davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22

WILLIAM BENSON STOREY, JR.,
began his rail way career as an axman
on the Southern Pacific railway in
1877. After a year in this capacity he
entered college. He re-entered the
railway service with the Southern
Pacific in 1881 as a rodman. He was
promoted to levelman, then transit
man and later to assistant engineer.
In 1893 he went with the United States
hydraulic mining commission as assis-
tant engineer. In 1895 he was made
chief engineer and general supeTin-
tendent of the San Francisco & San
Joaquin Valley railway. In 1900 he
came to the Santa Fe as chief engineer
at Topeka. He served in this capacity
until 1906, when he was made system
chief engineer at Chicago. In October,
1909, he was promoted to vice presl-
dent of the Santa Fe in charge of
operation. He was vice president
under the late Edward P. Ripley,
president, who died recently. After
the death of President Ripley. Nj.
Storey was chosen president of the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe with
headquarters in Chicago. Mr.. Storey
is a Ripley man." and is a thoro
student of railway affairs as conducted
the Santa Fe way
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22

CARL RAYMOND GRAY began his
railway career as telegraph operator
and station agent in 1889 on the Frisco
at Oswego, Kan Three years later he
was made chief clerk to the general
western agent of the road at Wichita
He was promoted in 1887 to CONNER
cia1 agent and in 1890 to district
freight agent. He was made division
freight agent in 1896 and in 1897 went
into the operating department as di-
vision superintendent. In 1900 he was
made superintendent of transportation
and in 1904. just sixteen years ago to-
day was made general manager. In
October of the same year he was pro-
NOTED to vice president and general
manager. Two years later he was ap-
pointed vice president in charge of
operation and from 1909 until 1911
was senior vice president. He has
served as general manager of the Chi
cago and Eastern Illinois railway,
president of the Spokane, Portland and
Seattle electric railways, president of
the Western Maryland railway, and
chairman of the Wheeling and L. E.
railway. In March. 1913 he was
made director of the division of trans
portation under the director general of
railways. His most recent railway
honor was the appointment as presi-
dent of the Union Pacific system.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
TOpeka's "Radium Woman"
Tries ChIOrOfOrm Cure.
Found in Bed, Face Burned
With Drug JanitOr Bought.
SHE GOES TO STATE HOSPITAL
Has Always Claimed Business
Man Has Haunted Her.
Mrs. ThOs. Van OrsdoI Was
Wife of Silver Lake Farmer.

Believing that she was under the
| influence of radium rays, Mrs. Sarah
Magdalene Van Orsdol, As, obtained a
16-ounce bottle of chloroform, lay
down on bG- bed in her apartments
at 72T Polk street and poured it over
her face, according to information OBJ
tained by county officers today. She
was found this morning by neighbors
after she had lain under the influence
of the drug for thirty-six hours
George Harper. the woman's broth
er, this morning swore to a complaint
in the probate court charging her with
insanity. Thru the state board of ad-
mtniStration arrangements were made
to commit her temporarily to the state
hospital pending a hearing on the
complaint before Judge Ralph Cav.
Harper told officials that Mrs. Van
Orsdol had poured the chloroform on
her face believing it would drive the
supposed radium rays from her body.
She had on a number of occasions
complained to officers that a Topeka
man was throwing the rays upon her
throat from an instrument carried in
his pocket. Once. she said, he threw
them all the way to California while
she was there visiting. She claims
they have caused her great pain and
anguish.
Janitor Bought Drug.
Harper told officers that the woman
had made several attempts lately to
obtain chloroform from druggists
whom she knew. but they refused to
sell it to her. She finally induced the
janitor at her apartments to obtain the
drug, Harper told the officers Ac-
cording to dates on bills left on groc-
cries delivered to her door. she lay in
her room, which she had locked up,
for thirty-six hours before she was dis
covered.
Ff.n - u,
had penetrated several other rooms,
neighbors became suspicious and en-
tered her room. it was said. Physi-
clans were called and she was removed
to a private sanitorium for treatment.
Aside from severe burns on her face
she had not suffered from her expert
ence, doctors said today.
According to officials, Mrs. Van Ors-
dol had been slightly deranged for
some time. One of her great hallu-
cinations was that prominent Topeka
business man was throwing the ra-
dunn rays on her throat. She had sew
eral times appealedsto the sheriff's of
flee to protect her.
On April 8, 1919, she was given a
divorce in the Shawnee county district
court from her husband. Thomas P
Van Orsdol, well-to-do farmer living
near Silver Lake. She charged him
with failure to provide her with food
ana clothlng. An emergency was de-
clared and she was granted the decree.
Their property was divided between
them and Van Orsdol was to pay her
$4,000. In her petition at that time
she stated that she had been i'll for
some time. Their 4-year-old child
was given into the custody of its IA
ther.
No date for the hearing on the in
sanity complaint had been set by
Judge Cav today.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
Distinguished Railway Officials
of Three Big Transcontinental
Systems Guests of Topeka Today
w. B. Storey of Chicago New President r.
President of Union
RockIa Of
thru Thruout the Great Southwe

