The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-25
TO STOP TRAFFIC
Every Activity VIII Give Way
to Soldier Welcome.
Definite Parade Plans Made To-
day at Noon.
KISSES AT STATE HOUSE
Relatives viii Meet Boys on
the Capitol Lawn
Melan Bridge Will Be Closed to
All Travel.
KISSES AT STATE HOUSE

Definite plans for the parades of
welcome for the various homecoming
units of the famous Thirty-fifth divi-
sion were completed at a meeting of
the military committee of the Cham
Der of Commerce at noon today.
Special stress is laid on the plans
for the visits between the boys in the
units and their relatives. The COM
mittee in deciding this vital question
tried every possible way to see its
way clear to making arrangements so
at the train. But on account OF lack
of space at the Union Pacific depot
and on account of the experience in
the sending away of the boys the
committee finally came to the decision
that it would be impossible to assure
the station. Therefore, the commit
tee has arranged that the meeting
take place at the state house.
Rope Off the Relatives.
a special arena will be roped off in
the state house grounds-the whole
east entrance to the building from the
steps to Jackson street-and the
space except the relatives or sweet
hearts of the men.
All traffic across the Melan bridge
will be stopped at the south approach
for a period of at least two hours be-
fore the arrival of the troop trains.
count of the disposition of the people
to jam up the narrow space between
the buildings and the bridge.
The whole situation is to be handled
in this way. The committee will be
notified when the troop trains leave
when the trains reach Lawrence. On
this second notification the whistles in
the city will blow for a period of one
minute.
Whistles to Blow.
When the troop trains whistle for
the Santa Fe junction in North To-
peka the whistles of the city will be
turned loose for an indefinite period.
Arrived at the Union Pacific station
the troops will be Immediately I'M
loaded, lined up by their commanding
officers, and paraded to the state
house grounds. At the state house
grounds it is planned that the men
will be released from discipline for as
long a time as possible SO that they
may visit with their relatives.
All of this action is felt to be nee
essary or the relatives of the men will
in very many cases be unable to ap-
proach near enough to the boys even
to see them, let alone to greet them.
For this reason it is hoped that the
relatives will fall in with the plan of
the committee and wait at the state
house grounds. where they will be GER
tain to be able to not only see their
boys but to embrace them or anything
else they may choose to bestow in the
way of greeting.
To Decorate City.
AS far as the decorations of the city
are concerned the committee is leav-
ing no stone unturned to visualize for
the boys coming in the trueness and
deep heartedness of the welcome ex-
tended by the city as a whole. Two
arches. one at Eighth and Kansas ave-
nue., in front of the State journal
building, and one at the north end of
the Melan bridge are to be construct
ed. The city is to be alive with the
flags of the United States and of the
allies Every single one of the white
way and the street car trolley poles is
to bear its burden of posters and col
ored bunting. There is to be display
farand away superior to any previous
effort on the part of the city. Even
the homecoming of the famous Twen-
tieth Kansas is to be tame compared
to the reception for the heroes of the
world war.