The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-23

canism"
In the movement for nationwide
uniformity of laws. the secretaries of
state propose some step that will make
life a little hard and the road to sue
cess a little rougher for motor car
thieves All manner of plans have
been suggested. But the method of
placing the burden on the car owner
is the latest step. Thousands of regis
tered cars, it was asserted, give no en-
gine numbers. If a man buys such
car, the secretaries of state propose a
law which will place the burden on the
shoulders Of the purchaser
President Reed of West Virginia
and ]. T. BOtkin, Kansas secretary of
state, advanced the plan during to-
days conference. The legislatures of
all states should unite in making pos
session of such cars prima facie evil
dence that they are stolen property"
said President Reed. IF a mans car
does not show an engine number
there is just reason to believe he owns
property which came into some ones
possession thru illegal methods"
Committees Work ON Program.
A committee representing the ma
uonal organization of secretaries of
state will suggest a program for uni
formity of state laws as affecting re-
cordlng of instruments, admission of
corporations, elections, marriages,
automobile registration and other
subjects.
Washington, D. c., today won the
/ 1918 convention when Ulcers attend
ing the convention in Topeka voted
eight to four to go to the national cap
/ ital. Denver, st. Louis and San. Fran
cisco also asked for next years meet
I ing. st. Louis withdrew in favor of
Denver and San Francisco entered the
! fight thru written request for the
( next convention.
/ A. P. Langtry, secretary of state of
Z Massachusetts,, was named as preSi-
/ dent of the association. William D.
Fulton of Ohio, was elected secretary
treasurer; and w. A. Allen of Iowa,
was named as vice president.
+ Watson Speaks Tonight.
Senator James E. Watson, of In
diana. is the feature attraction at
todaay's sessions of the organ
ization. In a public meeting at the
auditorium tonight. Senator Watson
will deliver a patriotic address on
I t-Americanism. While the Secretar-
les of state will remain in session Wed
nesday the big Watson meeting to-
night will practically conclude the ac-
tive sessions of the organization.
The Watson meeting tonight is ex-
pected to draw an enormous crowd.
Many out of town men and women
will come to Topeka on early eve
ming trains in order to hear the speech
While Senator Watson came to To-
peka today as the principal speaker
before the secretaries of state, he
readily consented to a public meet
ing. His speech tonight will deal al
most entirely with war issues and the
duty and responsibility of American
citizenship in the world crisis.
Watson Well Known Here.
On several former occasions Sena-
tor Watson has visited Kansas. Twice
he was guest of the Kansas Day
club, the official Republican organiza-
ton of the state. In several political
campaigns Senator Watson has beer
sent into the state by the national
/; committee. His speech tonight, how
, ever will be strictly non-partisan.
Sessions of the secretaries of state
Monday afternoon were largely -infor-
NAL. Practically the entire conven-
ton is being given over to a discus
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