The Olathe Register from Olathe, Kansas • 1

11 OLATHE REGISTER i VOL. XIX. Official Paper City of Olathe OLATHE, KANSAS, THURSDAY. SKPTOIIIKK 7. IfUG.

Sucoeuorio i 01theTrlhuB.Eubltohd In 1900 -rv en lRepub)ieDTrlbun. KMUbliNbedlDlllOS JNU. 5U FIRST DANCE NEXT TUESDAY BOOSTER TRIP TO SPRING HILL? GAS TROUBLES AT AN END RANDALL'S GREAT SERVICE The Death of St John If t.t ,.) I 6 v. I ti' A l. if ft 1 Ride May Be Taken Friday to Advertise Fettival for Next Week Mctneberg of the Johnson County AW 1 chants Farmer Association and Farmers Institute may take a Booster Trip to Spring Hill Friday afternoon of this week, to visit the Grange Fair in progress there and to spread tbe news of the Fall Show and the Old Settlers Picnic in Olathe next weok.

Notification will bo mudo through individual members Thursday, and it Is hoped a big delegation of cars cau make the trip. Committees are gradually working to the point of perfection their arrangements for the rail Show. These points In connection with big ves-tlvnl for iwxt week should be in mind: There will be no entrancn fees. Shelter will be furnished for all livestock, but owners mutt furnish their own feed. All boys of Johnson County of proper aces are urged to enter the boys' Judging contest and the bicycle race.

There are many entries for the tennis tournament, and all skilled players are asked to take part In this event. All Olathe stores will close from 1 to 4 o'clock on Friday, September 15, for the races. Entiles received for the tennis tournament, up to Wednesday noon, included Edgerton, Gardner, Olathe, Shawnee, Stilwell and Spring Hill. WHY NOT NOW? Th're Is a serious demand among the people of Johnson County for increased efficiency In the handling of' county affairs. The splendid record made by County Attorney C.

Randall during the first twenty months of bis office shows that a saving can be made, flint there Is nothing Impossible nljout It. The taxpayers have been iimuzuri a number of times during the past two years at tho proceedings in the county commissioners' diatribe Many Instances hnve occurrel there of apparent disregard, of public welfare whn It came to spending money. There isn't a commissioner on tbe Republican board of officials who is dishonest. None of the three men now holding office would graft the amount of a postage stamp. Thpy would cut their right anus off before they would take one cent of money from the county treasury that docB not rightfully belong to them.

Hut they have shown a to spend the public money with little regard for the mounting costs, and with a lavlshness that has shocked many people who have found It hard to make a living during a succession of adverse crop years. The commissioners have done two things. They listened to a rapidly rising public clamor and then they lopped off several useless deputies in the courthouse. When this failed to stop the complaints, they ordered a reduction in the tax levy for next year. Hut, understand, they did not make a move to reduce expenses until a rising tide of public Indignation forced them to take these steps.

Both re ductions were made, too it must be remembered In a political year, when it was good politics to throw a little sop to the voters because two vacancies on the board must be filled at tbe November election. Tbe small saving made by a few dollars less than deputy hire and an Infinitesimal reduction In the tax levy is not going to appear well In the face or the enormous expenditures made by the commissioners for supplies of all kinds. It isn't so much a saving that the public wants as It Is efficient service one hundred cents to the dollar. And the public has not been getting that kind of service under a wasteful Republican administration, that is arrogantly disregarded of the rights of the people. It's about time to shift the scenes.

The Republicans have shown their In ability to administer public affairs long enough. The toutb end of tbe county has a right to bo heard In the councils of tbe board. This Is a splendid occasion to take advantage of conditions, and elect two new commissioners to the board. The old bunch needs some new In George Ellis and Tom Turner, the voters have their own opportunity to put their most important county office on a business basis. Will they do it? HOME FROM 8PEAKING TOUR But Ex-Governor Hodges will go to Detroit Friday Ex-governor George H.

