The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-12
Porter Won't Tear Comfort Sta
ton Down for Women.
Street Car Company Will Make
Any Added Improvements.
CITY HAS DONE IT'S FULL DUTY
Place Wasn't Intended for, Rec
reatiOn ParlOr, Says Official.
House Thinks His Name Red
Rag to Good Govt Club.

- GU can tell the world said w.
L. Porter, city commissioner, today,
that the comfort station at Eighth
and Kansas avenue will not be torn
down. If the women who are OBJ
jecting to the design of the building
want any additions made to it, they
will have to get said addition from the
street, railway company"
Porters emphatic assurance that
the city had done its full duty with re-
gard to the station. was brought out
in answer to a resolution passed by
the women of the Good Government
club. which found fault with the
building and demanded that it be eth
err removed or improved. The club de-
c1ared that its corporate voice was
the first to be raised in this city for a
comfort station, and that the club was
justly dissatisfied with the structure.
as 1t did not meet the requirements
of such an edifice. The club asks
that an addition be put over the pres
sent building that shall properly ans
wer the purpose of the project.
Asked About II Once.
THE women of the club, and other
women" Mr.. Porter went on, were
invited to inspect the plans for the
station before any work on it was
done, and they were invited. thru the
public press, to make suggestions. Not
one of them looked over the plans o"
1T. 1t is made according to the best
plans used in larger cities. 1t is the
same sort of station as is being erect
ed in the most up-to-date towns, and
l want to say most emphatlcally that
it will not be taken down. 1t is not
yet completed, and if it has been in
speeted by the Good Government club,
it has been seen without the furnish
ing that is to be provided for it.
am having a davenport and some
/ been delayed on account of strikes in
Kansas City. AS soon as the furniture
is completed, it will be installed, and
the station opened to the public.
THE place. Porter continued, was
never intended public recreation
parlor. The parks are intended as
places of amusement. where recreation
places are provided.
/ Porter has in his office a letter
| which suggests a change in the famous
unpublished poem of James Whitcomb
Riley, which is being passed around
| surreptitiously these days, and the
word ''cemfeft station substituted for
| its equivalent in the poem.
Thought 1t Monument.
But the comfort station continues
| to be the subject of disappearing or
facetious comment among the women.
One Topeka woman tells the story of
+ an out of town visitor who spoke to
| her about the building. II see" said
! the Stranger, tndt you IOpeka people
place the monuments to your great
men in the center of town" "Oh, no.
| replied the Topeka woman, I'VE have
| only one monument. and that is in the
state house grounds" But" persist
| ed the visitor, Il saw one on Kansas
avenue-a little sort of tower that had
some names engraved on one side in
| bronze
Another woman calls the station the
Santa Claus chimney, and still another
| has dubbed it the Submarine
Mayor ]. E. House was asked what
he thought of the objection to the
structure. Il suppose" he replied,
tina you can hardly expect me to
speak seriously on that subject But
after my earnest consideration l have
! decided that the fuss is kicked up
because my name is on the building
1t was put there without my knowI-
edge, but l shall ask the architect to
chisel it out. Thereafter, 1 know that
the comfort station will be a great
success and satisfactory to all the
| present DIRECTORS. I trust that when
my name is effaced from that wall
that amity and good will may charac-
terize the relations between the Good
Government club and the city admin
| iStration.'