davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
FOR GOOD ROADS
Meeting Opens in Kansas City
To-day To Evolve Plan.
Work for a System of National
Highways in L. $.

Kansas City. Jan. 21.-Every state
but Massac chusetts vas represented by
delegates here today for the first ma
t.on-wide conference to organize to
prepare for and make possible sys-
TEN of national highways that will be
continuous trunk lines connecting all
important parts of the United States.
Thirty-thrce organizations are repre-
scented by more than 300 delegates and
the delegates are apportioned only one
to each state a trail touches
The purpose of the convention,
Frank A. Davis. temporary secretary,
said. is to band all of the active high
way associations of America into one
national organiza ton. With all of the
good roads boosters unified, Mr.. Davis
said. it is hoped to induce congress to
pass legislation providing for COM
plete system of national roads.
a secretary of the nations high
ways to sit in the presidents cabinet
is one of the goals the associations are
going to try to reach, Mr.. Davis add
ed. Should the highway organization
succeed in getting such laws thru con-
GreSs the plan is that the government
should absorb the $4,000 miles of
roads now in existence and that the
government should extend and i'm
prove the system, utilizing United
States army engineers for the work as
was done in the construction of the
Panama canal
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
The Constitutional Convention
Measure Before Legislature.
Governor Aliens Pet Is Intro.
duGed in Both Houses.
CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL PASS
Allen Believes Resolution Will
Be Adopted in Session.
Means Convention in Topeka in
1921-First Vote 1920.

Governor Aliens proposition for a
constitutional convention in Kansas
will go before both houses of the state
legislature some time during this aft
ernoon's session The governor an
nounced today that he was ready to
launch his fight for a new state con-
stitution and would seek to have his
resolution introduced simultaneously
in both the house and senate. He
was undecided as to the men who
would present the measures.
Introduction of the constitutional
convention resolution will be followed
by other big administration measures
1t is probable that the entire Allen
program will be before committees of
both houses in the next week-certain-
ly by the end of next week. AS soon
as the propositions come from the
committees. they will be advanced 30
special orders. Governor Allen and
his supporters in the legislature hope
for consideration of all administration
policies by the middle of February.
Convention in 1921.
In a discussion of his constitutional
convention resolution today, Governor
Allen expressed confidence in the
adoption of the measure 1t is the
governors purpose to have the mat
ter brought to early consideration. II
the resolution passes and is approved
! by the voters in 1920, Governor Allen
believes convention should be called
some time in 1921 to draft the new
constituticn. 1t would then be submit
| ted to the voters in 1922 for ratifica-
ton or rejection. The present resoIu-
ton merely provides for submission
| OF the question to the voters for a
decision as to the calling of a conyen-
| ton.
1T is my purpose to have the con-
| stltutlonal convention resolution intro
duced in both branches of the legis.
iature this afternoon" Governor AlIer
stated. L have not fully determines
| VINO viii present the measure in the
two houses. From information which
| mas come to me, it looks very favor
able for the passage of the measure
| both IN TIC house and senate"
Friends i'll Legislature.
! Many members have conferred will
governor Allen during the last few
days Practically all of the legisla tive
visitors to the governors office have
! discussed the question of a constitu.
| tlonal convention. 1t is known thar
several senators who fought the pro.
| posed new constitution in 1917 will
support the resolution this winter. Tw,
years ago the house adopted the reso.
luton, but the senate defeated the
| measure by two votes. At this time
| the resolution seems certain of a nee
! essary two-thirds vote in the upper
| mouse. The lower branch of the legis
| lature IS new and no definite line ha.
been drawn as to its attitude
In the judgment of a number of OBJ.
servers. the fight in the house may bs
even closer than in the senate. Friend.
| of the administration however. be-
lieve the house, which is newly elected
VIII support the dominent feature O.
! the Allen program.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
SHE FACES A WARRANT
Formal Charge of Shooting Roy
Wharton Is Against Mrs Spencer