Today is the biggest railroad day
in Topeka since before the war. The
twenty-fifth annual meeting of the
stockholders of the Santa Fe was to
be held here today. The return of the
railroads to private ownership will be
celebrated tonight at the Chamber of
Commerce. Representatives of five
railway systems, the Santa F'e, the
Union Pacific. the Rock Island, the
Missouri Pacific. and the Leavenworth
& Topeka line, will attend the dinner.
Topeka is the home of the Santa
Fe railway which is owned by a total
of $4,000 stockholders. Few systems
in the United States are owned by so
large a representative of stockholders
of so diversified interests
Two railway presidents, w. B.
Storey, president of the Santa Fe, and
Carl r. Gray, president of the Union
Pacific system, are to visit Topeka to-
day. They will be the principal speak
ers at the dinner to be held at the
Chamber of Commerce tonight. Two
other presidents, ]. E. German, presi-
dent of the Rock Island, and B. F.
Bush, president of the Missouri Pa
cific, will be unable to attend the
dinner
At the homecoming dinner to be
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
FOUR ROBBERIES LAST NIGHT
Thieves Enter Three Business Houses
But Find Little.

Four robberies were reported to the
police early this morning.
DR.. Stephen z. Smith, 1903 North
Kansas avenue, reported that several
medical instruments which he had left
in his car in his garage were taken
Burglars entering the Bassett
plumbing and tin shop, 621 Quincy
street, took fifty cents in stamps and
broke the combination from the safe
i'll an effort to open it.
At Rogers cafe, Tenth and Kansas
avenue. someone entered thru a rear
window and carried the safe from the
front of the restaurant to the kitchen
and attempted to open it and failed.
Between 8 and o'clock this morn
ing the glass in the rear of the L. c.
Kahn shirt factory was found broken.
Nothing was missed from the stock,
however.
No arrests had been made in con-
nection with the burglaries late today.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
BREAD PRICES UP
Further High Levels in Wheat
Predicted by Government.
Europe Worlds 1920 Crop Will
Be Below Average.
big CARRYOVER WON'T HELP
Much of 15O,00O,OOO Bushels on
Hand Low Grade.
Chicago Grain Pits Wild-Bear
Raids in New York.
BIG cARRYOVER WON'T HELP

Washington, April 22.-Bread prices
will be increased again following ris-
ing flour and wheat quotations, gov
ernment reports indicated today.
Wheat. now selling far above the
government guaranteed price, has not
yet reached high level, according to
the crop estimate bureau of the agri-
culture department.
THE 1920 crop will be short not
only in the United States but thruout
the world" said Statistician Nat Muir
ray.
This will affect prices inside the
United States. 1t means what the
trade calls a healthy market It
spells the reverse of reductions, fluc-
tuating market and perhaps also fur
ther advances in prices"
Other signs also point to a rising
market One is dissolution of the
United States Grain corporation June
80.
The grain corporation, thru its abil-
ity to buy. sell, or store large quanti-
ties of wheat has power to control
prices to a large extent. Many farmers
contend it deliberately has kept down
wheat prices Senators and congress
men from agricultural states today
predicted dissolution of the corpora
ton would bring sudden increases in
prices.
Two factors. however, may tend to
keep prices at their present level.
These are fluctuating foreign exchange
rates which will restrict foreign buy
| ing of American wheat. and a big
carryovef of 1919 wheat, announced
| today by the agriculture department.
| The carryover is placed at $50. .000,-
900 bushels or about SO per cent more
than the normal pre-war carryover.
| The department qualified its an
nouncement by warning that much OF
the carryover wheat is of low grade,
which will mill poorly.
| Chicago Trading Wild.
| Chicago, April 22.-Grain futures
today and aided by heavy buying
jumped from l to s cents over the
opening.
May corn at 1s7k was up 5A ovel
the opening. July corn gained cents
at 1917: September corn was vi
] May oats gained cents at 95 anl
July oats was up u at s5%.
A big trade was in progress in al
the grain pits. There had been g
heavy accumulation of selling orders
during the night and individual oper-
ations counted for little. After the
| opening, however. commission house
buying increased, and sharp rally
followed. Price fluctuations were sc
rapid that blackboard quotations were
frequently far out of line with the ac-
tual market in the pit.
New York Bear Raid Rallies.
New York, April 22.-The bear drive
which was started on the stock ex-
change yesterday was resumed during
the second hour of trading today.
The entire industrial list was forced
below the Wednesday low. U. s. steel
sold at SO ", compared with the high
for 1920 of 100. Pan American went
to 941z; crucible to 224; Mexican
petroleum ITO: U. S. realty 54A
Shortly after 1880 there was fair
recovery,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22

