The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-05
TOPEKA'S "BIT"

darkness and danger and discomfort
of the task confronting them with the
light and sunshine and happiness that
freedom and democracy of the whole
world will bring. which is the avowed
purpose of the monstrous struggle in
TO which they are entering
The registration board consisting of
DR.. X. L. Clark. city physician: Miss
Eta Covell city clerk. and j. E. Will
son. chief of police, did good job in
selecting clerks and registrars. Two
schools of instruction held saturday
afternoon at the city hall had given
the clerks and registrars sufficient
knowledge to make it possible for
them to register the young men with
out trouble.
No criticism of the draft. the
clerks and registrars, was heard on any
side Little apprehension had been
voiced by city officials and while
special squad of police were ready at
all hours to rush to any scene of trou-
BILE, as each hour passed the hkeh-
hood of trouble became more and
more remote.
Ready to Parade
As the day wore on, the sight OF
gaily decorated automobiles racing on
the streets and avenue bedecked for
the monstrous parade in the after
noon. the sounds of instrumental mu-
sic, Topeka musicians preparing Tor
the celebration, the sights OF house
ing flags and draperies of America
the tri-color of France and the Union
Jack of Great Britain aided in drlV-
ing away the dread of draft day. hlnd
hearted neighbors' began to think OIL
the clerks and registrars WORKING
without pay and many prepared sand
witches and coffee and pies and other
delicacies which they took to the reg
istration places.
True. hardly a man who registered
but realized should he be one
of the $4,000 chosen for the first
army that some loved one or some
cherished ambition would suffer But
American optimism won and those
fears and apprehensions went into the
discard along with deuces and trays
and black cards that d1un lllaIoii
with red flushes.
Business Houses Close.
At noon Topeka's business stopped
and the entire city turned out to do
homage to the young manhood OF the
city shortly after dinner, policemen
began pacing Kansas avenue as a tlrst
warning for the clearance OF me
streets for the biggest parade IN the
citv's history scheduled for 1;4o
o'clock. +.
twenty thousand were scheduled 70
march in the parade and miles OF
vailv bedecked automobiles, mlitary'
fraternal. semi military and social or
gantZatOnS were ~ SeASNSAA
Kansas avenue.
Speaking on Streets.
rollovine the parade at 5 o'clock
and continuing until o'clock promi-
nent Topekans will speak at street
corners. each speaker to talk ten min
utes. They will go in pairs. Patrlot-
ism will be the keynote of their al
dresses while some will discuss the
draft. pointing out to the citizens that
the draft is all that saved Great Brit
ain and France and that in Switzer-
land and France, the two greatest de-
nocracies in the world. the draft is
an established and uncriticised insti-
tuition.
Speeches will be delivered at Cor
don street and Kansas avenue; at the
Rock Island station; the Throop no
tel: Sixth street and Kansas avenue
Seventh street and Kansas avenue
Eighth street and Kansas avenue; the
Navy league headquarters, 921 Kan
sas avenue.
Retreat at Shutdown.
At surdown. Topekans will enjoy
retreat with the firing of guns en- the
state house ground. Battery A. II
charge of Adjt. c. I. Martin and staff
will lower the flag and fire the guns
That will be followed by patriotic
songs and more speeches on the stat,
house grounds.
Thirty-two had registered at tn,
Second precinct Of the Sixth ward b!
$3.50 O'CLOCK rive men ndd Tan1l1e
and claimed exemption. The precinc
is at I401 West Sixth.
Many Register Early.
In the First precinct of the Thir,
ward seven Topekans were waiting L
register this morning when the clerk
arrived at O'Clock. By $50 o'clocl
twenty-eight had registered and severa
were in line waiting Not one of tn
twenty-eight claimed exemption.
Forty men had registered at tn
Second precinct of the Fifth ward a
9 o'clock. This number is eXcessiv
of the usual number that votes by thi
hour in the precinct and numbe
of other precincts Five men were i
line waiting as the last of the fort
registered. Four of the forty claime
exemption. Three had a wife an
children and one had the rheun1a tisn
The registering was not without It
.rlittarirr. ideliof1ts Rv 9 O'clock thi