The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-09
Old Timers Celebration in To-
peka Late This Winter.
1t Was Planned by C. HI. Chan
der Before Death.
INVITE FORMER GOVERNORS
Bailey, Hoch, Stubs, Hodges
May Be in City.
Recall Famous Incidents in the
Original Building.

| An old timers celebration may be
| held late this winter to inaugurate
! the opening of the new east wing OF
| the state house. The celebration was
planned by the late Charles H. Chand-
Ter, state architect. Since Chambers
death, tho, the matter was dropped
Now it is being revived by several
officials and there is a real probable
ity that the reunion of the state vet
Grams will be called.
Under the plans which Chandler
had in mind, the veteran state off
Gals and appointees would be invited
to Topeka to help celebrate the open
ing of the new east wing Represen-
| tative McDougall of Sumner county.
! the loyal and tireless Scot who fought
thru the appropriation bill for the new
wing, would be one of the real celebri-
ties at the celebration. Men who held
state offices in the old DAYS would he
among the men who would come to
Topeka for the big gathering.
Former Governors Coming
State wide interest would center in
| the big show. All of the former gov
ernors-Leedy, Bailey, Hoch, Stubbs
and Hodges-would be invited. All
except Leedy. who is in Canada, would
doubtless attend the opening ceremo-
held office in the old wing before the
present state house was completed
would be invited.
In the old days when the ancient
east wing was the state capitol build
ing in truth and in entirety. the sII-
preme court, the governors office and
the state executive departments. were
housed in the east wing. 1t was in
the senate chamber of the east wing
Where many of the states most heated
legislative debates were staged. 1t
was in this same senate chamber
where the big United States senate
rial battles were fought and where
early day legislative wars were waged
IL was IN this same senate chamber
where the York-Pomeroy scandal
was enacted in the early 7Os.
Only one of the supreme court
justices-Chief Justice w. A. Johnston
can recall personal "reminiscences of
the days before the court was re-
moved to more pretentious quarters
on the third floor of the present west
wing. Yet when the court was hold
ing sessions in the basement of the
old east wing, some of the states
most prominent and eloquent LAWYERS
pleaded the famous cases of long ago.
The Hilton case and other famous
legal battles had innings in the sur
roundings now replaced with modern
nile floors, marble wainscoting and
inlaid oak doors
Save Old Souvenirs.
Some of the substantial souvenirs
of the old days were saved, tho, even
when the pine floors were removed
and modern. fire proof office equip
ment installed. The old supreme
court bench is yet in existence.
Scores of men prominent in the af-
fairs of state thirty. forty and even
fifty years ago would come to Topeka
for the party" surrounding the open
ing of the new east wing. 1t was
Architect Chambers plan to hold a
state wide celebration in honor of the
opening of the new offices At this
gathering speeches would be made by
many of the men who years ago held
the big state jobs, bossed the state
conventions and oiled the smooth
running political machines of the days
long before the arrival of the state
wide primary and the anti-pass law.
While no definite arrangements have
been made for the celebration sur
rounding the opening of the new
wing, many state officials and depart
ment heads favor the plan. And Kan
sas may yet take advantage of the
opportunity to hold a reunion of yes
terdays big men.