Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1919-06-06
KANSAS TROOPS IRE
HEARTILY WELCOMED
Sunnower State Excels All 9th
ers In Her Appreciation Of
the Work Her Boys
Have Done
By Flank Ross


soldier boys are receiving ut the club
rooms, No. SO West 40th Street, has
created envy at other New York re-
ception clubs. AL wonder ut the sue
cess of the nervy Kansans, who made
an idea grow into q realty and per-
suaded 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 II has achieved.
Early in the war when the soldiers
were flowing through the New Yorf
camps and the HObOken piers enrouh
To France there was q Kansas COM
mIttee appointed to look after them'
but little could be done owing to the
censorship. Senator Arthur Capper'
then governor, appointed this commit
tee of men made up mostly OF men,
bers of the x. u. club of New York.
Former residents Of Missouri, Kan
sas and Texas held an N. K. q I.
dance at the Hotel Ansonia on April
10, 1918, at which time the women
discussed forming q Kansas womena
club. This was later done, and dur
inc the summer Of 1918 1t assumed
definite proportions and did some
work. To Mrs. Homer A. Dunn, OF
1O6 Central Park West, most Of the
credit for forming the women into
club is given. She insisted and fought
for an organization to do welfare
work. She had three sons in the ser
vice. 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 former
" lived at Fort Scott and Leaven-
worth.
Following the organization OF the
Kansas Woman's Club Of New York.
Mrs. Dunn being elected president, the
spirit gradually grew until last FALL
following the armistice, when more
members were added and Mrs. Russell
r. Whitman, formerly Of Atchison,
elected president. Early in February
the Hall of States plan developed
wherein all of the 48 States were to
have a common meeting place. Inc
proposition of having Kansas desk
in this building at No. ~ West 10Th
Street, to greet the returning boys
was put up to them.
The club had no finances but the
Kansas women did not let that deter
them. They 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 appealed to
at once for aid. and Lieut. Governor
Charles S. Huffman visited New York
went over the scheme, returned and
approved it, and the Legislature voted
$35, 900 to welcome the boys home.
Governor Henry ]. Allen then ap-
pointed Mrs. Cora G. Lewis, OF Kins-
ley, to represent him, Miss Helen X.
Ostertag, of AtchisOn, as secretary
and sent Gen. Chas. /. Martin to New
York with them to open the reception
work. It was seen more room would
be needed than the Hall Of States at
forded, and the Bryant Square club
on West 4Oth was ready to quit for
the summer. A five room suite, all
furnished and equipped with kitchen
and dining room, was available ana
this was leased until October !.
The wisdom of this move has been
shown many times. When the Both
Division boys came home a reception
was held day and night in the club
rooms for them, and hundreds visited
the place, had checks cashed' saw
friends and were welcomed back to the
good old u. s. A. The reception Of
the seth Division last Saturday and
Sunday repeated the earlier celebra-
tons.
A big organization now backs the
work, much larger than the daring
women ever thought when they plan
ned to have their society alone shout
der the task. Mrs. Lewis has checked
nm a LIST of 610 former Kansans 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 the 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 WHERE
Miss Ostertag, as hostess and secre
tary, Is in charge. Various committees
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