Mrs. Flossie Spencer. who shot and
seriously wounded Roy Wharton, an
employe of the Poehler Mercantile
company. at her home, 4141s East
Fourth street, last Saturday afternoon
is charged with assault with intent to
kill in a state warrant issued today
Mrs. Spencer is confined in the city
jail. Wharton, it was stated today at
Stormont hospital, seems to be i'm
proving and his complete recovery is
expected. providing complications do
not set in.
Monday afternoon county authori-
ties took the affidavits OF Mrs. Spen-
GERS mother. Mrs. Rose1la Mcdowell.
and of Robert f. Sprague, 1912 Hun
toon street, both of whom were at the
house at the time of the shooting Mrs.
Mcdowell stated that ever since Whar-
ton anne to board at the house Ia st
August he had had a habit of cursing
and nagging at Mrs. Spencer, the two
prime motives of which, it was
claimed. was her action in writing to
a soldier and the size of the grocery
bill He came to the place Thursday
and quarreled with her. she said.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
PUBLIC WORKS BOARD
Kenyon Has Bill in Congress for
Board To Hanole Work Problem.

Washington, Jan. 21.-Senator Ken
yon today introduced bill creating
an emergency public works board to
provide Immediate work for the un-
employed.
The bill appropriates 100000 for
immediate beginning of public works
1t is to be used to enable any city,
state or federal agency lacking funds.
to go ahead with public work now or
at any future time when extraordinary
ployment exists.
This money would later be returned
to the fund, so that at all times
large sum would be available Tor
meeting emergency conditions.
Further provision for money to ex-
pedfte public work in times of unem-
ployment is made by empowering the
war finance corporation TO make ad-
vances to states, which the states may
then allot to cities or counties. This
money IS to be repaid in ten years.
Three hundred million dollars is set
aside by the bill as the maximum
amount of such advances.
An annual report to congress by the
board is provided
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
BORROW BIC sum
Land Owners Took 8 Million
From the L. S. Government,
In December the Land Banks
Did Good Business.

Washington, Jan Gland owners
borrowed $9,567,89O from the gov
ernment thru the federal banks in De-
cember, the farm loan board an
nounced today. The sum brings
the total amount distributed among
landowners since the land banks were
organized to S157O2O,751.
In December loans were provided
8. .525 farmers, making the total num-
Der who have borrowed from the gov
ernment 67,S82.
The Houston. Texas, bank leads in
loans for December with S1,634,0S5.
Second was the bank at Spokane,
where $1,627,915 was loaned.
The others ranked in the following
order:
St Paul, s1,55O,OOO; St Louis,
sS51.79O; New Orleans. s712.65O; Lou
isville, $627.700; Wichita, 1929, 400;
Berkeley, s565, 900; Columbia, s442,-
800; Baltimore, S63S4OO.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
FOUR OPINIONS ON "DRY"
Two Financicrs-Dry Worker and
Brevcr--TciI of Effect of Bill.

New York, Jan. 21.-Here is
what will happen when the country
dries up next July, according to
opinions of brewers. anti-saloonists
and financiers, expressed today:
Breweries will be junked, mil
lions of workers will be thrown
out of employment and billions in
vested in properties lost.
Taxes will mount to the skies
and stay there This is the belief
of Christian Feigenspan, president
of the United States Brewers asso-
citation, and William Vance, its sec
retary.
There will be no economic dis
turbances.
Taxes will not mount high.
Breweries will begin to grind out
matted milk. cider, grape juice, pot
terry and what-nots, therefore en-
ploying all hands.
This is the conviction of William
H. Anderson, New York state su-
perintendent of the anti-saloon
league.
There will be more money in the
banks.
There will be more homes.
Crime and insanity will vanish.
This is the opinion of Thomas
Cochran, of J. P. Morgan & Co,
and Cornelius Bliss. jr.. president
of the Association for the Improve
ment of Conditions for the Poor.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
Recent Epidemic Worst Disass
ter i'm History of State.
A Total of 222,OO0 Persons
Were Sick With AiIment.
1000 new VICTIMS EACH WEEK
Business Houses and
Railroads Were Hard Hit.
Mercantile Houses Lost $1,000
900 a Day, Says DIR. Sippy.

