Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
Il AND NOTIONS.

Judge Winfrey. of Evansville. Ind, has
hit upon a notion which ought to be APP
piled all over the country. AS announced
in our columns Il few days since, he gives
to petty offenders the choice of a fiogEing.
a fine. or imprisonment. Imprisonment in
Il calaboose or a Jail is absolutely the worst
thing that can be done for a youth. The
fine hurts only his parents. who, to be
sure, often deserve some penalty; but the
fiogging goes to the seat of the oifenSe.
Moreover, there will be less hesitation in
applying this penalty than in the case of
the other two. If other judges are author
lied to follow Judge Winfrey's example,
we hope TO see them line up promptly for
the chance. If not. there is a good opening
here for Il legislative reformer. But where
in the penal law is there not?
senate Baker and other Kansas repre-
sentativcs were conspicuous by their ABB
sence from the recently reported caucus
against the civil service law. In this they
showed their sense. The people who are
opposing the merit system in appoint
ments and promotions are mostly hungry
ofticeseekers and their friends. While con-
gressmen who are being bounded to Death
by this class of people may talk loudly
against the law which prevents them from
satisfying one. and disappointing ten, of
their constituents. the chances are that
deep down in their hearts they are pro-
foundry thankful for the relief afforded
Them by the law, even when they do not
give n copper for the soundness of the
civil service. The repeal will develop an
other case for the application of the poll
tician's rule: Talk for it and vote agin
it" Apd this time the end iustiiies the
means.
Mr.. Easily. late of Kansas, has taken
up Il very good brand of rcform-the re
form of the caucus: and he will find Il
large and enthusiastic chorus ready to
join him in shouting for it. And doubt
less something can be done by better laws.
Yet when the primaries are put under
! strict regulations. the fellows who now
fix" them Will get up a new series of
caucuscs. one degree further away from
the elections, and ii will be the same old
story. True reform is not easily accom-
plished We were 4 tri:le amused to read
in Mr.. Easly's programme that Con,
siderable attention will he given to the
question. how to get voters out to the
primaries after fair laws are secured.
Well. rather That is about all there is
wrong at present. Get out all the voters
and You will need no primary law. Take
care Of the voters and the primaries viii
I hAh' 81 VI lis t..
The faculty OF the University of Chicago
it not quite prepared TO accept Presidcn'
Jordan's method of treating students, ant
assume that they are all gentlemen ant
ladies'. or. rather. it may have gone oil
that theory and been disappointed. Ger
tainly gentlemen will not need TO be di
rected on the impropriety of smoking il
the presence of ladies'. Il has always beer
the boast OF cocducational institutions tina
the young men have instinctively observe,
the department of gentlemen toward la
dies. II the rough contact with the cit,
has caused the young men at the Uni
versity of Chicago to forget the amenitie
the faculty did quite right in calling thei
attention to the demands of courtesy an,
good sense And the young men do TO
help the matter by sulking and wonder
ing who has made the complaint" An,
gentleman might have done it.
There is 4 man named Joseph Smith. a
least he writes under the name of Josep