davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
Ouesfions-AnstDers

Q. How was the length of mile de-
millaire, which contained a thousand
pa>es. pace was Roman feet, this be-
ing the length of the double step made by
one foot from the time it was taken off the
ground until it was put down again.
Q. 1 understand that the senior senator
accompanies and introduces a new senator
office for representatives ?-B. A. 7.
A. Since all representatives are elected
for two years only, the entire membership
OF the house has to be sworn in at the be-
ginning of a new session. The oldest MEM
Der of the house administers the oath to
the Speaker of the House. who then ad-
ministers the oath to groups of members,
the groups usually composed OF one or more
state delegations. In case or member
elected to fill an unexpired term, the new
representative is usually introduced by
member OF mis- state delegation.
Q. Is the number of deaths in railroad
accidents growing smaller, or does it only
caused by automobiles?-M. X. S.
A. The interstate commerce commission
in railroad accidents. this being the lowest
death record since 1898.
Q; What is the longest road in the
A. The Lincoln Highway may we'll be
styled the longest road in the world. 1t
crosses twelve states. connecting New York
with San Francisco as directly as possible,
consistent with the topography of the eoun-
try.
y. HOW many people are drawing Span
ish-American war pensions?
A. The pension bureau says that the
number of pensioners of the Spanish-Amer-
lean war on the rolls now is 22,s14.
ANY reader can get the answer to any
question by writing The Topeka State
Journal information bureau. Frederic J.
Haskin. Director, Washington, D. c. This
offer applies strictly to Information. The
bureau cannot give advice on legal. medical,
and financial matters. 1t does not under
take to settle domestic troubles. nor to
undertake exhaustive research on any
subject Write your question pfainiy- and
briefly. Give full name and address, and
enclose 2-cent stamp for return postage
AL replies are sent direct to the INQUIRER ,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29

The movement for the "open shop"
which has been inaugurated by asso-
cations of employers in various parts
of the country has precipitated wide
discussion regarding the rights OF Ia
Dor. 1t must appear to the unpreju-
diced mind that the rights of the
laboring man are identical with the
rights of any other citizen. Every
man. be he Iaborer. capitalist or mer-
chant. has the right to do whatever is
best for his own interest, so long as
NE remains within the laws-moral'
common and statute. Special rights
and privileges are repugnant to Amer
lean ideals. The public will not long
tolerate injustice to any class of citi-
zens. Both labor and its employers
can depend on ultimate Justice even
tho It may sometimes be delayed.
when all other means of adjusting
disputes which concern the public fail,
the people resort to the ballot box and
the majority rules.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
Dinner Stories

They were very young and very
happy, and very foolish and very new
" wed. And they had a garden.
Angelica. darling" said the youth
full husband. ''as 1 was passing thru
the garden I saw some asparagus
ready for cooking. Perhaps you'd like
to go and gather the first fruit of the
season yourself?''
She would love to, but she wasn't
expert in horticulture and didn't want
to let on. If she went alone she
might commit some egregious blum
der.
Il tell you what Edwin" exclaimed
the girl wife enthusiastically, well
go out together. You shall pluck and
will hold the ladder"
An English clergyman's wife was
at supper with a farmer and his fam
lily who lived in the parish.
Some more am. father" said the
son. passing his plate.
Don't say am. boy. it's am"
IT said am. father
You said am, and I tell you it's
am"
( Here the farmers wife turned to
her guest with an amused smile and
said: They both think they're say
ing am"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29