Hodges returned home last Saturday from an eleven weeks' Chautauqua speaking tour. Mr. Hodges was In the employ of the Vawter-Redpath bureau, and followed a regular schedule of speak ing dates, day after day, during the full time that he was on the road. His lectures were received with approbation wherever he went. Mr.

Hodges took excellent care of himself, and returned borne in good health, in spite of his strenuous summer. Mr. Hodges will go Friday of this week to Detroit. where he will address the Chamber of Commerce, on his favorite subject, "Prohibition In Kansas." Mr. Hodges has been honored further by being asked to address the representatives of the Women's Clubs of America, in session at Lexington, September 24.

W. H. Webur thinks that he will be able to install his family into their new home on North Kansas Avenue In about a month. The plasterers set to work Monday, and after they are through, none but finishing details will he left. The Webers will have one of the most convenient and modern homes In Olathe, when their bew bouse is finished.

Young Crowd Looks Forward Eagerly to This Event The first of the fall dances will be held in Eagle Hall next Tuesday evening, September 12, and the younger crowd Is receiving the news with delight. Johnson's live-piece orchestra will and the excellent musicians in this company have a line of new music for the occasion. The r'nnilnif will liat at fc 1 1 i V-f SPRING HILL FAIR IS ON Many Olathe People Attend Enjoy- able Festival The Spring Hill Fair opened on Tuesday, per schedule, and by Wednesday had swung into its regular stride. The exhibits this year are numerous and every aspect of the fair-is attractive. The weather is favorable and many people from Olathe are in attendance at the festival.

Motor parties to Spring Hill will be abundant during Thursday and Friday, the last two days of the fair. THE FUNERAL OF ST. JOHN Services Held Sunday Afternoon With Imposing Ceremonies The funeral services for the late ex-Governor St. John were held at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon in the Congregational church amid imposing ceremonies. Probably the largest crowd that ever assembled for a funeral in Olathe was present at this time to show respect to the man, who, for nearly half a century, has made Olathe pprominent in the nation.

Many of those attending were from out-of-town, and a wealth of flowers was laid upon the bier to attest to the love that these friends bore their hero who has passed. Eulogies were spoken by Governor Capper, ex-Gov. George H. Hodges an H. P.

Faris of Clinton, In behalf off the Prohibition party, of which Mr. St. John was the presidential candidate in 1884. Governor St. John's life was an inspiration to me and to thousands of others," said Governor Capper.

"His name will go down In history as a great American like John Brown, be cause of the principles for which he fough so valiantly. Think of the 1 million boys and girls who never saw a saloon! That must be credited to Governor St. John more than to any-other man. "1 should like to see the peope of Kansas erect a suitable monument to his memory and will be glad to assist in any way I can." Mr. Farls paid a tribute to Mrs.

St. John, "who stood by his side through these troubles as a helpmate to this knight." "This friend of ours is not dead," 6ald Mr. Hodges, "his work lives and will go on. And while he will have bis monument, he has the greatest monument the world can give, the love and respect of his fellow men." Mr. Hodges spoke in behalf of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

The text of his worthy speech unfortunately is crowded out of this issue, but will be printed later. Dr. Marvin M. Culpepper of the First Methodist church conducted the services. His text was from St.

John, 1. 6 "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." Dr. Culpepper, who was dose to St. John in his final illness, said of him that "after skirmishing around In the world of thought, in his last days he came back again to Jesus, the Nazarene, realizing there Is but one The Congregational quartet, composed of Mrs. J.

All Evans. Mrs. L. G. Mackenzie, Will Shinn and Roscoe smith, sang several beautiful num-hers.

Among these "Jesus Lover of My Soul," and "Crossing tbe Bar," and at the grave, "Now the Day-is Over." Prayer and the reading of the Scrip tures was by the Rev. S. F. Riepnia of the First Presbyterian church. "There Is No Night There" was sung by Miss Marian Lisk of Lenexa, in fulfillment of one of the last requests of Mr.

