The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-07
CREDIT TO WOMEN
They Have Made Kansas Re-
ceptiOn at n. Y. a Success.
Merry Kansans Made Idea
Grow Into a Reality.
HOW THE CLUB HAS GROWN
'sKaty" Was Organized ct An
sonia Early in April.
Belief That Society VIII Be of
Permanent Nature.
HOW THE CLUB HAS GROWN
BY FRANK ROSS.

the real nome fOIkS greeting the
soldier boys are receiving at the club
rooms. No SO West Fortieth street,
has created envy at other New York
reception clubs. All wonder at the
success of the nervy Kansans, who
made an idea grow into a reality and
persuaded the state legislature to back
them up. The origin of the welcome
committee is interesting. and to the
women goes the credit for the big
success it has achieved.
Early in the war when the soldiers
were flowing thru the New York
camps and the Hoboken piers en- route
to France there was Kansas COM
mittee appointed to look after them,
but little could be>dohe owing to the
censorship. Senator Arthur Capper,
then governor appointed this com
mittee of men made up mostly of
members of the K. u. club of New
York.
Former residents of Missouri, Kan
sas and Texas held an II. X. and T.
dance at the Hotel Ansonia on April
Is, 1918. at which time the women
discussed forming a Kansas womens
club. This was later done. and dur
ing the summer of 1918 it assumed
definite proportions and did some
work To Mrs. Homer A. Dunn, of
106 Central Park West, most of the
credit for forming the women into a
club is given. She insisted and fought
for an organization to do welfare
work. She had three sons in the SerV-
ice, did much war camp community
service work, was Kansas patron at
the Khaki and blue dances held in the
Grand Central Palace and later the
list regiment armory, and took many
wounded boys into her own home for
parties. Mrs. Dunn formerly. lived at
Fort Scott and Leavenworth.
Following the organization of the
Kansas Women's club of New York
T-c hai1pr n >TSrazifanf a
spirit gradually grew until last fall,
following the armistice, when more
members were added and Mrs. Rus
sell r. Whitman. formerly of Atchi-
son, elected president Early in Feb
ruary the Hall of States plan devel-
oped wherein all of the AS states were
to have a common meeting place. The
proposition of having a Kansas desk
in this building at No. 81 West 25th
street, to greet the returning boys, was
put up to them.
They Foot the Bills.
The club had no finances but the
Kansas women did not let that deter
them. They had agreed to foot the
bills and open the desk, and get the
money afterward The boys had to
have a real welcome, and it was their
job. The state legislature was APP
pealed to at once for aid, and Lieut.
Gov. Charles S. Huffman visited New
. York, went over the scheme, returned
and approved it. and the Legislature
voted $4,000 to welcome The boys
home.
Governor Henry J. Allen then an
pointed Mrs. Cora G. Lewis, of Kins-
ley. to represent him. Miss Helen X
Ostertag, of Atchison. as secretary
and sent Gen. Chas. 1. Martin to New
4 ork with them to open the reception,
work. It was seen more room would
be needed than the Han of States af-
forded, and the Bryant Square club
on West 4Oth was ready to quit for
thesummer. five room suite. all
furnished and equipped with a kitch-
en- ana dining room, was available and
TINS was leased until October l.
The wisdom of this move has been
shown many times. When the Thirty
fifth division boys came home a re-
ceplon was held day and night in
the club rooms for them, and hun
dreds visited the place had e. ecks
cashed, saw friends and were well
coined back to the good old u s. A.
The reception of the Eighty-ninth di-
vision last Saturday and Sunday re-
peated the earlier celebrations.
Call ON New York Kansans.
big ganization now backs the
work, much larger than the daring
women ever thought when they
planned to have their society alone
shoulder the task. Mrs. Lewis has
checked up list of $40 former Kan
sans living in and near New York
city who are called on to assist, and
every one of them is willing and
anxious to do his share And when
ne boys are home and the work
seemingly at an end, there is to be a
real live Kansas body in New York
TO Keep alive and foster the Kansas
spirit IN the biggest city in the world
The work centers in the club rooms
where Miss Ostertag, as hostess and
secretary, is in charge. Various COM
mittees work with her in the differ
ent branches and all New York So
cieties of Kansas people are assisting.
Major II. *. Wood, a former Topekan,
is chairman of the executive commit
tee; Russell r. Whitman. formerly
of Atchison, heads the X. U. club in
New York; r. L. kellogg is head of
the K. S. A. c. club; Mrs. r. r. Whit
man, the Kansas Women's club; Ar
thur S. Kane, a former Topekan.
heads the Washburn society; Herbert
5 Houston chairman of the original
Capper committee, and Mrs. Lewis
represents the state.
Committee --eads.
The association has many commit
tees, all headed by energetic workers.
who receive official Red Cross. w
T. {. ). and other reports and as
slstance, so that everything is sys-
iematlzed, The committee heads are
Edwin A. Menninger, New York
Tribune, press; H. K. Wood. vel
coming; Mrs. Clarke Daley, hospital
visiting committee; Mrs r. r. Whit
man, house; Mrs. W. E. Stanley. HAN
of States r. L. Kellogg. transports
and Arthur S. Kane, entertainment
Mrs. Lewis visits the boys in the de-
barkation hospital at Hoboken.
It is early yet to talk of after the
war efforts for the Kansas society
but the success made during the past
few months has caused all members
to talk of more permanent organiza-
ton