The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-30

Inc session extraordinary OIL lSUo Is
of particular interest to the public, be-
cause the public is having a hard
struggle to believe that the session
was a necessity. The pee-pul read the
papers closely in an effort to locate
them thousands of dollars It is not
the duty of the thin blue line back of
the press table to explain the emer-
gency arising at this time. 1t is simply
its duty to report proceedings, and the
public is welcome to find the answer if
it can.
The squad of men who deliver the
goods:
Fred Bullene, boss representative of
foreign publication, the gentleman
who was "trun OUT last winter because
he trod on some legislative toes. When
this session opened, one of the first
resolutions in the senate was a peace
offering to the gentleman from Mis-
souri,. Whereupon, he renailed his
coffin plate to the north end of the SEN
ate table, and lighted cigar. in viola
ton of rule 65.
Dad Kent, a reporter of the old
school, and persistent violator of the
eight-hour law. A thorough newspa-
per man, who has followed all the
changes of the business from Wash
ington hand press to linotype and Goss
four-decker.
Elmer House Dodd Gaston), a
paragrapher whose feature work has
been temporarily forsaken for a
| Legitimate" role in the senate House
is not grind" but he bitterly re-
sents any intimation that he is not a
/ top-notch reporter. Five years ago his
/ boss tntimated that his paragra
were Of more importance to the paper
than his straight reporting. and he
| swelled up like poisoned toad. House
had his own way, and as a result the
| editorial page of his sheet has suffered
| during the legislative sessions House
Is much like the professional man,
who, because he was reared on a farm
| resents the suggestion that he could
| not beat anyone blowing corn.
| Joe Rank, the Gentleman from Atcli-
| son, a non-partisan who wishes the legis-
lature would either do something or
| quit trying. The incidentals do not an
peal to him, and real news is sacrce.
| Besides he wants to get back to Atchl-
son-5ust think of that.
Hopkins alias Hop who refused to
yacate when his paper went under He
/ has established a business of his own
| which beats working for a single sheet
by a large majority. He handles a
| mail order house. and ships political
| information to a long string of Kansas
dailies. He also holds a job in the SEN
| ate.
Pa" LoveweT the main-stay of his
paper, a high-speed news writer who
| never gets left He is the man who
| stuffs the paper with news and other
| things and causes the editor to hang
out the .. II. ". sign. his pTlnclpd
mission in life seems to be to find out
| everything and print it.
| Howse Junior member of the firm OF
Bullene and Howse, collectors and ex-
| porters of Kansas news, evidently 6
permanent fixture. Bul1ene says he
couldn't keep house without Howse
Howse holds forth in the house.
"Bill' Kercher. another foreign am.
bassador, who assists in the perpetual
ton of the Great Kansas Joke" by
shipping news matter to Missouri.
Ernest Tucker. a local political re-
porter who has made good since he wa.
imported several years ago. Tuck" i.
one of the real workers of the bunch
| Frank FARRELL, once slave like thu
rest of them, but now a plutocrat wht
owns his own paper. and has reached
the goal of a reporters ambition
place where no one dares to blue-penci
his copy When legislator finds tn,
calm scrutiny of this person boring int,
his system, he realizes that the Jig Il
up. There is no appeal from Jarrelrl
| decision, because there is no editor t,
| reverse him. FARRELL has been "one o
the gang for many years, and is vic
president of the newsgrabbers' associa
| ton.
These are the men who keep Kan
sans posted on Kansas politics The,