held. tonight at the Chamber of Com
merce, Elmer F. Strain, division
freight agent Of the Rock Island, and
president of the Chamber of Com
merce, will beStoastmaster. Otto B.
Cutler manager of the Leavenworth
& Topeka, will welcome the guests on
behalf of the city of Topeka and the
Chamber of Commerce
A list of the guests of honor fol-
lows:
The Guests of Honor.
Among the special guests of honor
are:
SANTA FE-From the Chicago office
W b. Storey, Jr., president; e. j. Engel
vice president; e. Chambers, vice presi-
dent; A G. Wells, vice president; s. T.
Bledsoe, general counsel; Gardiner Lath-
rop, general solicitor; W. f. Bailey, gen
eral auditor; NJ. J. Collins, general pur-
chasing agent; c. F. w. Felt. chief engi-
neer; F. b. Houghton, freight traffic
manager; w. J. Black, passenger traffic
manager; John Purcell assistant to vice
president. From Topeka offices: f. c.
Fox, general manager; J. r. Koontz, as
sistant freight traffic manager; j. NJ
Conneli, general passenger agent; w. R
Smith. solicitor for Kansas; E. L. Cope
land. secretary and treasurer; NJ J. Drury
superintendent Of shops; Howell Jones
and Charles S. Gleed directors.
UNION PACIFIC-Carl r. Gray, presi-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
OUTLAW CHIEF KEEPS PROMISE
Released From Jail, He Leads Strikers
Back to Jobs-Part of Them,

Chicago. April 22.-John Grunau,
leader of the striking railroad switch
men. was back in Chicago today, free
from jail on bond. Reports were that
Grunau would arrange a second meet
ing of outlaws" to end the strike.
Following the breakup of the strik-
ers. mass meeting called yesterday to
officially end the strike, Shannon
Jones, r. S. Murphy and Grunau led
a group of strikers back to their jobs.
They were called "rebels" and
traitors" when they attempted to
have the strikers meeting vote the
strike ended
Railroad officials today reported the
situation nearly normal. THE move
ment of livestock continues above nor
NAL" the reports of railroads said, de-
claring freight and passenger service
was little affected now by the strike.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22

THOMAS H. BEACON began his
railway career as a timekeeper on a
construction gang of the Chicago, Mil
waukee & St. Paul in 1882. He was
promoted to check clerk. then ticket
clerk. He decided to enter the oper-
ating department of the road and
started as a brakeman on the Milwau-
kee in 1885. Later he was made con-
ductor, and then general yardmaster.
From August 1902, until February,
1904, he was trainmaster of the Iowa
and Illinois divisions of the Rock Is
land. He served. as superintendent of
the Oklahoma. st. Louis, Kansas. Pan
handle and Missouri divisions of the
Rock Island and as superintendent of
the Kansas division lived in Topeka.
In December. 1909, he was made gen
eral superintendent of the third dis
trict of the Rock Island and in May,
1912. became assistant general man
ager at Ell Reno. From 1914 until
December. 1915, he was general man
ager of the third district and later un-
der the merger of the second and third
districts became general manager of
both. In July. 1918. he was made gen.
eral manager of the system at Chi
cago. In March. 1920, he was pro-
NOTED to vice president and general
manager of the system at Chicago. He
was elected to this position he holds
today by the-board of directors Feb
ruary 81, 1920.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22

