The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-10
FRON OTHER PENS
THE FLAT WAR CULT

A communication in the New York
Sun shows the perseverance of the at
tempt to manufacture a war by assert
ing at some length that the battleship
feet is intended to enforce the open
door in China. The open door is still
there, but on a predicated attempt of
Japan to close it the fleet. with it's
1900 sailors, is to pry and hold it open.
This is averred with apparent serious
ness.
This recalls that some years before
Japan became the dominant power of
the east the doctrine of the open door
in China was enunciated by the United
States and accepted in principle by all
the powers. But when it came to re-
specting that principle in actual prac-
tice there was a hiatus. Russia, though
pledged to leave Manchuria, stayed
there and kept the door locked until
she was kicked out. Who of our jim
goes raised their voice to proclaim the
necessity of the United States going to
Port Arthur and battering it down
about the Muscovites' ears to force the
door open? Not one person was SO be-
sotted as to suppose that the United
States would make so insane depar-
ture from It's one sphere of interest
and it's long standing and wise policy.
Has the possession of a big fleet Gre
ated that obsession to the degree of
imagining the fleet sent to China to
force open the ports and conquer the
mainland with its teeming millions? AS
an offset to the persistent generation
of war talk 1t Is salutary to consider
few undeniable facts. A correspond
ent of the London Daily Mail declares
that Japan has had enough OF war to
last her for a reasonably long and in
definite period. Her governing classes
will have no more OF 1t.-P1ttsourg
Dispatch
RAILROADS MUST LOOK AHEAD
Wide circulation is being given to
statistics showing that more than 2oo,
coo cars belonging to the railroads OF
| the United States and Canada are no"
| idle for lack of freight enough to Keep
them in use. That means temporary
| excess of about 10 per cent in the STOCK
| of cars owned, and it is equivalent 70
| tying up of hundreds of millions or doI-
lars, with the idle locomotives also Ia
| ken into account, in property LOT the
moment unproductive.
| If such conditions could be expected
to continue long the railway companies
/ would be justified In stopping Ior year
or two the buying or building OF new
rolling stock. They would then De 40
/ ing the right and the wise thing
| they refused to enlarge their faclnt1es
for handling freight until the neeo De,
! came more urgent and certain. AS l,
/ is, no railroad which is aoie 70 pu'
money into its equipment Is Justlneo ~
| waiting for the time wnen II VIII Dc
| pushed and choked with traffic
Sir Thomas Shaughnessy,t the president
| of the Canadian Pacific, has the souno
view of the situation. He says that, tne
24,000,0 600 In new capital Whlcn hls
company has been raising will be spent
in Immediate preparation for the de.
mands Of the near future. he expiains
that the directors of the big canadlaI
road believe that the reaction IN ousi-
| ness which involves the railroads. IKE
everything else, is only an incident II
a period of great and increasing pros
perity. They feel confident Inal IN, IN
short time all of the Increased laciLlI Tue
for traffic which their company - pro
viding viii be urgently needed.-Cieve
land Leader.