The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-03
RILEY COUNTY "GoEs OVER"

The State journal, thru report
given to a reporter by the district
manager of the recent Red Cross cam
paign, printed a story not long ago
placing Riley county in the Stacker
class because of it's alleged failure to
subscribe to it's full Red Cross quota.
The story was based on information
from Red Cross headquarters and
came about thru a misunderstanding
of kilograms, it was discovered later.
Eventually, near the end of the cam
paign, Riley county did exceed her
quota and the State Journal said so.
The story, however. has raised
storm of protest from Riley county
citizens and they are anxious to get
themselves Strengthened out with the
public. 1t is very natural that they
should feel this way. The State Jour
nal, of course, is equally anxious that
the brand of Stacker" should be re-
moved from Riley county and this pa
per will do all in its power to wipe
out that lingering reputation it may
have caused due to misinformation it
received.
To quote F. D. Lamb, president of
the board of directors of the Manhat-
tan Commercial club:
''In the eirst place this county went
over it's quota in the Red Cross drive just
closed by several thousand dollars. This
city went over the top $4,000 in the recent
AS you know, one of the largest army
camps in the United States is adjacent to
Ma IIn Upon our people has fallen the
in the city. They come here by the hun
dreds and must be welcomed, entertained
and fed. Bonds to the amount of $4,000
have been voted to assist in building a
large community house where they may be
housed and given recreation. Several ad-
ditional thousands we're raised to carry on
temporary recreational work prior to the
completion of the new building. Not a
respond willingly, to various calls along
these lines. Collections are now being
taken fer the erection Of building, for
books have been given for camp libraries.
The townspeople have made a habit of
entertaining soldiers in their homes every
Sunday and thru the week free of charge.
tanned and fed hundreds Of soldiers on
sundays free of charge. The All Kansas
building at Camp Funston has been an
object for when have emptied our
poeketbooks. Our men and women have
organized to care for the families of SOL
diers and have voluntarily given their
services night after night to get the visi-
their soldier friends
Mr.. Lamb has written truthfully
and wisely and no one enteytains
doubts as to the sincerity of the people
of that city in their tasks. In fact it
was a great surprise when the district
manager anpounced that Riley county
had failed to raise her Red Cross
quota-such a great surprise that the
State Journal printed the interview as
a piece of unusual and amazing news
The good people of Riley county,
in their anger, must remember that
the State Journal printed the informa-
.tion as given by a Red Cross official
The story was not written with any in
tention of maHciously discrediting that
county. If Shawnee county had failed
to raise her quota the story would have
= been. given even more display and
would have been written with even
more feeling. In these war times the
newspaper and the individual have a
right and a duty to point out persons
and communities that have neglected
to do their part in bringing victory tc
America. The manager of the Red
Cross district thought he was doins
his duty. The State Journal likewise
1t was all caused. evidently. thru a
misunderstanding and a mixup in tel.
egrams.
The State Journal wishes to thank
the Riley county business men who
have denied SO automatically and In
such a gentlemanly manner tn.
Stacker" story. Their attitude /.
greatly ppreciated-especially in tn,
light of the amateurish and childish
action taken publicly by such newspa
pers as the Manhattan Nationalist
Also. the State Journal wishes t.
apologize most heartily and sincerel,
for the impression it may have giver
out fnnocently and without malice con
corning Riley county.
When II comes to liberty bond, Rec