The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-12
AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

II IS d WelL-0SLa DllSn0Q uQdXlHl III
the journalistic world that among a
newspapers best assets are its enc
mics. IL they are the right kind. In
fact. newspaper, even more than an
individual, is known by the enemies
it keeps. For that reason the State
Journal takes considerable pleasure in
the belief that Colonel Joe Richards,
political agent for the Missouri Pacific
railway, had this paper in mind when
he wrote the following paragraph in
closing a letter to the Fort Scott Tri-
bune:
Nor will I stop here to quarrel with
your paper for giving unstinted and
unjustifiable publication to such libel
Gus and infamous matter as you
picked up from the spawning of the
scurrilous Topeka sheet, which no
tOriously lives only from the excre-
ton of scandalous, scroruIous and d.
abolical matter. and to which men,
DRY the imps of perdition-discount-
ing the future, if not ingrates, should
push up before the sulphuric clouds
of huge black shaft with the inscrip-
ton:
"a Dedicated to the Prince of Liars "
While the colonel's pen evidently
stubbed its toe or twisted it's tongue
in that last sentence, making it impos-
sible to understand just what he is
trying to say, we take it for granted
that he meant all right by making 1t
as bad as possible. The more vitu-
peration one receives from some
sources the more creditable it is, and
the State Journal therefore desires to
thank the colonel for this evidence of
his i'll will.
This paper has made practice to
carefully cultivate the disfavor of GER
tain kinds of individuals. There were
Colonel Richards old political pals, for
instance, Joseph Ralph Burton and
Thomas Todd Kelly. The former has
had little use for the State Journal since
it began opposing him politically years
ago, and it is suspected that Mr.. Kelly
has not been fond of this publication
record.
Possibly the distinguished railroad
lobbyist of Fort Scott was first dis
pleased at the policy of this paper when
it told the facts about the careers of
these friends of his, and it's course in
later years has not been OF a character
to mollify his i'll will. The State Jour
nal has not favored railroad domination
in politics. The colonel has been pos
sessed of an ambition to be a political
factor in Kansas, and this journal has
not done anything to promote that am
if it knew it. OF late years
even his home county has decided to
dispense with his services as a delegate
to Republican state conventions, which
has not softened the colonel's feelings
towards those who oppose his ambitions.
But there are some things about Col
onel Richards which this paper can COM
mend, Notwithstanding his attempted
harsh statements concerning this pur-
veyor of news. For one thing, the coll
onel is thoroughly representative OF the
road for which he is the Kansas lobby
LIST. It has the reputation OF being the
poorest road in Kansas. Its ties are said
to be rotten and its rails worn out. 1t
invariably tries to do things the wrong |
way. 1t is tremendously unpopular.
For these reasons the State Journal is
grateful to the colonel for making pub |
lie his enmity towards 1t. Colonel Rich |
ards is typical of the worst kind of rail-
road domination in affairs of govern |
ment, and his opposition is something |
to be desired. AS has been repeatedly !
pointed out in these columns, |
there are good and conscientious |
men in the employ of the |
among railroad attor- |
neys-men whose personal friendship |
and good opinion are worth having. The |
approval of Colonel Richards, however, !
would lead this paper to suspect that |
was wrong with it. Hence |
this acknowledgment of it's gratitude |
for his i'll will.