The Topeka state journal., 1919-02-01
Former Topekan in Speech to
Kansas Day Club in N. Y.
State Is Counterpart in Nature
to Ford in Mechanics.
KANSAS MADE WAR EFFORT
And She Is the Better for 1t,
Newspaperman Declares.
Jayhawkers AstOunded World
in Agricultural Production.

The parc that Kansas has played in
the war and the spirit of Kansans
away from home were portrayed in a
speech delivered before the members
of the Kansas Day club in New York
City Wednesday evening by Arthur
Kane, a former Topekan and news
paperman. The speech. received to-
day by his mother. Mrs. A. L. Kane.
1923 North Quincy street, follows:
The Kansas society is the link to
Auld Lang Syne. Each year we as
semble on January 20 to commence
rate the admission of Kansas to the
Union on the same month and day in
1861. This is the fourteenth annual
gathering since the formation of the
society. Tonight, in Chicago and other
cities, as we'll as in Kansas Admission
day is being appropriately recognized.
If you see it in the Sun it's 81.
But if you see it in Prodigal Sun
you'll read it. One of our members,
John P. Fritts, has conceived and fur
nished the feature that makes this
meeting novek The newspaper which
you found by your plates is his own
daringly original plan, has take,l a
great deal of hard work, contains in
valuable data, has spread and will
spread greater interest in the society.
1 am sure 1 voice the sentiment of
all in saying, Mr.. Fritts, we thank
you"
We may as well warn everyone
there will be tonight toasts-toasts
and boasts and. perhaps, roasts. I am
the official I'VE have with us tonight"
Let strangers eXclaim when all is over,
"Oh, how those Kansans hate them
selves." But it is impossible there is
rt1o
There cannot be anyone anywhere
who is not claimed by Kansas or who
has not a claim upon it. The Kansan
is the counterpart in nature of the
Ford in mechanics. ubiquitous, univer-
sal. everywhere.
We might stagger you by the serene
statement that the wheat crop outlook
is $3.50 perfect and for two hundred
million bushels. But what about the
two million inhabitants who in 1861
numbered little over 100000. That,
ladies and gentlemen, has been Kan
sas' best crop. She never has raised
better, nothing so good, as
her boys and girls. her men and
women, her fair daughters and brave
sons. But, avaunt history. Statistics
quit my sight!
One of our great Kansas institutions
is the Santa Fe railway. Among the
things the Santa Fe brought to our
doors is the petrified forest of Arizona.
One of the guides at the prehistoric
trees recently was asked how old they
were. well. scientists differ. We
had convention of archaeologists
here and some claimed 5000 years,
while others said $4,000 years. For
my part 1 can't see the object of maxi
ing a man out a liar for a matter of
10000 years.
Later tonight we shall have the fun
of hearing one of jerry Blacks adjec-
tive exp partS who lure us from our
comfortable homes. 1t was not one of
these, but a frontiecsman whose de-
scription of the petrifed forest still
stands. "Podners," he said, perhaps
after besprinkling his interior with the
holy water of the region known To-
cally as taos lightning" ''Podners, 1
seed a pewtrified forest of pewtrified
trees with pewtrifed limbs choclx full
of pewtrified birds singin' of pewtri-
fled songs"
The Kansas War Effort.
Kansas made her war effort and is
the better for it. Thousands trained
at the Great Camp Funston, near Fort
Riley, under the guidance of that orig
inaI advocate of preparedness, Mai.
Gen. Leonard Wood. Many went
overseas and won fame. All honor to
them AMI to those who did not get
across but who trained as faithfully
and were as ready to go. The ever
lasting thanks of all who stayed be-
hind are due to the boys who en-
rolled in the marines and in the navy.
The magnificent work of the sea forces
made possible our Euccess on land.
Kansas women won an ~undyipg
place in the affections of their COM
patriots Altho they could not fight,
Sfica woe ST1,Ad 1,,o r,-oro -,-rj, o