Three months of flu epidemic IN
Kansas, with eight weeks of practical
ly rigid flu ban. hit 222.000 people.
cost 5,547 lives-according to official
records-and meant an economic and
actuary loss TO the state of slO2.396.-
$50. Those are figures by the state
board of health. supplemented by in
dependent and conservative estimates
as to the loss of the state during the
epidemic. The flu is still enrolling
new victims at the rate of 1000 to
5000 a week.
Probably no more startling state
ment of the result of an epidemic in
Kansas or any other state was ever
given to the public than that an
nounced today by DIR. j. j. Sippy. cpl
demiologist in the offices of the state
board of health. He stated that ac-
tual figures of flu cases in Kansas for
three months-October. November
and December-were 1873. 200 These,
Doctor Sippy declares. represent but
60 per cent of the actual cases in the
state. Mortuary records show 5.547
actual deaths in that time from the
influenza or from pneumonia origi-
mating from the flu.
Using Doctor Sippy's estimate that
but so per cent of all cases were ac-
tually reported. 100000 Kansans suf-
fcred from the disease in u three
months period. The economic loss as
result of the ravages of the disease
is conservatively placed at $4,000
600. By adding scientific actuary es-
Inmates as to the monetary value of "a
human life, the cash toll in Kansas
was s102.396, 750. The loss exceeds by
| many millions the loss by any flood
storm or epidemic ever visited upon
the state.
Doctor Bills S2,a2G,0oO.
Under n low estimate the individ-
ual doctor bill for the 222.000 vic
Tins averaged $40. That item repre-
sents an expense on the victims OF a.
100000. For the 5,547 persons who
died as result of the disease, an av-
erage funeral expense of 81 50 is listed.
For those funerals Kansans paid
$S22.0
1t is estimated that 1000 Kansas
school teachers were idle for an eight
weeks period during the ravages of
the disease. Under an estimate of an
average of $50 a month for those
/ teachers, the expense during the time
! schools were closed amounted to the
. little sum of S1.44O.0O0.
/ Not less than 10000 business houses
( were hit by closing orders and flu
! bans Business was stagnant during
| the greater portion of the time. Nor
was that all. The disease hit the state
/ Uonfinned on Page Two.J
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
MAJORITY PARTY WINS
In German Election They Forge Far
Ahead in the Votes.

Berlin, Jan. 20-(delayed) Major
ity Socialists are far ahead of any
other party in the national assembly
elections, according to latest available
returns today.
In Bavaria, the Centerists main
tanned their strong position. At Leip-
zig, independent Socialists obtained a
majority. In Munich, the majority So
cialists secured 151, 600 votes and the
Independents 5000. In Baden, the
Centerists polled 100000. the majority
Socialists 3SS.000 and the independ-
ents 145, 900 votes
1t is probable that former Chief of
Police Eichhorn and Hugo Haase, for
| mer secretary for foreign affairs in the
Ebert cabinet, have been elected to
the national assembly. Returns are
coming very slowly and the results
even in Berlin are as yet uncertain.
Berlin newspapers announce that a
warrant for the arrest of Eichhorn
has been issued. 1t is said that vari-
Gus charges, proof of which would
lay Eichhorn liable to punishment for
fifteen years, have been issued.
The combined Bourgeois parties in
the kingdom of WurttemburS and the
province of Hohenzollern. Prussia.
elected ten delegates to the national
assembly. The Majority Socialists
seated seven and the Independent So
| cialiStS none. The combined popular
vote of the Socialists was 100000 and
| the Bourgeois parties 100000.
! In Mecklenburg and Lubbock the
, combined Bourgeois parties elected
three delegates and the Socialists
/ three.
Partial results in Berlin continue to
show an unexpectedly large independ-
! ent Socialist vote.
I The German national Peoples party
has elected eight delegates in Baden,
| including Herr Dueringer, a former
| minister The Christian PenDIe
party (the former Centrists) elected
| five delegates. one of whom is the
former president of the reichstag g,
| Konstanine Fehrenbach. Three dele
gates were elected by the German
| Democrats, one being Herr Dielsch.
/ former minister of Baden. The
| social Democrats succeeded in elect
ing five delegates. one of whom Is
Herr Rueckert. traffic minister. Lud-
! wig Haase. minister of the interior,
I was successful as a candidate of the
German Democratic party.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
COMMANDERS AXE HoSoTED.
eth. goth and Marine Corps Leaders
Given Medals for War Work.

