The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-05
JUsr REFoRE THE RATrLE.

| growing number of newspapers tina
are but slightly affected by politica
changes in city, county and state.
It does not depend upon party as
tendency. politicians or officeholderT
for any part of its revenue.
In the state campaign of two year,
ago it was more in harmony with the
chosen state ticket than AMI Other
newspaper printed at the state capital
Yet it was not an applicant for state
patronage, neither did it ask, receive
or expect the vote of any member Of
the executive council for the state
printing
In the last five years it has beer
successful in every one of its city cam
paigns. Yet during that time it has
not received, or demanded the city
printing. It is a somewhat remark
able record that during the nineteer
years of the State Journal under its
present management no man has ever
been elected to the Office of mayor
who has been opposed by it, and to the
best of its recollection at even nc
primary election, in which the State
Journal took a hand, has the man ii
advocated been defeated except in one
instance, unless he were later vindi-
Gated at the polls.
This is not said in a boastful man.
ner, but simply as a statement of fact
to show that so far as this paper is
concerned it is not one of its maxims
to insist that "to the victors belong
the spoiIs."
It is stated on the end of this present
campaign, to put itself upon record,
that with the success or defeat of any
candidate on any state or county
ticket the fortunes of this paper do
not hinge. 1t will pursue the even
tenor of its way and be published for
just as large a regular and constantly
increasing list of subscribers after
election as before.
The revenue of the paper from
readers who wish the largest quantity
and most reliable news and from the
advertisers who wish the greatest pub
licity to their announcements, is suffi-
GENTLY satisfactory to enable its pro-
prietor to pay all of his bills, keep
out of debt and to enjoy the ordinary
comforts of life; and to make ever in
creasing and necessary additions to the
office and to its big pay roll.
All the patronage of party from the
city, county and state printing does not
always bring these results to news
papers. This is one reason why the
ups and downs in politics and of poll
ticians are not a life and death mat
ter to newspapers which are ordinarily
successful without the aid of public
servants, who sometimes imagine
themselves public rulers holding in
their palms the destinies of people and
press, which are often but amused at
their efforts.
The fight of the State Journal against
corruption in Office, so far as the state
treasury is concerned, has not been an
affair taken up a few weeks or a few
months before the election. Our regu-
lar readers need not be told this. The
discoveries several years ago of the
forgeries of the state treasurer began
the criticisms of him as a public Off
Ger. which criticism has never changed
and will not be effected one way or the
other so far as the results of next
Tuesday, or righteousness, are con-
cerned.
So far as the Ubiquitous Comanche
county bond transaction is involved,
this paper exposed that at the earliest
possible day after it could unearth the
deal which had been so carefully
guarded and involved so manI int-i-
cate moves and questionable actions
in darkness and concealed proceedings.
There has been no individual resent
ment or any effort to injure any party,
but on the contrary to benefit it by ex-
posing weak spots and an advocacy of
punishment, and retirement from office,
of derelict officials.
1t is not the duty of a newspaper to
prosecute.
1t is its plain duty to give wide pub
licity to corruption and malfeasance in
Office, that the public may know the
facts and act in accordance there
with.
Roosevelt's practical theory in hand
ling and regulating trusts, as he has
so often expounded it in speech and
in writing, is based upon publicity.
The criminal fears nothing so much
as that he may be found out.
Combination of capital, so produce
tive of good when under proper re-
fears nothing so much when
its methods are illegal or injurious to
the welfare of the public as it fears
publicity. The opportunity and the ex-
istence of a newspaper depend upon
it's use of its means of giving publicity
to both good and bad news.
The duty of the attorney general is
supposed to be to prosecute in state
affairs where misdeeds are in evidence.
1t has been learned of late, to the
states discredit, that an attorney gen.
eraI by his actions informs the public
that he is more anxious to defend a
malefactor than to prosecute him.
That is his concern. The people may
make it theirs.
TOO LAZY TO SCRATCH.
Next to the men who are too indiffer-