The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-30
KANSAS CONNENT
KAISER BULLS MAILED FIST.

KAISER BILLS MAILED FIST.
1t doesn't matter so much whether
the purported abstract of the inter-
view of DIR. Hale with the kaiser,
printed in the New York World, is
authentic or not. 1t is conceivable
Whether the kaiser talked in just this
way to this particular interviewer or
not, ne is known to have talked in
similar strains to other Americans.
Three years ago a delegation OF
American congressman, some of them
OF German birth, were received in
audience by the emperor, as they were
on their way home from the conven-
held in Vienna. They remarked to the
KAISER that Germany was represented
at this convention by only two mem
bers of her reiehstag. The purpose
or the union is the furtherance of
peace among nations and it was
broadly limited to his majesty that
there was little hope of disarmament,
SO long as Germany manifested SO lit
tie interest in such an international
peace congress, and so long as she
kept on increasing her army and navy.
The emperor replied that his army
was the best guarantor of peace in
Europe and while he made peace the
basis of his argument for a large army
and a large navy his tone and talk
We're exceedingly belligerent. He al
luded to Russia as an enemy who
except for the vigilance of his army, of
France as his ancient enemy who has
not yet ceased hoping to regain
Alsace-Lorraine and of Great Britain,
also, as his enemy and his chief COM
petitor for foreign trade. He made it
plain that his army was his depend
ence for protection against fancied en-
croachments by Russia and France
and his navy was for use against Eng
land, should occasion arise. He made
it clear that while, he regarded these
nations as his enemies he felt fully
equal to dealing with all.
The alleged a bstract of the Hale in
terview may not be authentic, but this
talk to the American congressman
taken in connection with the interview
published in the London Telegraph
shows that 1t might easily be anthem
tic, and that it at least reflects the real
sentiments of the German emperor
whether they are the sentiments of the
German people or not. 1t will be hard
for Kaiser Wilhelm to lose his char
acter of bully of Europe. For while
he has been engaged in no European
war during his reign of twenty years,
he has been constantly going about
with chip on his shoulder and with
spectacular exhibition of the mailed
fist. If the Germans really desire
peace with all the world they can not
do better than to see that their ruler
puts a paddock on his mouth.-Hutch-
inson News.
THE GOVERNMENT A POOR BOSS.
The government has finished up its
figures for the current fiscal year in
the postal department, and it finds a
deficit somewhat5in excess of 16 million
dollars.
The postal department has often been
cited as fine example of the facility
with which the public can run its own
business, but it has never been posi-
BILE to sift the example down to its
last analysis in receipts and expendi-
lures. The government is, as a matter
of fact, the poorest sort of boss to
get financial returns, though in par
ticularly large and, necessary enter
prises, such as that of the postal SER
vice, it is the only authority which can
safely be trusted With the management.
And this is the final end to public own
ership argument. 1t isn't profitable, ex-
cept in isolated cases; 1t always has
the possibility of loss through political
manipulation, but, it is sometimes nee
essary to protect the public in the free
and open use of the utility.
In some localities the free rural de-
livery system is being blamed for the
postal deficit this year. Every dollar
spent on the free rural delivery brings
an adequate return, even though the
service itself is not self-sustaining. But
every dollar spent in the involved and
expensive system which manages the
mails does not bring an adequate re-
turn, and probably never will.-Ottawa
Herald.