St. John. The pallbearers were: Honorary MaJ. J. B.

Bruner, Ma I. O. Pickering, J. L. Pettyjohn.

F. R. Ogg, H. L. Burgess, Dr.

R. E. Steven-son, J. W. Parker.

J. T. Little, S. D. Scott, Fred C.

Trigg of the Star, Mr. Hodges and Governor Capper. Active E. D. Orr, W.

P. Stelner. C. C. Hogue.

Harry Keefer, L. W. Snepp. S. JT.

Kelly, H. E. Hayes and A. D. Morrison, The Olathe Band led the way to the way to the cemetery.

ITS OPENING WAS IDEAL Reception New Dry Goods Store Well Fit its Name The Ideal Dry Goods Store opened last Friday afternoon, according to schedule, and made a distinct impression of combined service and beauty on the people who visited it. The big new store was spink and span for the crowds that came as soon as the doors were opened, and for the uncles and the cousins and tbe aunts of the crowds that followed in the evening. No goods were sold on this day. and the Ideal's force of polite clerks conducted the visitors over the store and pointed out its wonders. The doors, were opened to business on Saturday morning, and trade was brisk from the start.

Among the out-of town visitors present for the openin? were A. L. Sherman, of Kansas Cltv Pants SVlrt Comnany; J. A. Short, John Claer snd J.

T. Wilson, of the Dry Goods Company; Mr. Cogan, of M. E. Smith ft Company.

Omaha: and B. L. Swof-ford. of Kansas Citv, owner of the buOding in which the big store Is located. Miss Reuteh Wilev went to Highland.

Sunday where she began wok Monday morning as nrln'lpal of the Highland High school. PERMANENT BELIEF 13 ASSURED USERS UNDER 35-CENT RATE An Abundance of Gat Promised and Overwhelming Number of Voters Ask Commission to Pass Or-finance Raising Rata (V' An abundance of gas for the pec jile of Olathe 1b promised as a result of the ordinance checked up this week to the city commission, which will raise the price of gas in this town to thirty-five cents per thousand cubic feet. Following the opening of new ne-gotiations, petitions were circulated among the voters of Olathe in favor of 35-cent gas, with marvelously successful results. After thirteen and a half hours' work by the carriers of petitions, the papers were returned with the signatures of 823 voters. This is nearly double the amount required under law to authorize the commission to pass the ordinance for which the signers petitioned.

The law requires forty per cent of the vote cast at the last election. The vote at the last election was 1,146, and forty Per cent is 458. With this overwhelming evidence in favor of an increased rate for the gas company, the city commission without doubt will pass the proposed ordinance at Its regular meeting next Monday evening. When this ordinance is passed, it is understood that the injunction which has been in force for several months past, preventing the Olathe Oas Company from raising its rates above 28 cents, wjll be lifted and the city's suit dismissed. During the past two weeks, the supply of gas in Olathe has been low, for the simple reason that the company here, by Its own violation cut off from the Kansas Natural Lines.

The management of the local company felt that the impossible situation of paying the Kansas Natural for gas on a 35-cent basis and selling it out to consumers at the 28-cent rate could last no longer. So, In self defense, the local company cut off from the Kansas Natural lines. The gas pressure naturally became weakened, for the local field near Spring Hill lacking the improvements that the company has been unable to give because of the low rates in force has been unable to snpojy the demands made upon it at the busiest hours of the day. But with the coming of 35-cent gas, a general Improvement In the gas situation seems probable. The officials of the gas company, represented on the spot by W.

G. Guthrie, of Kansas City, president, have offered to do all in their power to give Olathe nlenty of gas. As soon as the 35 cent rate is established, the o'd con-nections with the Kansas Natural will be made. Then also. Manager T5.

L. Smith will hasten to the Spring Hill field, where he will make every effort to develop that field to Its capacity. Manager Smith, who has shown himself to be absolutely on the square in his dealings wlh the public In Olathe was intervled Wednesday Just be- (Continued on page 10.) NEWS ABOUT PUBLIC SALES P. K. Hendrlx, Sept.

