By 
Through noon on Saturday, members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity are pole-sitting at 12th and Commercial to raise money from passers-by for S.O.S., a local agency that assists victims of domestic violence.
Roger Heineken sent this 101-year-old editorial by William Allen White.
TO PARDON A WIFE-BEATER
William Allen White
Emporia Gazette, Dec. 1, 1906 THE WOMEN of this town should look their husbands squarely in the face to-night and ask them if they signed a petition for the pardon for Mayes, who beat his wife cruelly and was put in jail for it. For the petition was signed by the leading bankers and merchants of the town — good men, who are our leading citizens. They would have signed a petition for Mayes to be hanged just as willingly. (They took their names off the next day and the petition was not presented. — W.A.W.) But the women of this town should talk it over with their husbands. If there is any crime for which a man should sweat, it is wife-beating. This man beat his wife in the presence of their children before going to church. He displayed a brutal, vicious disposition. If there is any justice in sending any man to jail — and it is a serious question whether jails do any good — this man should be there. But there was no excuse for the good fellows who signed his petition for a pardon. Was YOUR husband one of them?
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The Kansas Epsilon Chapter of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity is conducting its 21st annual
Homecoming Pole-Sit to raise money in support of S. O. S. Domestic Support Services.
Stop by 12th and Commercial St. in Emporia through noon Saturday, October 20, 2007
and donate supporting this needed service.
It has been about 18 years since I sat on the pole.
I saw one guy shimmy up the pole. That would count me out of the game.
I didn’t see any ladders around either.
The ladder is behind the university sign. Excess energy, I guess.
I havve a question Roger. Is there any information about the “rest of the story”? Did he get off? What happened to the woman? Who turned him in? And I wonder how many woman back then had the nerve, courage and gumption to question thier husbands about the petition?
I don’t know the rest of the story. I found the editorial in a book of White’s editorials and I thought if gives context to the efforsts of SOS and the money raising by my fraternity,
Speaking of which, after 12 hours the cash and checks amounts to $1,800. It is too hard to get an accurate count of the coins which is not included in the figure above. I would think there would be at least $200 in change. One check for $100 has been the largest donation.
I think this is pacing well to give a good final figure. Late night, very little comes in until the early industry shifts start to move. They run until noon and this year there is a morning parade which brings many by the pole.
Subway has given everyone working a sandwich, chips and drink. The Quik Shop generously supplies pop and donuts. A lady came by with a big bag of home-baked cookies and said in effect, “Thanks for supporting SOS. They helped change my life.”
One year a guy came by and wanted to donate a camper. That was completely off our radar screen. We took his name and said we would share this with SOS. They looked at it but it was too dilapidated to have value to sell.
Well, I went to Beer:30 to see and hear the band “Driven” which has two of my fraternity brothers as part of the band, now located in Lawrence. Kevin Horner on vocals and John Gilmore on drums.
The 11:00 pm report from the pole in checks and cash is $2227. Now, I’m going to the pole to offer moral support.
With a rough count of coins, the guys think they have surpassed $2,500.
Wow! I drove by a few times yesterday and threw in a few bucks…..it never occured to me to put in a check, much less a check for $100! (I’ll have to think about that) It’s a good thing. How long are they doing that? When do they stop?
It ended at noon today. I was in our new house meeting from 9 to 12 so I didn’t see the parade or the end of Pole-Sit. I’ll probably learn the approximate total at the dinner/dance tonight.
The guys didn’t have a firm count tonight but it is in excess of $3,300.