The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-19
Returning Soldiers Have Other
Desires, Thompson Says.
Reno Senator Is Opposed to
Speechmaking by Politicians.
JUST A BENCH IN A PARK
With Sweetheart by His Side,
There Soldier Is Happy.
Boys Do Not Want To Be Ex-
hibited as Livestock.

Kansas fighting men should come
home to be entertained and not per-
secuted by long winded speeches. That
is the opinion of Sen. William S.
Thompson, of Hutchinson, who de-
clares that the personal ambitions of
politicians subject the soldiers to flag
waving speeches for votes when they
want something to eat and smoke.
Nor is it the opinion of the Hutchin-
son state senator that the men from
overseas want to be exhibited as a
travelling livestock show.
In Topeka today Senator Thomp-
son didn't say many comforting things
for the junket which started across
the country this week to meet the
soldiers, exhibit them at various stop
ping points, and test their nerves and
courage by loading them down with
long winded speeches. He wants the
soldiers lined up for a very short
parade in the larger towns. Then he
wants them turned loose for a couple
of hours-loose where they can coo in
the ears of long absent sweetheart
or Joy ride in an automobile.
Give EN- What They Want.
What is more, Senator Thompson
wants every Kansas town turned loose
to the boys when they arrive. Every
man in uniform should be given as
many cooked groceries and all the
candy. cigars and cigarets he wants.
Then, when the train moves away
from the station, the local reception
committee can walk up and pay the
bill.
This plan of receiving the soldiers
with lot of chesty speeches by fell
lows who want some extra votes in a
prospective campaign for office
doesn't make any sort of a hit with
me-" Thompson said. 1T is a mighty
fine thing to greet the boys when they
land in New York. 1t is great to show
them a good time. 1t is just the prop
er idea to turn the Kansas towns over
to them. But the turning over process
shouldn't be started with speeches and
end with jazz band music Let the
boys have a good time. Turn them
loose and tell them to take anything
in sight and let the local committee
pay the bill. The present plan looks
like travelling livestock show that is
out for exhibition CT politicians as well
as fighting men,
Long for p Benches.
at means who lot more to a boy
who has just come home. from France
to slip over to a park bench with his
BEST girl for half hour than it does to
line up for two hours for parades and
speeches by men he will be asked to
vote for next year. What is more. the
InOtnerS ana Iatners OF THESE boys
want them for their very own just the
first possible moment. They are not
coming to town to hear the chesty
politicians rave about the war. They
are coming to see John and Bill and
Tom. And they ought to see them
too. When the boys come to Hutch
inson we expect to turn the town over
to them and will pay the bill after
wards. Every man in soldiers uni
form will get just what he wants and
it won't cost him one cent. And there
won't be a flag waving speech during
the whole stop"
Senator Thompson is a Republican
and for four years has been state
senator from the Reno county district