13 Price Hendrlx, administrator of the estate of Henry and Gertrude Mul-ler, who were murdered two weeks ago Sunday, will have a big sale Wednesday, September 13. on the Watts farm, Ihk miles west of Stilwell, 4 miles north of Bucyrus, and 16 miles southeast of Olathe. The property, which is in good condition, includes 29 head of livestock, and a large amount of implements, grain, household and kjtchen furniture and miscellaneous articles. Col. E.

O. Callahan auctioneer, and A. J. Mundell, clerk. Full bill in the Register this week.

J. T. Lewis, Sept 20 J. T. Lewis, who lives 3 miles northeast of Stilwell.

one mile west and four miles south of Stanley, four miles north and two mifbs east of Bucyrus, will have a sale on Wednesday, September 20. The property consists of a number of good horses, some registered shorthorn cattle, most of which are, or can be, registered in polled Durham, and a number of bogs. The Ladies of the Methodist Church will serve lunch. Cols. Callahan and Tracy are auctioneers and P.

L. Kellogg, clerk. Full bill in the Register next week. T. B.

Sharp, Sept. 19 T. B. Sharp, who lives one mile east and a mile and a half south of Morse, win have a stock sale, Tuesday, September 19, that will Include 10 head of horses and mules, 60 head of hogs, head of cows and heifers and a few implements and 'buggies. women of the Morse Church will serve lunch.

Col. E. O. Callahan and Jake Jameson are the auctioneers and James Murdock is clerk. Quarter page bill In Register next week.

Steve Hauser, Sept 12 8. Hauser will have a closing out sale at his farm, two miles west and one aid one-half north of Lenexa. on Tuesday, Sepptember 12. The property consists of 60 bead of horses, catle and bogs, and a large amount o' implements, harness. feed, household goods and wood.

Mr. Hauser is going Into business at Lenexa. Bill in the Register this week. Col. A.

James is auctioneer and E. H. Has-kin, clerk COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS MADE ENORMOUS SAVING TO PUBLIC CONDUCT OF OFFICE Has Credit of $3659.51 Actually Saved To County in Court Expenses Over Preceding Administration The amazing record made by County Attorney C. L. Randall in the Interests of efficiency and economy during his twenty months of office Is shown in a report made this week to the Hoard of County Commissioners.

The report shows that Mr. Randall has been instrumental In a saving to the county of $3,659.51 over the previous administration, under a Republican office holder. Ihirlng 1013 and 1914, the cost to the county of running the county attorney's office was During 191.1 and during 1916, up to the present time, with one more court term to be held, tho cost to tho county for running the same office, and disposing of more buslnoss has been only $1,831.75. Thi ropoit is substantiated by the figures for each case, taken from the court records, They tuny bo assem bled by any person who cares to audit their correctness. The Immense saving to the county.

bv reRFon of Mr. Randall's care and efficiency, is shown In another way: During the preceding administration, twelve persons were convicted, and sent to the etata prisons. The averape cost of these convictions was $242.36. During Mr. Randall's administration, twenty persons have been convicted at an average of $20.60.

The saving to the county In each cate therefore has been $221.76 an enormous total. Another Item of compelling Interest Is that of the personal expense of the two county attorneys, so compared. Under the previous administration, the former official drew $JIII0 additional expense Item. Mr. Randall's total expense for twenty months Is $26.80 about one-sixteenth.

Mr. Randall's statement, coming at a time In the affairs of Johnson County, when there is a serious demand for increased efficiency and lowered cxpcpHes In the county's business will prove Interesting to every taxpayer. The entire, statement therefore. Is reprinted, as presented by Mr. Randall In the first person.

