The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-03
OIL ON BATTLESHIP.
Governor Hoch's Suggestion Creates
Much Comment.

The suggestion Of Governor Hoch. as
first published in the State Journal,
that crude oil be used in christening the
battleship Kansas is creating great
deal of comment all over the country
Many Of the big newspapers Of Ine
country have published long edltoIlals
on the subject, and heArest have had
some shorter comment to make.
Governor HOch says he made the sug-
gesuOn in q spirit Of leV1ty, but IL mas
been taken seriously by great many
people. A great variety Of opinions are
expressed on the subject Some people
approve it because it would be wicked
to use champagne for such a purpose
especially in naming battiesnlp aIleI
a prohibition state. Others think II
would be better to use oil because It
would be a pity to waste bottle OF
good champagne for such purpose.
A considerable number of temperance
advocates think it would be better TO
use champagne for the christening be
cause it would do away with one bottle
of the stuff in a way which would DO
less evil then if it were left for some
body to drink. Others think champagne
should be used because it is an old
esta blished custom
Some of the shipbuilders and people
employed in the navy department siren
uously object to the use of oil because
it would make the ship greasy. The
possibility of using a little elbow grease
and sapoio afterwards evidently does
not occur to them.
One Of the principal arguments urged
for the use of champagne is that sailors
are extremely supersutlous and that
they viii ship more readily on a vessel
launched with champagne than on any
other. The battleship Kentucky was
launched with a bottle Of spring water
from a spring from which Abraham
Lincoln drank when a boy, but as the
great vessel slid into the water some
enthusiastic Kentuckians who did not
approve Of the spring water idea, and
especially of spring water as g. beverage
threw several bottles of the favorite
Kentucky beverage and smashed them
against the vessel.
Governor HOch has received word
from Senator Long that the Kansas will
be ready for launching in September.
The following editorial from the Buff
falo Express is sample Of the discus
sion going on in the newspapers of the
country:
Governor Hoch's purpose to christen
the new battleship Kansas with crude
oil instead Of champagne is jeered by
some and deplOred by others as in bad
taste. Oil is a leading subject in kan
sas just now, and that is probably why
Governor Hoch has chosen it as the
christening fluid. So at least some of
his critics think, who feel that the gov
ernor should have selected some liquid
not the subject of cOntentiOn-like
whisky made from Kansas corn, for in
Stance-tO dash upon the brOWs of the
new ship But such objections win
weigh little with the governor. He is
a fighter, oil is a, Kansas product, and
he is probably rejoicing at the oppor-
tunity to put a. little of the Kansas
crude, uncontaminated by the trust,
where all the world will see it. If he
could pour some Kansas oil over the
cornerstone Of a building endowed by
Mr.. Rockefeller. he would probably be
still happier. At least, he gives the i'm
preston of being in that frame of mind.
I'm fact, it makes little difference to
the public what the battleship Kansas
shall be bathed with. The ship would
really not be true to her name If she
were christened with any of the ordi-
nary liquids Nothing but catsup or
kerosene or TobascO sauce would fit the
militant spirit of Kansas; and kerosene
is naturally the most appropriate of the
Shree- And the choice Of an uncommon
liquid for the christening does not por-
tend bad luck for the vessel. Most
American warships have a habit of do
ing wells but this does not argue that
champagne is the only proper christen-
ing medium The Kentucky was chris
tened with spring water, but we believe
that Castro would be none the less
afraid OF her. The Japanese christen
their warships with flowers, but Togo
worries along with them Just the same.
Let Governor Hoch christen the Kansas
with what he viii; we shall hope that
the oil he uses will be symbolical of
peace"