The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-20
OFFICE IN TOPEKA
(Continue,1 from Page One,


that no words can express our admiration
of the bravery and cool-headedness of J.. T.
and J. N. Fowler, brothers of Arcadia,
Kan, who on the night Of September 18th
and 18th, last, met face to face within 40
feet three bank burglars robbing their
bank, and in a gun fight killed two of
THAT the state legislature pass law
allowing state banks to act as admins
lege now enjoyed by national banks.
The first address on this mornings
program was by John E. Wagner,
president of the Larned State bank,
and lately with the Red Cross in
France, instead ofethe Y. M. C A. as
enormously announced in the associa-
TONS printed program. In opening
however, Wagner praised the work of
the Y. NJ. C. A. in France, and de-
clared that it should be appreciated
more than criticism would indicate
Wagner then swung into a description
of the destruction and loss of life in
France as caused by the war. His
talk was dramatic and he held his
audience spellbound, as he told of the
thousands of young French girls car
ried behind their lines by the Huns
of the 1000 little children of France
whose homes were destroyed, whose
parents were killed or deported and
are lost in that they do not know their
own names. The American Red Cross,
he said, is caring for the most of these.
He also told of the great graveyards
of the backgrounds. If the graves
of all the peoples who lost their lives
in this war were placed one thousand
to the mile, a graveyard 600 miles
long, or from the North sea to the
Swiss border, and twelve miles wide
would be created. The largest grave
yard in the world, he said. is at Yer
dun where $4,000 Huns lie buried in
one spot.
Wagner voiced observation-disclosures
hatred for the Huns. He apologized
once for al1uding to them as Germans,
saying Germany ceased to exist when
the Potsdam powers began preparing
the country for war years ago, and all
the decent Germans came to the
United States.
The Red Cross worker touched but
lightly upon the battle of the Argonne
and was inclined to shy at statements
that avoidable mistakes had been
made.
"The Argonne.''N he said "is about
70 miles long and 40 miles wide. We
expected casualties when we went
into that battle. We expected blunders.
The fact of the matter is the enthusi
asm of the American doughboys car
ried him beyond the reach of the
artillery. 1t is true that there was a
shortage of horses, but horses were
not used on guns with calibre of
4 inches and under. Anyway I didn't
go over Inefe LOOKING Tor crltlc1Sm:
I went to work. and God knows I
found plenty of it,.
Wagner ended his talk by telling
of a miracle in> the battle fields of
Flanders
you know" he said. daisies never
grew in the south before the Civil
war. But after that war the graves
of soldiers were sprinkled with the
flowers. What placed them there
whether it was an act of God, we do
not know
Miracle of Wild Poppies
"Now there is another mira Gle
similar. Red wild peoples never grew
on the fields of Flanders before the
world war. But now the red peoples
are growing wave on wave in that vast
graveyard"
Wagner was followed by Master
George D. Hanna,sthe 16-year-o1d son
of George w. Hanna, vice president of
the association. who by the interest
he takes in his fathers work is prob
ably the youngest banker in Kansas.
Hanna urges that state bankers get
| behind an organized movement to en-
courage industry among the youth in
| both rural and city districts. This
! could be done. he asserted. by the
bankers lending boys money, on en-