Here it Is: Statement The first statement which I here make covering the years 1913 and 1914, embraces all tho Items of cost connect with the trial of cases. Tho second statement covering the same period will bo reduced by the amount of the Clerk and Sheriff, fees, for the rBson that the county does not pay these Items, but are a loss when not rol'fcftabl-4Jwhlch generally follows. A fir deducting these fees, the net balance represents the actual money the people are required to pay, and actual!" did nay as per statement. First Form of Statement ourt fees $3,789.99 oroner fee 364.62 Coroner 446.65 Rejiorter ns per Com. Contract 500.00 County ttornev expense over and above 390.00 Total $5,491.26 form of Statement Court as above $3789.99 Clerks fee Included In this 574.7.1 $1313.35 Sheriff fee Included 738.60 $1313.35 2476.64 Knen c'-luslve of Clerk and Fberlff $2476.64 Total Coroner 811.27 Total stenographer and county Attorney exp 890.00 Total $4177.91 From the above amount of.

should be deducted fines col-lectP'l during the years i (1913-1914) amounting to the sum 458.00 Leaving a net balance of. expense which tbe people were compelled to pay for service rendered, In addition to the salary provided by law. Number of Persons 8ent to Prison During this Period During the former administration there was sent to the State industrial eight, (H) persons; to the Penitentiary, four, (4) in all twelve, (12), or an average cost of $310 to secure each conviction. Statement of Present Administration Sheet marked Kxhlblt represent the total expense covered by similar Items shown In tbe former ststement of Mr. Fay, for the years (1913-1914.) Column No.

(1) shows all court expense, except Clerk and Sheriff fees, for the period covered from January 10, 1915 to August 20, 1916 which Is: 707.45 Column No. (2) Represents Clerk's fee for same period 382.70 Co'nmn No. (3) Represents Sheriffs fee 599.55 Coroner's fee for like 69.80 Coroner's expense account inquests 45.4." 115.25 26.80 County expense over Total $1831.75 (Continued on page 4.) BT. JOHN of a miner for gold. At that time the facilities and methods usnd In the mining and separation of gold wnre of the most crude and primitive kind.

Ills success in mining was Indifferent, but this could not discourage a man of the energy and resourc.ef ulriess of St. John He was used to labor with his hands and was ready to engage In any honorable occupation, which presented itself to him at this time in the form to a contract which he entered Into to chop Rnd deliver 1000 cords of wood. This lie faithfully accomplisned, principally with his own hands. While engaged in mining and other work in California, St. John bought law-books from a lawyer In Sacramento, and at night, in his cabin, read them, and thus began the study of the law.

While on the Pacific const he enlist ed and fought against tho hostile Modoc Indians of California and southern Oregon, being In several engagements, in which be was twice wounded. He still bears in his body the point of a flint arrow-head na a memento and reminder of the skill and ability of these wild savages to shoot from a vantage place, an ambush of rorks or trees. In 1X73 these untamed savages were removed by the United States government to a reservation in the Indian Territory, south of Kansas, because the treacherous murder of Gen. Conby and Dr. K.

Thomas, In April, while engaged with other commission ers in arranging a peaceful solntlon the difficulties tietween that tribe, the Klamaths, and the United States The chief. Captain Jack, and three other leaders of the attack were trier" court martial and executed within the year. The tribe was nsturslly Industrious and soon became docile. During his administration Governor St. John met and greeted the chief, Scar-faced Charley, in his Bcmlclvlllz-ed condition, sans war pnlnt and feathers, his appearance Illustrating the changes wrought In a quarter of a century bv the resistless onward march civilization.

After visiting and exploring several the Hawaiian group of Islands, Mr. Ft. John returned to California and from there to Charleston, where he concluded his legal studies and commenced the practice of the law. He enlisted In company C. Sixty-eighth Illinois volunteer infantry, shortly after the beginning df the war, l8C2.

and was elected capMin of his company. He was afterwards promoted meritorious and gallant service to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-third regiment Illinois volunteer infantry. At the close of the war he removed with Ms family to Independence, and took up the practice of his profes sion. Here his Intense loyalty, nis fearless denunciation of unrepentant and still rebellious adherents of the Southern Confederacy and his outspok advocacy of Republicanism drew upon him the deadly hatred of this element of the population, which pre dominated at that time at Indpenflence and in Jackson County. Missouri.

