The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-18
THE CAPITALS CONVERSION.

| me state Journal is re3oiced to note
I that its esteemed morning contem-
porary. the Topeka Capital. is surely
and steadily. although slowly. coming
/ to the State Journals way of thinking.
It is gradually repenting of its errors,
apparently, and is now strenuously ad-
vocal ting ideas for which the State
Journal long has stood.
For instance. the CAPITAL was largely
instrumental in the election of J. R.
Burton to the United States senate. It
was fer years the recognized organ Of
Mr.. Burton and his friends. The State
Journal has always told the truth about
Burton and has consistently opposed
him IN public life. Now the Capital is
violently against Burton and is calling
on him at the top OF It's voice to resign
from the place to which It helped elect
him
Not so very long ago the Capital was
standing for the railroads in Kansas,
and only last year when the railroads
dominated the Republican state con-
vention and dictated the nomination for
railroad commissioners. the Capital de-
nounced the State Journal for telling
the truth about the matter and for op-
posing the election OF the Republican
nominees. Now the Capital IS devoting
columns Of It's space to advocating the
very truths the State Journal has al
ways stood for. and its denunciation OF
the railroad board could scarcely be
stronger.
The State Journal has in times past
told some dfsagreeable truths about "A
torney General Coleman which the
Capital has nearly always taken coca
sion to deny, yet it recently MADE the
UNQUALIFIED statement that Mr. Coleman
was nominated for attorney general Oy
a railroad combination.
The Capitals most recent renuncla-
fion of some of its former views ana
conversion to what the State journal
has always stood for, appears IN us
EDITORIAL utterances of Sunday, ana II Is
to this advance step of the ca ina
particular attention is now caileu'
senator Fred Dumont Smith SETS up
the claim that the land frauds III nan
sas abe merely technical ana Ol1e
capital attacks this position by sayiIls'
we suppose that all violations OF law
are technical it IS when they are aDle
to nut up the defense that the Vlolatioh
was not technical that criminals nave
got off with immunity. In these cases
no SuCn escape IL EOooABACs -
shoot is taken, that the Iawlessness was
snerelv technical AS the Kansas City
Times says, it is a satisfaction to know
that occasionally the technicalities are
on the governments side" Further on
the Capital says: The question IS
whether to condone such actions as be-
ing merely technical is good pubic
policy"
The change in the Capitals attitude
is evident when it Is remembered only
little more than a year ago, when the
State Journal exposed the infamous
Comanche county bond deal, the Capt.
tai defended it, incIudin9 T. T. Keily's
embezzlement Of S12s 900 Of state money
in financing the deal, on the ground
that it was merely technical It insisted
that Kelly's action was technical en-
bezzlement" only. and that Kelly was
therefore entitled to a reelection as
state treasurer.
The State Journal congratulates the
Capital on its advancement to higher
ideas Of civic righteousness and en-
forcement Of law. Possibly it is now
ready to Join the State Journal in IN
sisting on the prosecution of Kelly for
his technical embezzlement" in the
Comanche county bond case.