The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-06
WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.
(Phil Eastman in the Saturday Even
ing PoSt)

| NO issue IN Kansas pOlll1cS Is SelliSo
with the majority until William Allen
White has expressed his views editor
tally. When the editors of the state are
divided and are busily engaged in heat
ed editorial debates, the uncertain cub
lie look to White as moderator and
await his views. He is expected to hit
of Kansas. and grew up in the state
during the days of Republican suprem-
acy and 1900 majorities. He developed
during the exciting days of bare major
tiles, swung first to the Republican and
then the Populist side. He bought the
Emporia Gazette, in the town where he
was born, and in the midst of a Popu-
list community. When the political
wave, started by the Alliance, had en-
quilted Kansas, he engaged the enemy
in one of their strongholds and began
fighting his way out.
The Oldest subscribers, who threaten
ed to stop their subscriptions unless he
ceased to ridicule their doctrines. could
not force a cessation of hostilities. He
was the issue. or at least one of the is
sues, in the county campaign The
Populists were determined to carry the
county contrary to his editorial preach
ings. White had assumed a more i'm
that goes with the name of Bill. He
had outgrown the name of Willie and
of Will, which chung to him in the
minds of many of the old settlers in
Enporia, who remembered the day
when the local paper chronicled the
birth of the boy who had grown to be
the editor. The transparencies in the
Populist parades, the banners at the
stump speech gatherings, gave space to
reply to Bill White.
The editor of the Gazette kept on
hammering at the men who he said
talked of hard times of the repudi-
alton of debts. and of the rights of the
user paramount to the rights of the
owner, while their wives took in wash
ing to support the family. These curb
stone statesmen stopped MIN on tie
street one day and began an argument.
The editor could not get a chance to
answer them by speech. They jeered
at him. White was to take the next
train west. He. hurried to the Gazette
office. He wrote an editorial and head
ed it What's the Matter With Kansas.
He told in plain language just what the
matter was. His diagnosis was correct
He told Colonel Hucks and his follow
ers Just what allied their political liv
room and hurried to the sta
ton to catch the train. He thought of
that rasping, satirical, blunt editorial
for a good many miles. He doubted tie
of printing it. He would
have recalled it but he could not. Tile
was printed and was copied.
He had hammered the nail sQuarely On
the mead. The editorial was circulated
among a thousandfold more readers
than the writer ever expected to reach. |
Chairman Hanna, of the national Re
publican committee. used it more ex-
tensively than any other document of
the campaign of 1896. 1t helped elect a |
president. The regeneration of Colonel
Hucks was accomplished. Others fol- |
lowed him back to the Republican fold. |
Populism was a matter of history. The
editor of the Gazette had passed to that t
degree of Importance which demands
the full spelling of all the names used
at the christening. He was entitled to
be called William Allen White in full.
Since White bought the Gazette he !
has been enjoying the fulfillment of his
journalistic ambition; he has been a
country editor. He is an
editor with ideals. He believes that
editors have a mission and that that
mission is to say without fear or IA
vor what should be said of politics and
politicians, whether the saying prods a
friend or foe.
White believes that the main thing in
life is to satisfy ones own conscience.
He does that. His conscience has not
been wrapped while he dreamed of gain
ng the favor of some politician by that
editorial sagacity which sees plum in
he form of a political office.
In fact, White simply won't have
political job, and it is not necessary TO
add IF he could get it, for he has had
[ within his reach. 1t was his for the
asking. Chairman Hanna was much
pleased with the editorial written by the
Young Kansas editor. When they met
Hanna informed White that he might
,hoose the office he thought would re-
ward him for the work he had done the
,arty by writing that editorial. White
declined any Office Hanna might secure
or him, through the appointive power
# Mckinley. from a foreign berth
Town. He would not take the usual
,rize, the postmastership in his home
own. Strange action for an editor, es-
,ecially a Kansas country editor. Chair
nan Hanna looked upon White with
increased favor. That was the begin 1
ling of genuine friendship between the
wo which ended only with the death
# the elder.
White is a pioneer of the new style :
ountry editor. He would not call upon ]
Mckinley, at the urgent request of
chairman Hanna, until Hanna inserted
n the letter of introduction that the
,earer was not seeking a political ap-
continent.
That letter, which White rescued af-
er its presentation, hangs in a frame |