ground for carping on the part of vii
lage critics.
One evening in early September
Miss Joan HARRISON and Mr.. Robert
Owen went out TO Bell River Bridge
in Miss Harbison's little runabout TO
take a look at their completed work.
Tomorrow the bridge would be opened
with appropriate ceremonies; the town
council and the mayor would make
speeches, and there would be band,
ana generally good time would be
had by all.
But in the twilight the bridge was
peaceful and quiet as it gracefully
spanned the stream; the two jon the
bank looked at it fondly and proudly,
Miss HARRISON with a sense of pro-
prietorship, for the bridge would be
a monument to her work as highway
commissioner; Owen with an air OF
regarding a good piece of work. They
were silent for a few moments; then
Owen, stepping from the machine, in
vited his companion to sit beside him
on a girder.
well, it's finished" he said after
pause:
whats the matter? Are you sorry
it's over?"
''No-that is. yes. I mean I'm not
sorry, and still-well, I am"
Thus the official, efficient highway
commissioner. The highly impersonal
and very businesslike Robert Owen
could find nothing to say but Are
you?'' which did not. seem to have
any direct bearing on the subject.
More silence.
I'm going away tomorrow" offered
Robert after a time.
Are you? I'm so sorry!"
The words slipped out before Miss
HARRISON realized their import and a
deep blush overspread her face. But
Robert Owen, regardless Of the scan
dalized faces of a couple of country
people who happened to drive by that
way at that time. impetuously caught
the efficient Miss HARRISON in his
arms and saba great many things
with which we have no concern what
ever. But they must have been satis'
factory, for Miss HARRISON seemed to
agree with every one of them.
The country people drove on. The
twilight deepened. The Bell River
Bridge stood contemplative, while the
water beneath it flowed on. as water
has been in the habit of doing the
world over. But neither of the two
on the girder minded the water. or
the country people. or the bridge. the
bridge was finished; they had just be-
gun to live.
paper Syndicate.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29

the one about the hogs. 1t is esti-
mated that a pound of corn contains
a little less than one-half as much
fuel value as pound of soft coal.
Corn must sell at % cents a>bushel
in order to be as cheap for fuel as soft
coal is at SIC ton. Assuming these
figures to be approximately correct it
may be deduced therefrom that little
corn has been burned or will be
burned in Kansas this winter. 1t may
be as well to stick. as closely as pos
sible, to the facts.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29


Improvement of business activity,
says a bulletin issued by the National
Bank of Commerce, awaits adjust
ment of retail prices to a level salts
factory TO the public. 1t is clear. It
says. that farmers, for example. who
constitute the largest single class of
consumers and who have already ex-
perienced a substantial reduction in
the prices of their products, will not
renew their buying on anything other
than a hand-to-mouth scale until the
price of what they buy bears a closer
relation to the price of what they have
TO sell. This necessary readjustment
of prices to consumers is now unaer
way and will be expected to make
more rapid progress in the future. Its
progress will be FASTENED by the COM
ing into the market of goods which
are already being produced on lower
cost levels for labor and material.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
Local Mention

The Rev. NJ. w. Baker is travelling
over Kansas arranging speaking tours
for field speakers of the Kansas Anti
Cigaret league, it is announced by F.
L. Crabbe, superintendent.
Liberty bonds. Phone John Klein
hans-Adv.
Let A. p. Challis do your tire and
tube repairing. All work guaranteed.
C. & NJ. Tire Co., 203 West 9th. Phone
1s6.y-Adv. K
Thos. w. Hughes, 14S4 Bosweli> Sc
cured building permit from the fire
marshal today to make $4,000 ad-
dition to his property to be used for
business purposes.
Commissioner Wilbur A. Stanfield
of the city water and light depart
ment, is visiting Winfield. Chanute
and Lawrence, Kan, and Pleasant
Hill, Mo-, to inspect Turbin electric
power machines such as will be in
stalled in Topeka.
Heavy U. S. Army Blankets. Coats.
Shoes. Underwear for sale at 531
Kansas Ave.-Adv.
The annual meeting of the Topeka
Public Health Nursing association will
l. e.
4:30 o'clock in the council chamber
at the city hall. Annual reports will
be made at that time.
Art Materials. ]. X. Jones Paint Co.
ADV.
George I. Brown, traffic policeman
at Eighth and Kansas avenues. is the
author of Topeka guide book with
complete information of various kinds
about the city, illustrated with a city
map and auto route maps.
List your property with the Shaw
nee Investment Company. Phone
5050.-Adv.
The fire department was called to
the home os A. A. Alden, 1870 Holman
street, this morning at s:45 o'clock
when a small fire slightly damaged
furnishings in the house.
DR.. Lyngar. Dentist. sos Kansas Ave.
ADV.
Mr. and Mrs. James Dunn, 6I0
ter. born December 20. to whom they
have given the name, Virginia Lee.
Mrs. Dunn was formerly Miss Bessie
Carruthers.
Raymond. Chiropodist. Orpheum Bldg
The disagreements between Fred
Painter superintendent of water
works, and Wilbur Stanfield, commits
sioner of water and lights, will not be
so numerous when Stanfield moves
into his new office within few days.
Painter said today. The new office
adjoins the office which has been
used by Painter and Stanfie1d to-
gether. ''Stanfield doesn't like fur"
Painter said. Two much fur flies
with our desks here facing each
other"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
Dorothy Dix Tails
BIZ DOROTHY DIX
Don't Say It-2.

