The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-08
KANSAS COMMENT
THE CAT.

Most domestic animals have their
ardent champions, and the cat is no
exception. and it seems time for the
believer In and lover of the cat to get
busy. The bird lovers and statisti-
clans between them have made out
quite case against puss. First be it
CONSIDERED that, according to the wise
heads or the agricultural departments
Amerlcan-grown insects destroy each
year $195,000.00O worm of useful
crops The greatest natural enemy
or the insect raiders is the bird, par
t1cularly the song birds of different
species. which hunt bugs for living.
therefore, If the insect pest is to be
Kept within reasonable bounds, the
birds should be. protected. Comes
now the secretary of agriculture for
the state of Massachusetts,, who warns
the farmers that, in the domestic cat.
they are fostering an enemy to bird
life. This man figures, or estimates,
that the average domestic cat kills
about fifty birds each year. Further
STATISTICS show there are 10000 cats.
on an average, in each state, and that
in the entire country in a year domes-
tic cats kill 32,2OO,OOO birds When
the defenders of the cat report, how
ever, there will be figures concerning
what might happen to the country
from the plague of rats If the cats
were exterminated. There are two
sides to all arguments.-Atchison
Globe.
LIKE UNTO THE PARABLE.
Once upon time two fast friends
wandered out into the night and gaz-
ed at the stars One speculated that
the sky would make a splendid pas
ture. Thereupon he wished that he
owned it. The other speculated that
the stars would make a fine herd of
cattle. Thereupon the friends fell in
to dispute as to where the cattle
would Craze. and the fight reached the
hair-pulling stage. 1t is distressing to
note that the Hon. william Allen
White and the Hon. Chester 1. Long,
VINO started out for a calm discussion
or the issues of the day, are tending
toward excitement in their remarks.
Mr. Long says Mr.. White has been I'M
fair, and Mr.. White says Mr.. Long has
been that much, anyhow. Further re-
marks are awaited with grave concern.
There is nothing so stimulating to
politics as fair and reasonable dis
cussion of issues. and nothing is so
liable to happen out of discussion
of issues as a resort to strong words
and disarrangement of the hair,
which proceedings prove nothing and
breed no party good.-Ottawa Herald.
FOURTH'S BECOMING SAFE.
1t is yet too early to get the re-
ports from all over the country but
it looks now as though July 4th of
this year of our Lord 1908, would
show much smaller record of cas-
ualties from the use of fireworks
and other usual means in the way
of explosives of celebrating the day,
than any other recent anniversary of
American Independence. In Leaven-
worth, as in many other cities ord
inances were enforced that substan-
TALLY confined the use of all explo-
sives to the one day, July 4th, and
that day witnessed as rule. only
safe and sensible demonstrations of
patriotism through the use of gun
powder. There seems now to be no
reason why the annual celebration
of Independence day, may not always
and everywhere hereafter be safe
and sensible.-Leavenwor Post.