hdHSds IS Que TOT a heaVy IrOst To-
night. The weather bureau predicts
a temperature of 35 early tomorrow
morning This is considered a heavy
but not killing frost. Last night in
western Kansas the mercury went
down to 2S-low enough to freeze an
inch of Ice
The weather for the next twenty
four hours will be clear and chilly.
The wind last night saved the eastern
part of the state from a severe freeze.
Tonight the wind will die down.
Kansas is just below the rain belt.
1t is raining from Nebraska to Penn
sylvania. No measurable rain has
fallen here in the dast twenty-four
hours. Kansas today is the coldest
state in the Union.
The temperature climbed to 81
Wednesday. It will go to about So to-
morrow afternoon and not above so
l,s.-.t -. c.r, "a rI..;:. q
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
MUST GO UP
President w. B. Storey Says
Railways Need Money.
No Chance for improvements
Here at This Time.

The immediate plans of the Santa
Fe for the future. w. B. Storey. presi-
dent, declared this morning. will be to
first catch up with what has been al
lowed to slip behind. This is Mr..
Storey's first visit to his "old home
town" as president of the Santa Fe.
Improvements" Mr.. Storey said
will be based on the ability of the
roads to establish credit. 1 believe the
new transportation act which throws
the burden on the interstate commerce
commission will be of great assistance
in assisting the roads in borrowing
money Recent loans Of eastern rail-
way companies were made on per
cent basis. The new transportation
act, however, allows only a return of G
per cent on valuation"
Road Behind Growth.
Before the war. the Santa Fe used
to spend s20.000,00O per year in in
creasing facilities and adding equip
ment. To equal the same rate of
growth we should now have to spend
10000, 900 per year. The road is
several years behind its growth II
would require $6O.000.0OO for each of
the next three years to put the road
on the basis it was before it went un-
der government control.
1T will be several years before we
will be in a position to furnish the
service and accommodations found on
the Santa Fe line before the war. AS
soon as credit is established and the
road making money, all these things
Continued on Page Four.J
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22

dent, Omaha; E. E. Calvin, vice president,
Omaha; H. NJ. Adams, vice president,
Omaha; w. NJ. Jeffers, Omaha, general
manager; R. L. Huntiey, Omaha, chief
engineer; c; ]: Lane, Omaha, general
freight agent; A. L.. Craig, Omaha, gen
eral passenger agent; N. H. Loomis,
Omaha, general solicitor; Z. Stenger, gen
eral superintendent, Kansas City, Mo.
H. G. Kaill, general freight agent. Kansas
City; G. o. Brophy, division superintend-
ent, Kansas City; c. L.. Sleeper, agent.
Topeka; c. E. Hedrix, division superIn-
tendent, Marysville; Robert W. Blair,
solicitor for Kansas, Topeka.
ROCK ISLAND IT. II. Beacon, vice
president and general manager, Chicago
II. L. Reid, general superintendent, El
Reno, Okla; c. b. Pratt, superintendent.
Herington; F. ]: Shubert. general freight
agent, Kansas City; ]. A. Stewart, gen
eral passenger agent, Kansas City; S. H.
johnson, vice president and traffic mana
ger, Chicago; L. NJ. Allen, vice president
and passenger traffic manager, Chicago
Z. F. Strain, division freight agent
Charles 4. Bascom, city passenger agent
Luther ]. Burns, solicitor for Kansas.
MISSOURI PACIFIC-Edward ]. White
vice president and general solicitor, st.
Louis; A. Robertson, vice president in
charge of operation, st. Louis; C. L. Per-
kins, vice president in charge of traffic,
st. Louis; E A. Hadley, chief engineer
st. Louis; F. E. Nipps, city passenger
[. & TO. B. Gufler, manager, Topeka.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
WASHBURN VS.. BETHANY TODAY
Ideal Baseball Weather Marks Opening
Conference Season Here

Topeka baseball fans today will wit
ness Washburn's first game of the
Kansas conference schedule The Blue
will cross bats with Bethany college,
of Lindsborg, at Western league park
at 8 o'clock this afternoon.
Altho confidence is expressed in a
victory for the Ichabods, the dopesters
warn it will not be acquired without
a struggle. The Swedes have always
played ball and have always showed
good form on the diamond. They are
declared to be as good or better than
ever this year. The game today will
be their first of the season
Wycoff is slated to start on the
mound for the Blue this afternoon,
with "Bilr' Joerg in reserve. The
most tried and trusted of the Blue
players will occupy their assigned
places on the diamond. The grounds,
with rain the first of the week fol-
lowed by two days of sunshine, are in
ideal shape. If Washburn wins today
it will give them a good start in the
conference race. Southwestern and
St Marys are expected to be the
strongest factors in the scramble for
the pennant.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
Mother of ELeUen
Is Asking DiUorce