Washington. Jan. 21.-PrscticaIIy
all army corps and division COM
manders of the American expedition
ary forces. together it'll the heads os
the staff departments. have now been
awarded distinguished service medals
by General PershinR for conspicuous
service. The war department today
made public citations for tWentv-sev-
en- officers in addition to the list Of
twenty four given out Sunday. Among
the officers decorated were Major
General John F. O'Ryan. comma nd
ing the twenty-seveuth (New York
National Guard) division. the only
guard division com mander to retain
his command throughout the war. ana
Major General John a. LeJeune. Of
the marine corps. comma nding tho
second division of ms rines Ma ior
General r. NJ Lewis. commanding ths
goth fWild Cato division. also was
decorated. This division and the 27th
served with the British army and
helped TO smash the famous Hinden-
burg line.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
AGAINST OWNERSHIP
p. L. c. Bodies Unanimous Against
Holding Telephone-Telcgra

Washington, Jan. 21.-State utili-
ties commissions are almost unani-
nous against government ownership
of the telegraph and telephone sys-
TENS and for their immediate return
to private hands Charles E. Elmquist
representing the National Association
of Railway and Public Utility Com
missions. told the postoffice commit
tee today.
Edn0uist read telegrams from
nineteen commissions and only one
North DakOta-favcred government
ownership The North Dakota COM
mission also favored some regional
form of control.
Practically all the messages con-
demned the new toll charges and indi-
Gated the commissions intention of
proceedings in courts to keep them
from going into effect.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
ROAD BILL GOES IN
Missouri Gets Ready To Spend 30 MIL
lions for Good Highways.

jefferson City, Jan. 21.-The pro-
posed constitutional amendment pro-
vidinG for the issuance of bonds in
a sum not to exceed fifty million dol
lars to build a system of hard-sur-
faced highways In Missouri as a me-
mortal to the 10000 soldiers and
sailors from Missouri Was introduced
in the house today by !. Allen Prev
lit. of Kansas City. 1t was sent to
the Dads and highways committee.
The campaign for the fifty-one laws
recommended by the Missouri chill
crens code commission was begun
when owen Il. Lovejoy. of Boston. a
national authority on legislation for
children. was invited to address the
legislature January 28.
Copies OF bills drawn by John r
Wilson. Of Kansas City election cleo
tion board. and designed to safeguard
elections. were received here today
and will be introduced today or tornor-
row by Byron H Coon. Jasper county.
chairman of the house elections COM
nittee.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
Secretary of War Will Be on the
Carpet Friday.
VIII Tell of Casualties Among
the Kansas Soldiers.
WAS QUESTIONABLE STRATEGY
Rises Out of Aliens Statements
of Lack of support.
35th Division Is Object OF the
Last Investigation.

Washington. Jan. 21.-Secretary of
War Baker will be called before the
house rules committee on Friday to
furnish Information concerning re-
ports that questionable strategy
caused heavy casualties among Kan
sus troops in the Argonne battle.
resolution calling for an inVes-
tigation of these reports has been in
troduced by Representative Campbell
Kansas.
The Thirty-fifth division, composed
for the most part of Kansas troops
many of whom went from Topeka in
the national guard units, is the object
of the investigation.
Congressman Campbell introduced
his resolution on receipt or charges
made by Gov Henry Allen of Kansas
who was with the Thirty fifth in the
ArgOnne battle
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
HOME RULE FOR
CITIES IS URGED
IN HOUSE TODAY
Freeman Bill Would Take
Power From Kansas p. L. c.
Give 1st and end Glass Munich
palities Control of Utilities.
HEGLER HEAD LEGAL COMMITTEE
Uplinger Chosen Over Amos for
Labor Chairmanship.
SOIons Turn Down Resolution
for State Salary Probe.

Freeman, OF Wyandotte, today. in
a bill offered in the house, proposed
a system which would practically re-
suit in home rule for cities of the
first and second class.
The Wyandotte member would re-
move from the state public utilities
commission the right to set aside
and interfere with any agreement en-
tered into between a city and a public
utility.
Short and concise. Freeman's bill
is one of the most far reaching and
drastic measures proposed in the
present session of the state legisla-
ture. 1t removes much of the power
now vested in the state commission
and gives to first and second class cit
les the right to make and enforce all
contracts with public service scorpo-
rations. The bill specifically provides
for municipal regulation of affairs of
street railways, light. heat, power.
water. and ice companies. 1t would
be unlawful. under terms of the bill,
for the state commission to interfere
with contracts between cities and such
corporations.
The measure would settle questions
of state interference in the matter of
gas, street railway, water. light and
ice company disputes. Cities affected
| by terms of the bill would be empow-
cred to extend franchise agreements
and to enforce agreements already in
| existence. The right to take rate dis
putes before the public utilities com
| mission when cases affected munich
palities would be denied to companies
| owning or operating the public utili-
| ties.
| HeSlcr Lands Big Committee.
Representative Hegler of Sedgwick
county was today appointed by Speak
| er Lam bertson as head of the big
house Judiciary committee Hegler,
who is a well known Wichita lawyer
and partner of Fred z. Stanley. Re-
publican national committeeman, is
| one of the youngest lawyers ever
named to the big house Job. 1t is
probable. also, that he is the first new
member to receive the appointment.
| The personnel of the judiciary com
/ Continued on Page Twol
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
SPEAK TO GROWNUPS
Another Raynes Animal Lecture To-
night at City Auditorium.

