Evening star., 1926-01-24
KANSAS SOCIETY
HAS NEARLY 800.
ORGANIZATION Celebrates
State Day, January 20, Ev-
cry Year With Banquet.
RY MARGARET B. DOWNING.

KansanS in Washington conduct
their affairs eXactlv as those who re-
main in the homeland and in conse-
quence the State Society OF the sun
flower region is unique in local annals
in that il has d f1ourishing member
ship totaling almost 500, but it meets
only once year This meeting is
always on January 20. state day, the
anniversary Of when, In 1861. the ter
cttorE known nationally dS the dark
md bloody ground. but in the lndldn
legend as the lano where the north
wind wooed and won the south wind,
and where they called their offspring
Kansas, child of the winds. was ad-
mitted into the family group Of the
United States. Ever since that signal
cvent kansans have celebrated no
other day in their annals. and all their
energies are bent on having each sue
ceeding state day more brilliant than
the preceding.
Everybody who cal goes tn Topeka,
the capital, and it is. SO to speak.
field day in the patriotic sense. Janu-
sry - IS declared holiday in the
Kansas capital. and all day long the
patriots pour in. listen TO orationS on
the founders Of their Commonwealth
hear economic talks on their material
progress. have concerts and recep
tionS. and in the evening there Is
great banquet spread III the largest
hall the city contains. and all overflow
guests are we'll taken care OF by vari-
Gus committees Of citizens and pro-
vided for with every comfort.
Society 30 Years Old.
Kansas had State society in
Washington as far back as 80 years
sgo. Senator Charles Curtis remem-
bers such society when he came to
Washington first member of the
Fifty-third Congress. But it was d
political body OF strong Republican
tendencies, and 1t prospered as its
party prospered. During the eight
years of the Wilson tenure 1t all but
expired. a few loyal kansans still
got together. but regular meetings
were few and far between. But when
Warren q. Harding was elected the
Sunflower State Society emerged from
its gloom and took on its present size
and Importance among the local state
organizations. William Smith Culbert
son. now Minister to Rumania, then
head of the Tariff Commission. took
charge of the society. reorganized II
along non.political lines with a dis
tinct social bent and introduced the
Topeka custom of having one great
rally on Kansas day and expending
-
one affair
This was in the Spring OF 1921. and
ail that Summer and Autumn plans
were diligently made to have the first
banquet given by the new manage
ment on January %, 1922. one Of the
noteworthy events of the Winter.
But such is the fate OF so many well
laid plans that this date coincided with
that dreadful storm, when, after two
days of incessant snow and high wind.
came the collapse OF the knicker-
hooker. Many members of the society
had worked assiduously TO make that
first tandue. an epochal affair. But
the majority of guests could not come
because of the raging storm. Gen.
Pershing was the guest Of honor. but
he, like 50 many others. departed to
render all the aid they could 10 the
victims Of the knickerbocker. Sena-
tor Curtis. who was 10 have shared
honorS with Gen. Pershing, was de-
tatned at the Capitol and was di.
verted from Joining his people by the
disaster.