Mr. St. John removed to Olathe, Kan. 1869, where he resumed the practice his profession, and from the first was recognized by all as among the foremost and most successful lawyers his part of the state. He immediately became an Important factor In public affairs, and In 1872 was elected the state senate.

He was offered (but declined) a renomlnatlon to this office. As state senator he was the originator of several laws of perma nent value to the people, one or wnicn, knnrn no the stock-killing law. being chapter 94 of the Session Laws of 1874, hii fn force. This law makes every railroad corporation and every assignee I and lessee of such corporation liable pay the owner of any fancy stock killed or Injured In the operation or such road In full value of such etock, Irrespective of whether the company (Continued on page 2) JOHN PIERCE The end to John Pierce St. John, Olathe's first citizen, ex-governor of Kansas and a nation-wide figure for prohibition's cause came at 6:40 o'clock Thursday evening, August 31, after an illness of two months caused by heat prostration June 20.

At that time Mr. St. John was in Jet more, where he was engaged in a 90-day speaking tour for a temperance organization. He canceled the remainder of hisv engagement and returned to Olathe, but recovered sufficiently to attend ythe Prohibition national convention, in St. Paul, July 18, 19 jAid 20.

On return home he stopped at Shelby ville, July 23, where be made his last address before a Chautauqua audience. Governor St. John took. to his bed shortly after bis return from St. Paul and weakened steadily.

For a week preceding his death he was unconscious the greater part of the time At 5:15 o'clock Thursday afternoon his real estate partner M. V. B. Parker, was admitted to his room. Gov ernor St.

John recognized Mr. Parker and in parting said, "Gond-bye Mar- tin. He then fell into a sleep from which he did not awaken. Probably the best account ever written of St. John's life and works appeared as a contribution to the records of the Kansas State Historical Society, from the pen of Major I.

O. Pickering, of Olathe. The Register is delighted at this time to use certain excerpts from this account in publishing a brief res.isi of the interesting life of the prohibition hero. It is as true as it is fortunate, thai the good accomplished in tne world through the efforts and achievements of strong natures in the cause of hu manity, and in the promotion of civic virtue, becomes the common heritage of the people. The measure of liberty, tbe perfection of organized government we enjoy, represents the sum total of the labors and trhlevements of mankind who have wrought for us with hand and brain to that end.

Kansas is and has been most fortunate in the high character and ability of the men chosen from time to time to be her chief executives and ad miniBtrators of her laws. By their advanced standards, their recommendations, and their approval and firm execution of the laws enacted in the interest and for the benefit of the people they have maintained the position ot our beloved state in the forefront of the great sisterhood of states, and Justified her inspiring motto: "Ad astra per aspera." John Pierce St. John was the eighth governor of Kansas. When first elected governor, in 1878. he was forty-five years of age, in the prime of life and vigor of manhood.

Governor SL John was of Huguenot stock and was born in the state of Indiana, near Brook-ville, February 25, 1833. His parents came to Indiana from their native state of New York. A brief outline of the environments and career of Mr. St. John will serve to Illustrate the active, strenuous life, not uncommon In ths lives of men on the frontier, which had a potent influence in the development of those characteristics which, when called by the people as the executive head of a great state, made his administrations notably conspicuous among hose both preceding and following.

Governor SL John was born on a farm, where he continued to live nntl' he was fourteen years of age. Like most farmers' sons, he early assumed his full share of the work incident to farm life, fn 1848 he removed, with his parents, to Olney, 111., where both bis parents subsequently died. In 18o2, at the age of nineteen years, young St. John accepted tbe position of conductor of an ox team, which be successfully piloted across the plains to California, where he began the life of S. of by of of in for en In of In to to.