The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-27

and at that time the floor OF Repre-
sentative hall was crowded and the gal
leries also were we'll filled Everyone
was anxious to get a seat where AIF.
Whites paper could be heard to advant-
age. Mr.. Whites fame as one of the
foremost writers of America, and the
fact that he is a kansas boy, makes
him an object of interest to the teachers.
In addition to this, Topeka people were
anxious to see him because of the fact
that he has become an object of SEN
ator Platt's wrath at one of his latest
article in McClure's magazine.
Mr. White has also been subject of
discussion at a former session of the
state association himself. Two years
ago A B. Cowdrick, of Russell, attacked
Mr.. White because of his 'Boyville''
stories Mr.. Cowdrick said that incor-
rigibles could not cured in school as
long as such characters as those in the
''Boyville'' stories were held up as
heroes. Miss Florence Reasoner, of
Leavenworth, came to the defense of
Mr. White, saying that if teachers un-
derstoOd boy nature as well as Mr..
White does they would have far less
difficulty in governing boys
1t was no wonder teachers and To-
peka people were anxious to hear Mr..
White today, and that they listened
with the closest attention to his paper
President Sinclair presented Mr.
White, declaring it was unnecessary to
introduce him. When the continued ap-
plause subsidized MIR. White said he had
dealings with school teachers; they were
a part of his life; his mother had been
a teacher ard his wife had been one.
Il know" said he, show they pick peo-
pie to pieces and 1 determined to read
what L had to say and then 1 knew I
would say just what I intended to say
Picking up the first of but four pages
Of manuscript he said:
MR. WHITES S ADDRESS.
Every year two or three hundred men
and women gather in Topeka and shake
hands and bump elbows and read pa
pers and discuss with some show of
seriousness the making of newspapers.
That gathering is called the annual
meeting of the State Editorial associa-
ton At it we editors convince our
selves that If it wasn't for the tremen-
dous power of the press there would
be a long low irritating sound of rip
ping in the canvas of civiiizatio fol-
lowed by the crackle of the fires of
archy.
We don't know what a pabulum is
but we editors convince ourselves that
the press is the pabulum of liberty and
Ihat a pabulum is not only an excellent,
put a necessary thing to have in the
house. Then after rallying around the
pabulum for a while we pat our chests
proudly, sQuint our eyes wisely, and
go homo content to take up again the
burden of preserving an ungrateful peo-
pie in the enjoyment of life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. at a minimum
rate of a dollar and a half a year for
each subscriber We editors sometimes
helping along the work of progress
the doctors and lawyers, and preachers,
and even school teachers; but they
merely form the ornate fringe of the
great national fabric to which the edi-
torial profession Is the center pole.
We are inclined to look upon school
teachers at something the same angle
at which the New orleans creole look
Cd at General Lee. The creole said to a
Eirginian: "Oh. yais, yo'r Gennel
Robert E. Lee must "a been a man of
some impo tince. I've frequently heard
Gennel Beauregard speak of him!'
Now the school teachers when they
gather in convention at Topeka do not
swell up with vain pride as we editors
no. The school teachers are willing to
divide the work on the problems that
CONFRONT mankind, by admitting that in
tne solution thereof there are two fac
tors: school teachers and others When
one considers what a step in advance
TINS pedagogic position is, compared
with the positions assumed by
EDITORS and doctors and preach
ers and lawyers at their conyen-
tions, one is forced to conclude that
school teaching is one Of the liberal pro
These remarks are made to preface