The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-04
NEWSPAPER TALK.
Managing Editor Mitchell, Of
New York Sun, Visits Topeka.


land. He arrived in Topeka Friday
afternoon in company with Mrs. Mitch
ell,- to visit his son, Edward Mitchell.
who has been i'll with typhoid fever for
several weeks at Stormont hospital.
Mr.. Mitchell has seen 24>years Of con-
tinuous editorial service with the great
New York daily, and in consequence
has kept in touch with the news of the
western half of the continent as well
as the eastern. But up to yesterday
afternoon he had never been in Kan
sas.
with the rest of the country, I
knew Kansas during your last state ad-
ministration through Webb McNal and
his insurance troubles" he said today,
"and this year we have been knowing
formance of the Twentieth Kansas
regiment in the Philippines
''I remember reading William Allen
Whites What's the Matter With Kan
SaS' about three years ago. Mr.. Mitch
ell continued, "and I thought it was
one of the best things of its kind had
ever read. I don't think the feeling in
the east was ever as strong against
Kansas as probably Kansas people
thought. OF course, now only the most
friendly sentiment exists, and the feel
ing is growing more friendly every day
because the east is beginning to realize
that it may soon have to come out to
Kansas to borrow money.
Speaking of the Twentieth Kansas
regiment, 1 would like very much to
know what the Kansas soldiers think of
the war in the Philippines and the
Filipinos as people. They certainly
have had a chance to acquire great
fund of knowledge about both. Per-
sonally I am very much in favor of the
administrations policy, and think
people remember that the Sun was one
of the first of the larger papers to ad-
vocate a Pacific commercial base at
the time of the Samoan trouble. No
one can even venture to guess what
the future Will bring fOrth-When we
engaged in war with the Spanish gov
ernment probably no one supposed that
we would come into possession of
group of Pacific islands-but 1 believe
the outlying territory will continue to
be acquired by the greater powers. The
partition of China is, believe, an event
of the future, and with our present base
in the Pacific we will be compelled to
protect our interests there
There has always been more or less
opposition to the great national moves,
and it is only natural that there should
be opposition to the present policy of
the administration. There was much
opposition to the Louisiana purchase,
but now 1 don't suppose there is a per-
son in the United States who does not
believe it to have been the right thing
at the time.
War has been very good to the
newspapers
remarked Mr.. Mitchell, changing the
subject somewhat. We still have the
Filipino war on our hands, and will
likely have it for some time to come
and now England and the Beers are
fighting. There is nothing like war for
the newspapers.
Il think it is only to be expected that
England will have considerable diff
Guilty in her present trouble for some
time. At the start England's forces
were not well placed, and the Beers
will probably have the advantage until
England mObilizes sufficient troops in
South Africa. Ultimately, there can be
but one result, and English colonial
government will be established in the
BOer country. Really, the present BOer
government is more of an olfgarchy
than English colonial government
would be. The coast country belongs
to England, and it is only reasonable
that the British should secure posses
sion of the interior.
Il realize that there is much SYM
pathy for the Beers because they have
a republic, or alleged republican form
of government But if the system of
Boer government was more generally
understood the sympathy would not be
as great on this basis"
Mr.. Mitchell says that a new type
setting machine, known as the Lanston,
is being introduced to some extent in
the Sun office. This machine operates
by the perforatiOn of a roll of brown
paper by the operator, and it is made
possible for the type to be cast as a
result of the perforation.
Il believe that some time in the fu-
ture, and not very far in the future at
that" said Mr.. Mitchell, lit will be so
arranged that a writer here in Topeka
can operate an electrical key, and
have the perfOration accomplished in
the offices in Chicago or New York or
any other city as a result of his work
at the other end. Then the copy would
be ready for casting without further
trouble. 1t is great progressive fea-
ture to contemplate in reference to
newspaper work but I feel confident
that it will come about"
Mr. Mitchell lives in Glen Ridge, New
Jersey, just outside of New York city,
where Admiral Sampson at present
one of the three great admirals that
the New York editor knows personally,
and he has known him quite intimately
for several years. He says he does not
believe Admiral Sampson took a step
at any time that would lead to friction
the naval victory of Santiago. He
simply did as the rules and Observances
of naval life made it incumbent upon
him to do.
Mr. and Mrs Mitchell will be in To-
peka up to Monday, or possibly Tues
return to New York with them, and
their departure will consequently be
governed by his condition. He is prac-
tically convalescent from the attack of
fever, and will probably be able to
leave with his parents Monday after
noon.
Mr.. Mitchell, junior, has been associ-
ated with the Axle Electric Light COM
pany in Topeka for the past several
months.
An Anchor From the Spanish Armada