is associated with
him. the admiraTs condition was stat
ed as follows
Admiral Dewey has been suffering
for the last five days from a general
breakdown consequent upon his so
years of age For several days there
appeared as If he might rally and sue
coed in overcoming the depression of
certain organs.
Last nieht the admiral slept fairly
well. At times he was irrational and
showed evidences of a gradual de-
cline.
This morning he is very weak and
his general condition is such as to fear
that his once great vitality may fail at
any time
The admiral IS being treated at his
home.
Dewey Classmate Dead.
Washington, Jan. 15.-Rear Admir-
al Allen v. Reed, retired classmate OF
Admiral Dewey at the naval academy,
died suddenly of heart trouble at his
home here last night, aged 70 years.
Admiral Reed retired in 1896. after
more than forty years service. during
which he performed blockading duty
in the Gulf of Mexico the first years
of the Civil war and later commanded
the Pawtuxent in the blockading
squadron in the attacks on Fort
Fischer. In 1873 Admiral Reed COM
manded the Kansas and conveyed the
American steamer Virginius out of
Colon harbor under the guns of the
Spanish warship. Bazan. whose COM
mander had announced his intention of
opposing her departure and her con-
tinuance of carrying men and arms to
Cuba
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
TCHICAGO CHURCH
Six Persons in Nearby Building Hurt
When Bomb Exploded.

Chicago, Jan. ia dynamite
bomb which was exploded in st.
Louis's French Roman Catholic
church here injured six persons and
caused $50, 900 damage
The blast destroyed all the stained
glass windows in the church an
caused great damage to the interior.
Six persons dwelling in an adjacent
building were blown out of bed and
cut by flying glass and the suburbs for
miles around were rocked by the ex-
p1osion-
The police are searching for man
who was found smoking a cigar ut
the altar aweek ago and ordered from
the church
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
NEW SMALLPOX CASE
Another Woman on Van Buren, Street
Has Symptoms of Disease.

A possibility that several cases of
smallpox may develop at the lower end
of Van Buren, street was confronted
this morning. A woman was found
there some days ago by the city health.
department, sick and penniless. Sew
eral neighbors had kindly assisted her,
bringing in sick room delicacies, and
sitting up with her.
Now one of the visitors is i'll, and
smallpox is suspected in the case of
the sick woman. The health depart
ment is looking up the other persons
known to have visited the sick womau.
with view to determining whether
they too have SYMPHONIC of the disease.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
SIGHTED DEUTSCHLAND
British F'reienter Saw Peaceful u
Boat on High Sea.

New York, Jan. 15.-News that an
unidentified submarine was moving
westward in the Atlantic as late as last
Thursday morning was brought to port
here today by the British freight
steamship Clematis in from Bordeaux
France Persons on the freighter
thought the undersea boat might be
the German submarine merchantmen
Deutschland on a third ocean voyage
to America The submarine made no
Move TO attack the Ctematis, which at
the time was approximately 800 miles
northeast OF Newport R.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
Get MORE SNOW|Co0DS ON HUBBY
Easy to Tell Married Man, Says
.e.z2s MOther-in-LaW.
So Now Marriage Is AnnuIled
and No. 1 Seeks Divorce.
How to Tell Married Men

1T shows in their faces.
"They are considerable around the
house.
.They are artistic liars about things
wives like to be lied to about
IF they say something nice about
other women they say something nicer
about their wife.
"A woman's tears don't bother them.
During family tiff they know
when to talk and when to keep STILL"
Mrs. Anna Schofield
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
PRESS CLUB DINNER
FATTY Lewis ard Other Attractions
at Pelleticr's Tea Room Tonight

Fatty" Lewis of Kansas City will
be the pricipal drawing card at the
FresS cup dlnner at Pelletier's tea
room tonight.
In addition skit will be staged bv
p1nky'' Wingart of the Associated
Press. The Rev. Edmund ]. KulD will
speak on ''Scooping the Devil" and a
Few words are expected from wild
BIZ kercher on Neck Yokes the
Constitution and Taft" The dinner
will begin at $50 o'clock.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
JAP WARSHIP SUNK
Internal Explosion Cause-3OO Men
Killed and Wounded.

Toxic, Jan. 15.-Three hundred
killed and wounded was the estimate
made by officials today of the CASUAL
ties which resulted when the Japanese
battleship Tsukuba was sunk by an
explosion in Yokosuka harbor. About
half of these were killed.
An investigation of the cause of
the explosion is proceeding
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
send Socialist to Prison.

Zurich, Jan. t5.-Carl Leibknecht,
German Socialist leader. has been sem
fenced to four and half years inn.
prisonment at hard labor and expuI-
sion from the bar. according to Berlin
adyices today.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15

THOSE tracks YOU saw in the snow
this morning were signs of the
legislators coming back
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15

WEATHER FORECAST for Kansas:
Snow tonight and Tuesday; no
decided change in temperature.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
KAISER Def

Continued on Page Two.)