The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-28
LITTLE STIRS UP
AH0RNETS' NEST
IN topeka CLUB
Kelley Declares Letter Cues
tiOnS Patriotism of Kansans.
Congressman Acknowledged
Resolutions With Questions.
81 HIIIU TRIVTn> nInIIT nlnV
81. WILL" TALKED RIGHT BACK
Says Members Chamber OF
Commerce VIII Go to War.
State, He Says, viii Send More
Than Share to Front.

Congressman L. c. Little of the First
district stirred up hornets nest when
he made the following reply to the
resolutions adopted by the Chamber
of Commerce at the Henry L. Stimson
dinner. April 10:
~. WIZ Kelley,
Topeka. Kansas.
My Dear Kelley: l was interested in
the resolutions you wired me sometime
ago. How many of your members are
liable for conscription? How many of
them are going TO volunteer? ! wish You
would drop me n line about this as the
matter comes up next week.
Very truly Yours.
Kelley in answering Little's letter
declares his questions cast aspersions
on the patriotism of Topeka men and
thru them question the patriotism Of
Kansas men. Kelley's reply follows:
Your letter in which You submit the
Questions-'How many OF your members
Hre liable for conscrirtlon How many
OF them are. going te volunteer: would
seem 10 imply that YOU may question the
Patriotism of Topeka men aud thru them
question the patriotism of Kansas men
however, in order that you may be fully
advised on the particular points about
which you inquire. l might say that quite
r number of our members, the exact num-
hey | cannot tell you, would come Within
the age of CONSUMPTION and might say
further that number of these young men
resolution was adopted and voted for its
adoption, but more than that, number
of fathers were here whose boys are
amenable to service under conscription
and l am of the opinion that any true
father would willingly go to war if he
could thereby save his boys from going
and / believe it takes as high an order
of patriotism for father to subscribe to
the doctrine of CONSUMPTION which will
mean the taking of his boys, as it would
if the CONSUMPTION would mean the tax
ing Of himself-as matter of fact, |
think 1t takes more patriotism because
there are few fathers who would not glad
Of their boys if that would be sufficient
and the meeting at which this resolution
was adopted, was attended by fathers and
mothers. as well as young men who will
adopted and out of an audience of 800 to
$50 people. | think less than ten people did
not vote for this resolution.
In answer to your second question as
10 How many of our members are going
to volunteer | am unable to give you any
definite information. The volunteer army
regular army. but | think your question is
mighty unfair to Kansas men. Past his
tory has proven that Kansas men have re
spOnded to the call OF their nation as
patrioticaIly as any other section of the
country and if the volunteer system should
be adopted, Kansas will more than send
her quota to the ranks and Topeka Will
contribute her full share.
Your question, tho attempting to stig-
Matte the loyalty of Kansas men, is hard
" worthy of your high position and does
in no way get to the root of the question
now pending before congress.
'Conscrfption means a scientific arrange
meut of men in all the avenues that are
necessary for the nations defense-it does
not alone mean the men who will have to
go to the front, but it means the placing
Of men in those positions of the nations
defense where their particular fitness au1
ability give them the opportunity to give
the greatest service to their county-it