Ernest Har6ld Baynes. of New
Hampshire, will speak tonight al the
auditorium at o'clock. He gave an
illustrated address this afternoon for
school children. and his lecture to-
night will be for grown people. He
will tell of the part taken by dumb
animals in the world war. and he will
illustrate his lecture with lantern
slides and moving pictures.
Mr.. Baynes two years ago delivered
two lectures on animals and birds at
the auditorium to large and delighted
audiences He spoke in St. Louis yes
terday and will so from here to Yank-
ton, North Dakota In a week or two
he will leave for France to study the
part horses. dogs. pigeons, mules and
other animals played in the world
war.
The lectures are free to the public.
and are given thru the courtesy Of the
Woman's club of Topeka.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
BEAT B0LSHEvIKI
EsthOnians Win Notable Vie
tory Over Russian Reds.
Scene of Operations Is North
east of Lake Peipus.

London. Jan. 21.-A notable success
has been won against the Bolsheviki
by Esthonian troops operating to the
northeast of Lake Peipus, according
to an Esthonian official statement re-
ceived by wireless at stockholm today
and transmitted here. They have
taken, the town of Narva on the Reval-
Petrograd railway line together with a
large number of prisoners.
Trotzky Was There.
Copenhagen. Jan. 21.-Leon Trot-
zky, Bolsheviki war minister, narrow
ly escaped capture when Finnish and
Esthonian troops took the city OF
Narva, it was announced in the Estho-
nian official communique received
here today.
Recent dispatches reported TrotZky
to be personally leading soviet troops
in various enga aEements.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
5000 TROOPS RETURN
Two Transports, COMA and Susquc-
hanna, and Cruiser Frederick Sail.

Washington. Jan. 21.-Two trans
ports. the Coma and the Susquehanna.
and the cruiser Frederick are on the
way home from France with more
than 5000 troops.
The cruiser Frederick is due Janu-
airy 80. with groups of the Eighty
third division. to be demobiliZed at
Camp Sherman; 466th (reGulars) and
492d Camp Meade): aero squadrons
and ten casual officers.
The transport Coma is due January
"a, with eastern troops.
The transport fastener is due Feb
ruary with four casual officers.
The transport Absecon, st. Nazaire
for New York, is due February 3. with
an Alabama casual detachment and
sixteen casuaI officers.
The transport Susquehanna. st
Nazaire for Newport News. is due
January , Il with casual companies in
Guiding 444th (Illinois) and 132d
(MisscurD; forty-seven casual Off
GERS. about 500 sick and wounded and
six officers and Il men of the navy.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
LEWIS GETS JOB
Senator Said To Be Slated for
Attorney General.
Ii Baker Quits, the Arrange.
ment Already Is Made.

Washington. Jan. 21.-That Senator
J. Hamilton Lewis. Illinois. will be at
torney general, succeeding T. w. Greg
ory. resigned, if Secretary of War
Baker also resigns. was the prediction
today of Lewis's friends in congress
According to congressman claiming
inside information, the administration
l.ans to give the war portfolio to some
eastern or southern Democrat and the
attorney generalship to Lewis as a
tive of the middle west.
Representative Swager Sherley
chairman of the house appropriations
committee, is mentioned in connection
with Bakers job Sherley was de-
fea ted for re- election.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
BABE RUTH TO SAND LOT.
said To Be Dickering for Place in
Delaware County League

Philadelphia, Jan. 21.-Babe Ruth.
the star sOuthpaw of the Boston Red
Sox was looked upon today as the next
big -eaguer to leave organized base
ball for a berth with the Upland team
of the Delaware county league. Up
land team representatives have gone
to confer with Ruth.
The signing of ]. Franklin Baker.
the 'home-run king" with the Upland
team occasioned little surprise as it
has been said the terms offered him
by the Yankees to return to the game
next season were not so inducive as
his former contract had been