After twenty-three years of married
life. Mrs. Martha V. Burbank, the
mother of eleven children. today filed
suit in the district court here for a
divorce from Otis Burbank, said now
to be in Eilensburg. Wash.
Mrs. Burbank lives near Richland.
She states in her petition that she and
Burbank were married in January,
1887, and that they lived together un-
til June. 1914 She charges him with
extreme cruelty. asserting that he has
used violent and abusive language in
addressing her and that he has threat
ened to kill her and her children.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
BIG PRIZE OFFERED
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

Washington. April 22.-High
school students thruout the country
are to be given an opportunity to
compete for a four-year scholar
ship at any institution the winner
may choose, as a prize for the best
essay in connection with the ship
by truck-good roads week May
17-22.
A prominent truck manufacturer
Will make the award. and state su-
perlntendents of education have
been asked to conduct the contest
within their states.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
BY A. L. sHULTZ,

Wichita, Kan, April 22.-District DEL
egates were elected at the morning
session of the state Democratic con-
vention here today. Two women were
chosen out of the sixteen district dele
gates to San Francisco and three wo-
men were included among the alter
mates.
Barney ]. Sheridan of Paola was
convention and c. ]. Peterson OF To-
peka was chosen secretary with Mrs.
c. w. Spencer of Sedan and c. Clyde
Meyers of Mankato as assistants.
Col. Sam Amidon, of Wichita. was
re- elected national committeeman by
accla ation.
The report of the committee on
rules of order this afternoon p6o-
vided for the election of one woman
delegate and one woman alternate. An
alternative proposition was made that
two women and two men be elected at
large. The order of business was
adopted as reported from the COM
mittee. Henderson s. Martin. of
Lawrence, was elected permanent
chairman and C. J. Peterson was made
permanent secretary.
Big McAdoo Outburst
A McAdoo demonstration was clear
ly feature of the convention. Senti-
ulent in favor of President Wilson'S
date for president was strongly
marked when Barney j. Sheridan of
Paola, temporary chairman of the con-
vention. mentioned his name as one OF
the presidential possibilities. Applause
following this statement lasted half q
minute. McAdoo was the only pres
identiaI candidate to draw cheers.
Sheridan, slated to tear strips of
hide from the Allen administration.
ran true to form, branding the gov
ernor as "old Jim Lane incarnate"
and bitterly denouncing the acts of his
administration. He advised the DEM
ocrats, however. not to touch the in
dustrial court and other state issues
Starr came in for scathing criticism
for its alleged attempt 10 dictate Kan
sas politics.
For William Allen White, sheridan's
compliment was a declaration that
the Emporia editor is the flesh and
blood prototype Of old Land POM
eroy."
Rcvives 1912 memories"
Henry Allen, who could not stand
on the windwsrd side of Mulvane and
Penrose in 1912. because of the odor
OF the old Republican party, now seeks
their council and companionship,"
said Sheridan.
Republicans of Kansas have seen
fit" he continued. ito criticise every
act of that man who, with one hand.
for six months has been holding off
death and with the other has been
striving to write a document that will
make for a higher plane of civiliza-'
ton.
leave State Issues Alone.''
II would not seek to advise this
| convention. but I do hope you will
leave state issues alone. 1 refer par
ticularly to the Industrial court law.
What IL it did cost the people of KAN
l'sas s560,000 to mine 1000 tons OF
coal? Let the law take its course"
The chairman ccmplimented the
Democrats on the character of the
Republican opposition.
reference was made by Sheridan to
Alexander Howat who does not choose
to obey all the orders of a special ses-
sion of the legislature"
The Paola editor referred to the
Adamson law "the best law ever
passed by an American congress"
One brief clash marked the opening
tContinued IN Page Two.l
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
DAVIS CANDIDATE
Fort Scott Democrat Seeks
GOvernOrship.
Two New Congressional Aspir.
ants Announce Today.

Wichita, Kan, April 22.-J. M
Davis of Fort Scott. Kan, will be can
didate for governor on the Demo
cratic ticket
Davis made announcement of his
candidacy just before he entered the
state Democratic convention here to-
day. The Fort Scott man has served
as a member of the house and senate
from Bourbon county and is active in
state politics. Four years ago. he was
defeated for reelection to the senate.