Don't say 1T.
p And there are the C's, a splendid
man and woman SO far as character
goes Both with the highest moral
principles. and deeply in love with
each other when they married They
have health. wealth. beautiful chill
dren. a lovely home, everything that
should make marriage a success. But
their home is a perpetual storm CEN
ter. It is full of strife. and pickering.
and examinations, and recriminations.
and is a place, that one would flee
from as from purgatory itself The
husband and wife are beginning to
hate each other. The children never
come home as long as they can stay
anywhere else.
And the whole trouble Is that both
the man and the woman are victims
of the arguing habit. They have to
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29

Harvesting of~the Kansas corn crop
IS about completed, according to in
formation given out by the secretary
OF the state board OF agriculture. The
secretary omits stating what proper
ton of the harvesting was performed
by the hogs. It may be recalled that
a few weeks ago he announced that
farmers were turning their swine into
the fields. Another matter on which
enlightenment might be welcomed is
the extent to which corn has been
used for fuel this winter. The decla1-
alton that farmers were burning corn
appeared at about the same time as
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29

go to the mat on every subject. from
politics to pie, and fight it out to the
bitter end. Neither one will ever give
in. Neither one will ever use any tact
one ever concifiates the other. and the
result is that they are running each
Others lives, and turning a home that
should be a heaven into a hell.
OF course, we all enjoy expressing
our opinions, but there are a great
many times when the pleasure you
get out of it isn't worth the price.
Not only is it true that silence is
golden, but upon occasions dumbness
pays the biggest dividends of anything
in which we can possibly invest.
Suppose your employer has made
blunder. Think what you please
about it, but keep your thoughts to
yourself. He is probably as sore as
"a boil over. his stupidity. and you won't
endear yourself to him by rubbing
it in.
Suppose the evil you have prophe-
sled does come true. Don't mention
it. OF all the people in the world we
hate, the chief among them, are the
I-told-you-so's.
Suppose you have the gift of say
ing sharp and funny things. Don't use
it. A laugh is poor pay for the loss of
a friend, and many a woman cuts the
throat of Dan Cupid with her tongue.
People will forgive any other wrong
we 90 IleIIl QulCkcI bIldh licy VIII
being made ridiculous. Laugh with
people and they will love you. Laugh
at them and they will hate you.
Suppose the members of your fam
lily have their little weaknesses and
faults. Suppose your wife Is grow
ing fat, and your husband bald headed.
Suppose Mary's dress is unbecoming,
and John has no taste in neckties.
Just keep silent about their little
eccentricities. The reason most of us
do not enjoy the society of our fami-
lies is because they are the only peo-
pie on earth who remind us, con-
tinually of what poor weak, miserable
creatures we are. A little judicious ST.
lence would go farther than anything
else in oiling the wheels of domestic
life.
And why not eliminate argument
from the family circle? Let each in
dividual hold his or her own opinion.
You can reserve the same right for
yourself. Don't say the thing that is
as good to start a domestic fight as a
nickel is for ginnercake, and you will
find that the dove of peace has taken
up its abiding place on your hearth
stone.
Believe me that the things we are
gladdest of afterwards are the things
we might have said, and didn't say.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
LIFE INSURANCE MEN TO MEET.
Representatives of Aetna Company to
Gather Hero Tomorrow.

Twenty-Five or more representatives
of the Aetna Life Insurance company,
from all parts of Kansas, will gather
in Topeka Thursday for the sefni-an-
Eual agency meeting. o. r. Crop
per. state manager. will be in charge
of the meeting which will occupy the
afternoon and evening.
During the afternoon there will be a
school of craftsmanship and the agents
will meet at Pelletier's for a turkey
dinner in the evening. The Aetna
company has written $1.500.000 more
insurance in the state of Kansas dur
ing 1920. than in any previous year.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
ASK CHANGE IN BRIDGE LAW.
legislature To Be Asked to Raise
Cost for County Bridge.

