The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-22
Adjutant General Will Be on
"HOwdy" Committee in n. Y.
Receptions for Kansas Oyersea
Fighters When They Land.
FIRST STEP IN WELCOME PLAN
Helen Ostertag and Mrs. Cora
Lewis Also Get Commissions.
Monster State Celebration Also
To Be Held at Funston.

Governor Allen today took the initial
steps looking toward a genuine Kansas
welcome for returned soldiers and sail
ors. Under commissions from the gov
ernor, Charles I. Martin, adjutant gen.
eral; Mrs. Cora G. Lewis of Kinsley,
and Miss Helen Ostertag of Atchison.
will leave next week for New York to
take up reception work.
Miss Ostertag, a sister of Represent
ative Ostertag of Atchison, will be
placed in charge of Kansas headquar-
ters in New York as secretary. She
will visit hospitals, will meet trans
ports and direct the reception of cas-
uals.
Mrs. Lewis, former member of the
state board of administration and
mother of a Kansas boy who made the
supreme sacrifice in France, will di
rect the organization of the work
among Kansas women in New York
City. She will arrange for soldier and
sailor receptions for returned Kansas
boys by the women of New York and
will cooperate with Miss Ostertag in
her work as secretary of the Kansas
commission.
Confer With War Department.
General Martin will stop next week
for conference with Missouri officials
regarding their plans for reception of
units in which there are both Kansas
and Missouri men. He will also go to
Washington for a conference with the
war department. He will secure in
formation regarding the sailing dates
of Kansas units. Later he will spend
much time in New York in the active
reception work.
Plans are now being worked out by
Governor Allen for the appointment of
local reception committees to take
charge of the reception programs when
the boys reach home. Not only will
a n I1a n
they reach New York, but they will
be entertained and banqueted when
they arrive in their old home towns.
Communities which sent but two or
three boys to the front will be urged
to make special arrangements for re-
ceptions.
The entire state is to be organized
for the work, Governor Allen stated.
Local committees will be named at
an early date.
Reception at Funston.
A genuine Kansas state reception
will also be given the returned SOL
diers and sailors this spring. The en-
tire state will participate in the mon
ster reception which will doubtless be
staged at Camp Funston in advance
of the demobi1ization of the big fight
ing organizations from Kansas. Gov
ernor Allen stated today that in his
judgment the state wide reception
date will not be definitely determined
until more detailed information is re-
celved concerning the arrival of the
Thirty fifth, Eighty-ninth and other
divisions.
Every boy will be given a home
coming welcome that will be in keep
ing with the appreciation of the state
for the bravery of the service over
seas, said Governor Allen. In every
town and village-no matter if but
two boys went from the community
the men will be received and enter
| tanned when they get home. General
| Martin. Mrs. Lewis and Miss Oster-
| tag will leave for the east next week
/ to take charge of the reception work
for the boys when they reach. New
| York"
The legislature appropriated s35,-
| OOO Tor the Kansas reception of her
! fighting men when they reach New
J Ycrk and when they are demobilized
/ at Camp Funston.