The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-18
HITS CIVIC LEAGUE
Bale Waggener Makes a Defense
of Railroads.
Makes Suggestions Concerning
the Wichita Meeting.
USED BY POLITICIANS.
Blacklist Them With Reformers
and Nothing Would Be Left.
Says People and the Railroads
Should Agree.
USED BY POLITICIANS.

Kansas City, Kan, Jan. 1S.-It was
warm and hearty welcome that this
city gave Governor q. w. Hoch last
night at the Benjamin Franklin dinner
of the Mercantile club. In the Knights
of Columbus haIl, 81 Minnesota ave
nue., 200 men cheered the Governor as
he entered the han. and when he ad-
dressed them.
The governor told of some of his
troubles caused by office seekers. He
said:
We meet tonight upon the anniver-
sary of one of Americas greatest men
Benjamin Franklin. Two hundred
years ago Boston gave to this country
this great brain and great soul His
career was a remarkable one. Printer
editor, publisher, inventor, philosopher.
scientist, diplomat, statesman-th
We're the rounds Of his ladder OF. fame
When Benjamin Franklin had accu-
mulated a fortune of 100000 or So
he refused to add to it. The product
of his inventive genius he refused to
patent OF profit from, preferring that
the world should have the full benefit
of it.
Suggested by this sublime life I
bring you some messages tonight to
which If I should give title it would be:
simply desire to have a heart to
heart talk with you concerning some
commonplace things which may be en-
tirely unworthy of your consideration.
The first fundamental fallacy to
which ] will allude is the mental at
titude toward government sustained
by too many of our best business men
and most excellent private citizens.
The evident reluctance OF many of
those who adOrn commercial circles
and who give vitality to Industrial
movements to lend their time and tall
ents to practical politics has long been
a source of alarm to students of pub
lie welfare. The greater remunera-
lions of commercial life in comparison
with life political tends to withdraw
from the affairs the most competent
men and to leave the management of
these vital interests to inferior ability.
Business men have absorbed them
selves in their private affairs and left
the control of public affairs at the
caucus and at the polls to mere
manipulators for personal ends No
wonder our cities are in the grip of
grafters and bOOdlers when business
men have been so unmindful of their
highest duty as private citizens. But
there are hopeful signs of the times.
There is a real awakening of the bust
ness men to the fact that government
is a great business concern dema nding
some of their thought and time and
talents. The recent Wichita convention
is splendid illustration of this hopeful
fact
Gentlemen. if you want good govern
ment you must not be too busy to help
make it.
1t is wonderful how widespread is the
seeming belief that 1t is the business Of
government to take care of the people
when the converse is true, viz; That it
is the business of the people to take
care of the government I have had
much experience the past year along
this line. I have been overwhelmed with
applications for political positions from
countless persons who made no attempt
to conceal the fact that their ambition
was prompted wholly and solely by de-
sire to improve their financial condition
otherwise impossible and seemingly with
no primary reference to the interests of
the state. Men afflicted with all kinds
of maladies frankly avowed themselves
! incapable of making a living in other
/ channels. but sought positions at the
/ hands of the state.
! They seem to regard the public ser
/ vice as q. sort Of asylum, hospital or
/ infirmary- It seems to be fundamental
fallacy deep seated and widespread, to
| suppose that the states does not require
/ as great ability as any other line of
/ business. when the fact is, it should
require the very best Of talent and only
/ those should be called to public service
who have proven their capacity in sim
/ liar service in private life.
This notion that government is an