The Advocate and news., 1897-12-01
"IN BAD COMPANY"

"IN BAD COMPANY"
The Topeka Daily Capital in Thanks
giving editorial adversely criticises the
Advocate and News for It's independence
upon questions of reform, and charges
this paper with an association with bad
company. 1t must be remembered that
the most successful newspapers every
where are those which have sufficient
independence and courage to speak the
truth without color or prejudice. Purely
partisan papers have always some per-
sonal or party interest to push forward,
and this fact the Capital ought to know.
They are always hampered. They speak
through muffed mouthpiece; their
statements are made in the way OF as
sistance to their political friends or in
jury to their political enemies. Some
persons are so blinded by partisan preju
dice or personal interest that they see
no good in their political opponents and
no evil in their political associates, and
they would prefer to see State institu-
ton ruined than to see its prosperity
in the hands Of those to whom they are
politically opposed.
The Capital is merely exercising its
prerogative of leading younger paper
up to the blissful heights of Real Intol
erance, and in doing this it pounds out
a good deal of old dust. The Capital
concludes by saying:
Advocate 10 In had oOpnnanu ond
in rad business in not only defending
these fake refOrmers, but in denouncing
Republican papers for telling the truth
about them and giving the people the
facts"
Now, what is this bad company and
what about this bad business with which
the Advocate and News is said to be
mixed up? This papers defense of the
faculty Of the State Agricultural college
was primarily the cause of the Capitals
unrest. The Advocate and News did not
especially designate the Republican pa
pers in its editorial, but If they were the
active publishers of the statement that
the attendance at the college had fallen
off, when In fact it had increased, they
are probably among the Capitals givers
OF facts" What is the truth about these
fake reformers?" Attorney General
Boyle is one Of them; he is now ON his
way to Fort Scott to do some of the
greatest taking" man has ever done
to relieve his fellow man from the op-
preston of greed and avarice. If he is
counted bad company the Advocate and
News is in bad company to stay.
1t is not necessary to go into long
review in order to explain the position
of this paper. It does not assume to de-
fend indiscrlminately the actions of any
party leaders, nor does it intend to at
tack viciously any holders of opposite
views. But when something is carried
out that Is really constructive, that
makes for the accomplishment of step
forward in civilization, it is the plain
duty of newspaper to offer commenda-
ton. On the other hand, misrepresenta-
tions and mismanagement should be ex-
posed at once. Certain papers in this
State have assumed mismanagement at
the Agricultural college simply because
new faculty was placed in charge, and
all the evidence the faculty has produced
to the contrary has simply given these
papers further opportunity for show
ing their adeptness at travelling back
ward
The Advocate and News is a reform"
paper whenever any reforms are needed
for the good OF the country, and along
this line OF action 1t believes in calling a
spade BY its right name and at the same