The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-04
Wild over TEDDY
Kansas City Fills Convention
Hall to Hear Him.
Colonel in Mighty Appeal for
the Liberty Loan.

Kansas City, Mo-, Oct. Thirteen
thousand persons in Convention hall
arose from their seats Thursday after
noon and with singing, cheering. wav-
ing of flags and handkerchiefs and
handclapping extended a whole
hearted welcome to Col. Theodore
Roosevelt, as he marched into the
spacious arena, preceded by the 7th
Regiment band.
It was some minutes before quiet
was restored, for pent-up enthusiasm
of the sort that must find vent in
hearty outburst is not easily silenced
until it has spent its force.
1t was a psychological study, quite
naturally suggesting the question:
Are they endeavoring to make trans
parent the obvious expression of sor-
row upon the face of the former pres
ident and bring out the famed Roose-
welt smile?"
If SO, the crowd was amply reward
ed, for in the height of the tumultuous
demonstration Colonel Roosevelt
trum. gazed for a brief moment into
the upturned foces of the shouting
thousands, relaxed his features and
smiled broadly and heartily his appre-
citation of their welcome. 1t was the
familiar smile of yore, the Roosevelt
high upon balcony seat evidently I'M
able to restrain himself shouted:
"Hurrah for Teddy"
Colonel Roosevelt bowed directly to
to the owner of the voice and instantly
everyone was at ease, and the usual
strain of formality wen. down before
the spirit of real democracy The col
onel at once became one of the gath
cred multitude, and the people settled
down easily, as tho for comfortab able
chat with an old friend. That was
precisely what the next hour and ten
minutes amounted to, for the speech
was of the heart to heart order, en-
tirely devoid of any attempts at
oratory.
tons by applause, a blind, man might
easily have imagined Colonel Roose-
welt was seated in a quiet corner, con-
versing with a friend and neighbor
upon the subject that is just now
uppermost in the minds and hearts of
all Americans.
The speaker launched at once into
the subject of the liberty loan. fol-
lowing his Introduction by Marshal
General J. w. Perry, who referred to
Colonel Roosevelt as the favorite son
of Kansas City and the American ma
ton" =
whats the matter with Teddy?"
doomed a loud voice from somewhere
in the crowd, and upon the heels of
the echo crashed:
Hes all right
"And so is Kansas City" shouted
the colonel.
A Common Cause.
~You good people know why am here"
he began, land l think ! know why you
you and 1 are interested in a common
cause and we are not today to discuss
with that cause. take. it that you all
are familiar, in general sense. with the
ment is f floating 'f bonds for war PURPOSES
1 have no patience with the people who
continually harp about money. food and
other things winning. this war. There's
the front Other factors will contribute to
this end, and am here to earnestly request
that you lend every spare penny you have
in the world to your government ask this
not as favor. but as right, In the name
is no sacrifice in the buying of bonds, for
you are merely investing your money In the
best security on the face of the earth, a
Little be missed
while you are making payments, but the
ultimate repayment of the bonds will more
consider them.
Nation Has Awakened.
"By purchasing liberty bonds, we will
keep our boys over there on the run, altho
not nearly SO swiftly as they have kept
At that juncture the crowd unloosened
one of those demonstrations for which
Kansas City gatherings are noted, and it
could make himself heard again.
II am proud to see america has walked
up" continued Colonel Roosevelt, land
you can take my guarantee for that be-
cause 1 didn't hesitate to tell you when
1 thought you were asleep" (Referring
to a speech delivered here about one year
ago.
crowd, 1.-The only men making sacrifices
right now are the men at the front who
are wearing the uniform of Uncle Sam.
fices. 1t is those who are wives and mothers
of the brave boys who are facing hard
ships and death Itself in the first line
trenches; The only individual I will put
wife, mother or sweetheart-who encour-
ages her man to do his duty to his coun-
try. There are but two classes of people
I would except from work in these times
If had my way: The soldiers who carry
rifles and the mothers of small children.
The mother of a family Of little ones has
having myself reached the grandfather
stage Of life
Thompson There.
Colonel Roosevelt interrupted his speech
long enough to call upon Senator William
H. Thompson of Kansas recently returned
from the fighting zone in France Senator
Thompson exhibited to the crowd German
helmets, gas masks and other trophies COL
lected by him during his sojourn with an
American division there.
Stern measures in dealing with ''the Hun
within our gates were advised by the
colonel.
II would not permit a secret foe to live
thirty minutes after his guilt had been
established by court martial" he said.
W0INn transfer TRnnpS