The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-25

England prepared. Yet France is the
most democratic nation in the world
Then the governor changed his
mount and took to his good roads
hobby. He described the roads of
France, which were built ages ago by
Attila, and which are kept in repair
to this day by a large force of men and
heavy expenditure of money.
The governor then proceeded to tell
of the attachment of the F'renchman
to his country and his home. More
than 80 per cent of the French farm
ers," he said, Gown their own land,
and nearly that per cent are living in
the homes their grandfathers built
Governor Allen told some interesting
stories of rural and mountain life in
France, commenting particularly in
the work American dentists had done
to inspire the country people there
with a desire for good teeth. He
praised the Kansas and Missouri boys
who acquitted themselves with honor
and self-sacrifice in battles in which
they took part.
''The Bull Con"
At the plate of each guest at the
dinner was a copy of the Press clubs
official organ "The Bull Con" This
sheet was edited this year by w. G.
Clugston of the State Journal, better
known as "Clug" The paper was filled
with quips concerning the well known
newspaper men of the state, touching
their particular vanities and bad
habits.
The little stage was set between the
speeches, and the Press club proceed
ed to entertain the audiences with a
supposed scene in the office of Speaker
w. F. Lambertson, of the. house of
representatives. Imri Zumwalt was
the speaker, and c. H. Trap was his
page. Paul Lovewell, impersonating
Cha rIia r ideJw3V 81 lea d.
er of the house, enters to make his
demands about appointments, declar-
ing himself to be the direct repre-
sentative of the governor Then Marco
Morrow, as Clyde Reed, the governors
secretary. makes a confidential visit
to the speaker, and presents his de-
mands as the governors true repre-
sentative. After soothing him with
promises, the speaker, meets Charlie
Sessions, who appears as Fred Trigg,
of the Kansas City Star. Trigg takes
possession of the office, announces his
appointments. and presents a 25-pound
bundle of papers which is the manu-
script for the new Kansas constitution.
Trigg, instead of representing the gov
ernor, considers that the governor
represents him. Neal Anderson, as
Minnie Grinstead, and Alfred Hill, as
Judge Grinstead, next present them
selves to the speaker. The jealous
judge is a sort of page to his wife,
and the two get hand down in the
audience.
49, A Battle Scene.
The second act of the burlesque
show is a battle scene in France, with
the noise and smell of combat coming
over the curtain. Henry Aliens dog
tent is labelled with the sign of the
Red Cross, and Allen. in the person of
a. j. Carruth, jr., projects a pale face
thru the tent door. He wears a tin
pan hat and a ball catcher's guard for
gas mask. Then the battle is over,
and the Red Cross man appears to
make speech to a group of soldiers,
who are told to write home and tell
how great a man Allen is, before the
election Neal Anderson, the messen-
ger, comes in, and brings down the
house with his wild scramble after
Coolies Aliens message conveys the
Intelligence that he is fired by the
Red Cross, whereupon he takes down
the Red Cross sign, erects the Y. NJ.
c. A. hut signal. with the philosophic
observation: We'll. I guess I've got
all the Red Cross votes; now for the
Y votes"
The soldiers in the cast were: Carl
Bolmar, Walter Markley, Alfred Hill
and A. Benner
Between two and three hundred
newspaper men and their wives and
friends attended the marty