The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-06
CALIFORNIA OUR FRIEND.


The following from the San Fran
cisco CAN shows that the western sis
tiers of Kansas will stand together, even
if the eastern newspapers do abuse the
state:
Governor Leedy of Kansas has the
satisfaction of knowing that his inau-
gural address has given rise to wider
discussion than that of any other gov
ernor in the Union. This was not due
to its length, although it was one of the
longest on record, but to the manner in
which he defended Kansas against the
attacks of eastern cities.
It will be remembered that of late
years it has been the fashion in the
east to denounce Kansas as land of
ignorance, eccentricitp and dishonesty
In reply to these reiterated criticisms
the governor said that while in the
great cities of the east
Children linger in the streets I'M
taught except in the lore of the pave
ment; unfed. except at the hand OF
charity; unhouSed, except in the ken
nels they dispute with creatures scarce
ly less misera ble-the commonwealth
of Kansas, rejoicing in a public school
system which is the most grateful her
itage we received from our Fathers and
children, finds ample houseroom and
school room for every Kansas child
and such struggling waits as come to
us for aid in Kansas, except those birds
minders of old communities.
The truth of this assertion has goad-
ed the eastern critics into making var
ious kinds of reply. Some are HIppant,
some are spiteful, and some. we are
glad to say, are wise The flippant ones
seek to evade the charges made by the
governor by hooking at the wealth OF
Kansas and declare that her schools
have not enabled her people to pay her
debts The spiteful ones retort that
the governors message is only another
evidence that Kansas farmers hate the
east The wise ones admit, however,
that Governor Leedy is right and call
upon the large cities of the country to
extend their school houses so that IN
New York and Chicago, as well as in
Kansas, no child need be compelled TO
go without an education because OF the
lack of attention on the part OF the
government
There can be no question that Gov
ernor Leedy has the best OF the contro-
versy The people of Kansas may be
moor according to the ideas of wealth
that obtain in the great cities OF the
east, but they are not Ignorant nor Gls-
honest. The pinch OF hard tunes mas
made money scarce in some parts OF
the state and many a farm has been
sold to pay the mortgage, but, never
theless Kansas has maintained pun
lie school system equal to the heeds Oh
her people and that is certainly bet
ter accomplishment than the cities
show where, within few years there
have been erected several private resi-
dences at a cost of more than mil
lion dollars each, but where there are
neither schools enough for the children
nor houses enough to give proper Lodge
ment for those who have to work Tor a
living. ,-.,ro,o,rr,-r,c
The following appears IN the New
York Mail and Express:
Kansas has by no means monopoly
of freaks and cranks. The Empire
state is producing a crop which, for IN
diluted idiocy, bids fair to outrank those
of the Sunflower state Among the
schemes being pressed at Albany
is one for the creation of a state board
of examiners for BARRIERS, another for
n similar board for horse clippers ana
another for like board for undeftak
ers Why stop here? Why not lnclude
1.-THE butcher, the baker and the candle-
stick ma er2'' Why not a state DoarO
81 examiners for corset dealers and for
complexion beautifiers? Why not one
for cooks. for laundrymen ana tof boot
blacks? Let there be no discrimination
in this sort of business 1t IS just as I'M NJ
portant that a persons boots snoule pe
nronerlv BACKED as it is that ms race
sho11ld be properly shaved and his mus
+acbe and his DundTearyS properly
waxed and trimmed. 1t IS just as I'M
nortant that a man should be properly
eroomed as il is that horse shoulo
be- A man is OF as mQcn c0lisea ' ueii -
alive as when dead. Let there De no
class LEGISLATION. No faVorlt1sm TOT
horse clipping against dog clipplng-or
dog catching for that matter.
Ts it any wonder that the legislature
has become a target of rldlcule anu
contempt when such scheIiiG - az an7,T,,it-
ouslv entertained, at least IN conhllt-
tee ? The place for the authors ana sup
MORT ers of these measures Is IN bAOOlH-
ingdale-or Kansas.