The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-26
Topeka To Turn Over Town to
Overseas Boys.
Plan Great Welcome to 35th,
S9th and 42nd.
GIVE BANQUETS AND DANCES
Theaters May Be Thrown Open
to Men in Uniform.
Cities Over State Making We'll
come Arrangements.

Forty-second and Eighty-ninth Divi-
sions, upon their return from France,
will be welcomed home by celebra-
tions in cities thruout the state, in
Guiding Topeka. Celebrations of well
come have already been announced
for the men of the Thirty-fifth by
Manhattan, Junction City, Chanute
Wichita Hutchinson. the two Kansas
Cltys, and Topeka. The capital city
thru the Chamber of Commerce, will
engage in a great demonstration of
welcome for all Kansas men includ-
vision.
1T seems to me-" said Carroll b
Merriam, president of the Topeka
Chamber of Commerce, today, that
/ biggest event in its history, not only
! when the Thirty-fifth gets home. but
also the Forty-second and Eighty
ninth arrive The Chamber of Com
! merce is going to get busy and make
plans to do this. and we not only ex-
pect to make these celebrations for
+ the home coming of the boys the big
| gest thing in the history of Topeka
but in the history of the state"
| Banquets and Dances.
! Merriam's plans for the ceIebra-
! tions. altho tentative. include banquets
/ at the Chamber of Commerce for the
men, and dances and receptions
! "One thing we expect to do" he
said, lis hold banquets at the Cham
Der rooms and then afterwards hold
| dances and receptions in the big dance
| hal1 on the next floor above"
The program viii also include
prominent speakers who, on behalf
| OF the city, will welcome the men
| hone.'
1t also has been suggested in. addi-
! ton to the Chamber of Commerce
program that all theatres for a period
after the men return, be thrown open
to all men wearing the insignia of their
| divisions, and that special nights be
set aside at dance halls for the ex-
| elusive entertainment and amusement
of the soldiers and their families and
/ sweethearts.
The 35th division, which includes
battery A, and several other Topeka
! units, has been designated by General
Persh1ng to arrive home IN April The
| 42nd (rainbow) division is due to ara
rive the same month. The 117th
ammunition train, which has seen
longer service than any other Kansas
| UNI, unit IN France. is IN this division.
| Inc Ssth is to return in June.
Kansas City Plans.
Kansas City. Mo, Feb. 26.-Ar-
rangements for the reception here of
! the 35th division are progressing
| rapidly, according to the COMMITTEES
| in charge The greatest event of it's
i KIND ever staged by a middle western
city is planned and a huge crowd from
all sections of Kansas. Missouri, Okla
homa, Nebraska and Iowa is expected
to welcome their men.
| That the war department will co.
operate with Kansas City in every pos
slble manner has been promised by
Secretary Baker. The department has
assured the Kansas City committee
that even tho it is not found possible
to detra1n the entire division, a large
and representative portion of it will
stop over on its way to Camp Fun
Ston
A line of march is being laid out for
the men which will allow a crowd of
relatives and friends in any number to
see them comfortably. Seating capac-
ity in grandstands for 30, 900 or 4O,0 900
people is planned, the stands bei/s
built at various points on the rols e
of parade
The seating scheme for the crowd
IS unique. Grouping the people by
the sections or cities from which they
come, the soldiers will be notified in
advance just where to look for their
home folks. Thus Omaha would have
Springfield or Topeka individual
places and similarly for all of the
places from which the troops were
drawn.
The entertainment of the men is be-
ing planned on a big scale and parties
dances, banquets and events of every
kind will give the right kind of a well
come to every soldier of the division
Kansas City is expected to hold
open house not only for the returning
men but also for every relative and
friend that comes for a first glimpse
of their veteran. The hotels, cooper
ating with the private citizens of the
city 'lru a housing committee. will
furnish accommodations for a throng
of visitors of anV size.