The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-22

Elliott, formerly executive clerk to Gov
ernor Leedy. and editor of the Troy
Times was the first to respond with
THE Country Daily as an Educational
Factor"
Mr. Elliott is a thorough believer in
socialism, and his paper was along
socialistic lines. He said that the coun-
try dailieS were the greatest educa-
tional factors of the nation, the public
schools not excepted. He declared that
on the shoulders of the country editors
rested the responsibility of making or
Unmaking men and institutions. IF we
should eliminate the country press and
it's unmeasured and immeasureable in
fiuence from the arena of intellectual
activity" said ne, 'then would we deS-
troy the most powerful factor in the
world of today for social, educational
and Industrial progress. 1t seems to me
that of all the professions and pur-
suits in which men and women may
engage for a life work, none would so
profane the divinity of human life as
the prostitution Of the press to mercen-
airy ends. No man should presume to
editOrially manage country newspaper
who is not conversant with the history
of civilizations progress from Greece
to Rome, from Rome to Christ, and the
revolution 1naugurated by him nineteen
hundred years ago, down to the French
revolution of the last century and the
revolution that is being daily accom-
plished before our very eyes. 1t is only
by intoxicating in the public mind
through the weekly press of the nation
those principles of love and justice
which the 1owly Nazarene was crucified
upon Calvary'S cross for teaching nine
teen centuries ago that we may hope to
preserve our people, our nation, and
our civilization from the mighty
cataclySm which now seems imminent"
Mr.. Elliott was generously applauded
at the conclusion of his paper, and i'm
mediately left the hall. 1t was prob
ably well for the peace of the opening
session that he did absent himself from
time a
minutes later Tom McNeaI, associate
editor of the Mall and Breeze, was call
tarried until Mr.. McNeaI finished, he
might have been as we'll satisfied with
himself but likely not as well satisfied
with the association.
Mr.. McNeaPs entire remarks were di-
rected at Mr.. Elliott'S paper He bur
lesqued the sentiments given expression
by the editor of the Troy Times in the
characteristic way which readers of the
Mail and Breeze are familiar with. He
was frequently interrupted by laugh
ter, and at the close the applause ten
dered him was several times greater in
volume than that which accompanied
Mr.. Elliott on his exit from the hall
II thought 1 knew something about
running a country newspaper" said Mr..
McNeal, but after listening to the mi
tiaI paper of this session I have con-
cluded that I am most horribly ignor-
ant of even the first principles. I'm not
quite sure that 1 would know a 'cata-
clySm II met II coming down the road,
and I'm sure Pm not conversant with
the history of civilizations progress
from Greece to Rome, from Rome to
Christ, from the revolution of Christ to
the French revolution and from the
French revolution to the present time
Il don't know much about the +prosti-
tuition of the press to mercenary ends "
he continued, but I do know that
have always found it best for my men
tai and physical health to take an Of
fering now and then, and from the pros
porous appearance of the assemblage
before me 1 take it that pork sides and
vegetables are coming in with satisfac-
tory regularity. 1 fact I think 1t has
been customary for country editors to
subSiSt something more than wind,
even, forSooth, from Greece to Rome,
from Rome to Christ, from Christ's rev.
olution to the French revolution and
from the French revolution to the pres
ent time.''
Besides the paper by Mr.. Elliott and