A new bridge across the Kaw river
at Tecumseh will be built Jointly by
Shawnee and Jefferson counties if the
legislature this winter can be induced
to change the statute which provides
that no county may spend more than
$4,000 for one bridge. The two
counties together, under the present
law, could raise only 100000, and it
is estimated that the span would cost
twice this amount
The bridge would replace the old
Belmont avenue bridge which was
washed out several years ago by high
water. Petitions in favor of the bridge
have been circulated in both counties
and have received hundreds of sigma
lures. The Shawnee county legisla-
tive committee is said to favor the
stru ctlf&e.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
JUST FOLKS

BY EDGAR A. GUEST.

USELESS LIFE.
visit I'd lived in Caesars time,
I might have climbed to nights sublime
BY winnin' wars an dom things
Like oxerthrowin' forrin' kings
An havin' people bow to me
For hawai- brought them victory.
II I'd been here in seventy-six-
/ might have got in politics,
Or on a tea chest swung an axe
Because Of Britain's heavy tax.
An every history studyin' kid
Would have to know the things did.
II I'd been here when Franklin tried
kite-Ayin' with storm outside.
1 might have beat him to that, trick
Or showed 'em one that's just as slick.
1t might have been my luck to be
The one to find Electricity.
But here 1 am, my fathers son. 90
An all the biggest jobs are done:
I've missed my chance to rise to fame
An let the whole world know my name;
When l get twenty-one or two
There won't be much for me to do.
Copyright, 1920, by Edgar A. Guestl
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
Pay $4,000, 900 to Withdraw Shit

whereby the $150.O0o.000 suit brought
against VIM. Rockefeller and other
directors of the New York, New Haven
& Hartford railroad by stockholders
would be withdrawn on payment OF
$2.e00,000 was reported to have been
reached at a conference here
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
Flre causes $500. ooo loss.

Wilmington, Del. Dec 29.-The
plant of the Wilmington Leather COM
pany covering four city blocks, was
destroyed by fire during the night.
The fire broke out in a drying loft,
rapidly spread to ten adjoining build
ings and despite the best efforts of ten
fire companies, the plant was q mass
of ruins early today with a total loss
estimated by James ]. Ford. treasurer
of the company at $4,000 900
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
NOTED FTNANCIER is DEAD.
A. j. HcmphilI Was Identified With
Many Public Service Corporations.

New York. Dec 2s.-The death of
A j. Hemphill, chairman of the board
of directors of the Guaranty Trust
company. at his home here last night
was announced today.
Mr.. Hemphill. who was a prominent
figure in New York financial circles,
had been in failing health for a year.
He was born in Philadelphia sixty
four years ago and was identified with
public service corporations turnout the
country and with nationwide relief
and charitable bodies g
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
Lack of Cash Ends Strike.

ST. Louis, Dec 2s.-The 700 union
walters who went on strike here Octo-
Der y in an effort to enforce demands
for the closed shop. today began re-
turning to work under the open shop
plan. A depleted treasury caused the
men to discontinue the strike, uniol
officials announced.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29

October and other Word Pictures
IS the title OF one among the latest
candidates for public approval to be
issued by a Kansas author. 1t is "a
booklet OF AZ pages by w. E. Black
burn. editor of the Harrington Sun. 1t
accumulation OF years spent at the
editorial desk. They possess the true
Kansas flavor. The author probably
IS known to most newspaper men in
the state. The booklet is for sale by
him at 81 the copy. 1t was printed in
his own plant and geographically is
a credit 10 his Workmanship.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
FOUR CONFESS IL RoBBERIrs.
Kansas City Youths Held by Police
Proud of Their RECORD

Kansas city. Mo-, Dec. 29.-Four
men arrested In a police roundup of
suspects have confessed to twelve
robberies committed within the last
few weeks. All but one of the prison
ers are youths of from II to 20 years
and proud of their criminal records
The quartet gave the names of Will
liam Leonard Thompson, Henry
Beard. Charles I. Golden and Harry
-(.ruye
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
wichita FANS GrappIer wins.

