The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-09
Members Industrial Organiza-
ton to Join With the EIks.
1000 Men Will Be in. MenOken
Fields Tomorrow.
ANDERSON ANNOUNCES PLANS
All Workers Urged to Take
Tools With Them.
Chamber of Commerce Into the
MenOken District Monday.

Topeka capital and labor clad in
overalls, blue chambray shirts and
cotton gloves will join hands Sunday
in aiding farmers in the devastated
Menoken tornado district in clearing
Debris and rubbish from their lands
in order that sufferers from Tues
days disaster may replant their crops
and harvest those not destroyed Jo-
seph DeGroff, president of the Topeka
Industrial Council, today notified w.
Q. Anderson, exalted ruler of the
Elks' club, that he had issued a call
for all members of Topeka labor
unions to meet at the Elks' clubhouse
Seventh and Jackson streets, Sunday
morning at o'clock to accompany
the Elks and their friends into the
storm territory. DeGroff estimated
that he can place 500 men in the field.
Anderson announced on behalf of
the Elks that members of that body
and volunteer friends, 500 strong, will
place a total of 1000 men at work in
the devastated territory tomorrow.
Carpenters Are Needed.
DeGroff. in making the call today,
urged that members of the building
trades especially respond and bring
their tools. Carpenters are needed in
the district badly Laborers Should
bring spades and shoveis.
McGroff also urged that printers,
BARRIERS and other union trades that
are similar turn out The most of the
work will be common labor, it was
pointed out, and the union members
will be able to do their bit.
Both the labor union men and the
EIks and their volunteers will meet at
the Elks club and go into the territory
together. Anderson declared today
that all who volunteer to accompany
the relief expedition" regardless of
whether or not they belong to the Elks
or the Industrial council, will be taken
care of and will be furnished convey
ances to farms upon which they will
be put to work # they will report at
the meeting place at the specified
time. The Elks ruler today, following
a flood of communications from per-
sons wishing to volunteer for the re-
lief work, issued a call for automo-
bileS and moter trucks to be used in
carrying the Topekans to Menoken,
Elmont and other places where the
tornado struck.
1--WE will need every car that can
be brought to the meeting place,
Anderson said. "A thousand or more
men will be there and must be hauled
to the scene of the disaster"
Call for Motor Trucks.
Motor trucks especially are needed IN
hauling the men, Anderson said to-
day that he would use all his convey
ances in hauling men. He urged other
employers to do the same if possible.
The commission man also said he ex-
pected to take about fifteen of his
employees with him into the field.
Every man going into the district to
work should be equipped with heavy
boots and working clothes Elks. I'M
ion men and volunteers should take
their own luncheons, and see to it
that they are large enough to satisfy
a man-sized appetite.
The Elks, it was announced today
bv Anderson, will stay in the field all
day Sunday and many of them will
return Monday with the Chamber of
Commerce, the Rotary club and the
Cooperative club. Several memte r
of the Cooperative club, of which
Menoken district today aiding the
farmers in clearing their land.
Do Work Systematically.
Anderson declared that by Sunday
morning the plans would be so organ
lied as to place groups on each farm
and do the work Systematically and
without confusion. Estimated, at
least 1000 ToLekans will have been
in the tornado district helping farmers
clear their land by Monday evening
Chamber of Commerce Plan.
John S. Dean, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, announced
after luncheon today at the club that
his organization would attempt to
place at least 500 men in the field
Monday. H. w. McAfee, county com
missioner in charge of placing the
volunteers, declared he would send the
Chamber of Commerce contingent to
Menoken.
Dean issued a call for volunteer
workers Hundreds are needed to aid
the farmers in the devastated district,
he asserted. Volunteers who wish to
all to the fields. The Chamber of
Corouoerce should report Monday
morning at o'clock at Seventh and
Quincy streets. Dean asserted that
sufficient cars will be there TO take
all to the fields. The CHAMBER OF
Commerce also appealed to Topekans
10 lend the use of their moter cars
and trucks to haul the workers.
Those going to Menoken under au-
spices of the club should report In
working clothes and should bring
their own luncheons. A few tools in
the shape of axes and spades are also
Men There Today.
The Chamber of Commerce today
began pouring men inta the devastated
area Among the contingents were
nineteen men from the Santa Fe en-
gineering department who volunteer
ed to utilize their halliday off today in
helping the farmers. Bert Overton
Communicated motor cars to haul
them.
Mail clerks in the Topeka postoffice
will have volunteered their service for
! Sunday McAfee will send them to
Bishop. The Rotary club. which has
volunteered its services Monday will be
sent to Bishop and will work between
4 that place and the river and south
Henry Bennett today issued call
for volunteers to go with the Rotar-
ians. We want every man who can