The Topeka state journal., 1908-06-16
NOT AS BAD AS PAINTED.

of the newspaper publications during
the last year or two the impression
has been gained that the public SER
rupt and make the best use OF every
opportunity to fill their pockets at the
expense of the taxpayers. As a mat
ter of fact, a large percentage of the
people seem to have been led to the
opinion that the world is filed with
degenerates of all types.
Under these circumstances it is
gratifying, indeed, to find so eminent
an authority as Mr.. Justice Harlan, OF
the supreme court of the United
States take the opposite view. In a
recent address before the Detroit Bar
association he gave 1t as his opinion
that honesty and fidelity In public
office are the rule at the present time,
and not the exception. He also said
he disagreed with those who profess
to see dishonesty and corruption ev-
erywhere, and who declare it to be
their opinion that the American ma
ton is on the road to ruin.
Mr. H. F. Dodge, official steno-
grapher for the ffty-two congress
sional committees of the House, and
who Is one of the high salaried
House employees, is in Topeka this
week visiting. Mr.. Dodge has been
closely associated with the public men
of Washington for more than. dozen
years. He knows the big men Of the
House from close range and comes in
constant contact with all the mem
bers. Mr.. Dodge tells the writer that
in his opinion the present congress,
presided over by Speaker Cannon is
one of the ablest and most conscien-
tious bodies that has assembled in
Washington during his experience. He
says that he believes there has been a
minimum of pressure in the direction
of undesirable legislation in this con-
gress. He knows Cannon we'll, has
travelled thousands of miles with him
and has opportunity to study and OBJ
serve the speaker under all conditions.
He says that Speaker Cannon is a man
of the highest character, honorable and
conscientious in the last degree for
the peoples interest, and probably the
most capable legislator in the nation,
and best in legislation.
This article is not in defense of
Cannon. The State Journal Is not for
Cannon for president or vice presi-
dent. This paper is simply, in this
editorial, using Mr.. Cannon as a type
of public man who has been grossly
maligned in Kansas.
This sort of sentiment is thoroughly
refreshing and gives one higher re-
gard for our free republican institu-
tions. The fact that the men we
known to be in the main conscientious,
careful and considerate of the in
terests Of their constituents and of the
whole country is one of the most
satisfactory contemplations for a peo-
pie and public that have been more
or less nauseated with charges of cor
ruption which however gross and
disreputable the facts may prove to
be. are still minor mention in the
great body polite and private.
1t is a pretty safe statement that
~. H.,
cleaner than ever before, and that the
percentage Of those who are .unde-
sirable citizens in any community is
small. No doubt more is heard OF
men of some prominence socially and
otherwise going wrong than ever be-
fore. but that is because many newspa-
pers get and publish everything that
is a crime or akin to crime that they
get hold of, and they don't miss
great deal. But because there are
so many murderers, defaulters and
other criminals mentioned in the pub
lie prints it does not follow that the
really immoral portion of the people
is so extremely large after all. I,
must be remembered that. there is ar
immense population in the country
more than sO.00O,0O0-and that there
can be great many violators Of tn,
laws. some in public life as we'll as 6
greater number in private life, with
out the proportion of the really dis
honest and corrupt people being yer,
large.