Henry Irslinger of Wichita Falls won
from Bull Montana of Los Angeles
here last night in two straight falls.
The first fall came after fifty-four
minutes with a leg hold and the sec
sors.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29

at her home. s13 Quincy street. Funeral an
nouncements later.
The funeral of Mrs virgie Matthews will
be held Thursday at > O'Clock from the
home, GO Tyler street. Burial in Topeka
cemetery.
CARL Z. BENTLEY, age co. died
Wednesday night at his home, 1904 Kan
sas avenue. The funeral will be held at
80 O'Clock Thursday, from Penwell's
chapel. The body will be taken to Car
thage, Indiana, for burial.
The funeral of r. W. Boyd, who died
Friday in local hospital, will be held at
80 O'Clock, Thursday, from Stonestreet's
chapel. The services will be in charge of
Mount Moriah lodge No. s, A. f. & A. NJ
Burial in Mount Auburn cemetery.
REV. JAMES CRIswoLD MERRILL.
age so, died December -, at Mountain
Lakes, New Jersey. Rev. Merrill was for
merly pastor of the First Congregational
church here
e t. FITzGERALD, age II. died at his
noon. Funeral announcements later
LOUISA NJ. MCCAIN, 10 years old. died
tuesday at the home of her daughter Mrs.
Maggie Burger. 514 East Second street.
Funeral services will be held from the Cen
tral Avenue Christian church tomorrow ar
ternoon at O'Clock. Interment will be in
the Topeka cemetery.
Lords Flowers satisfy. Tel. s27.-
Adv. =
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
sALINA WANTS COMMISSION.
Special Election on Change of Govern
ment Called by Council.

Salina, Kan. Dec. 2e.-The2a city
council of Salina at a meeting Tues
day night. called a special election to
be held February 1 to vote on the
commission-manager form of govern
ment.
The council instigated the idea of a
commission-manager form and invited
the people to bring in a petition SO
that the council could call the cleo
tion
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29

A considerable advance in the price
of nearly all securities early in the
new year may confidently be expected.
Holders Of bonds and stocks, it is re-
ported. have been unloading recently,
taking losses which they VIII offset
against their incomes, thus reducing
the size OF their payments to Uncle
Sam. Early in 1921 they are expected
10 be in the market to buy back this
paper. This system emphasizes the
need of form OF taxation that cannot
be lodged. For this purpose prob
ably there is nothing equal to a tax on
sales. unless it might be tax on land.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
REPORTS SOS ROBBERY.
Allen Brown Claims Girl Picked His
Pockets.

Allen Brown, S21 Kansas avenue,
reported to the police this morning
that he was robbed of s95 by a negro
girl in the river district Tuesday-1ight.
Brown said he met the girl at First
and Kansas avenue and accompanied
her to an alley near First and Monroe
streets. From there he went to his
room. he said, where he discovered
that the money had been taken from
his pocketbook.
Browns actions have led the police
to give little credence to his story He
says he can identify the girl.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
Cotton Leader Is Suicide.

Atlanta, Ga, Dec. 29.-Robert Mat
fox. president of the Georgia division
of the American Cotton association,
committed suicide by shooting himself
thru the head at the home of his
mother-in-law. Mrs z. J. Orr. at New
nan, Ga, last night.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29

It is reported that lemons are rot
ting IN the orchards OF California be-
cause freight rates are SO high that
abe crop cannot be marketed at u
profit. But the lemon growers may
console themselves with the fact that
they are no worse off than they would
be il there were no railroads and that
IS the condition that was approaching
when the rates were advanced.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
PAVING co. ASKS s5,07f.
Union Paving Construction Firm Files
Suit Today.

Union Paving & Construction COM
pany. of St. Joseph. was filed in the
district court here today by Kilmer &
Hughes, of Topeka, who claim the
amount is due them for crushed rock
used by the St. Joseph concern in hard
surfacing the West Tenth street road.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
DEATHS AND FUNERALS

MRS. ANNA SOPHIA JOHNSON, age 81.
died Tuesday morning at the home of
her daughter, Mrs. Claus Oak. 1905 Col
lege. The funeral viii be held at 2 O'Clock
Friday, from the Swedish Lutheran church.