The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-24
KANSAS COMMENT

POLITICS AND THE NEWSPAPER.
The people do not get the instruc-
lion from political speech which they
dld two or three generations ago, ac-
cordlng to the president of Yale. Po-
lltlcaI speakers may address enthusi-
astic meetings, but their addresses are
appeals to the emotions of men who
nave already formed their views, other
tnan deliberate discussions with view
10 ald in their formation.
Long before the great public speech
es nave been made on questions at
issue the facts have been set before
the people in the news columns of
drawn from them with more or less
care in the editorials. so that speech
lii the senate or house of representa-
ives serves rather to register the
reason for a decision already formed
by the voters than as a means of in
Huencing any man or arriving at a
common understanding on any meas
ure. The invention of the telegraph
ana the immense use of news gather
ing agencies have made the newSpa-
per press the source through which
the people go to get their facts, and
the real forum in which public issues
are discussed
If we want responsible government
we must have responsible newspapers.
II we are to have responsible neWspa-
pers the reform must begin with the
reader must get into the habit of see
ing whether the statements of fact in
his paper are supported by evidence
or not 1t is not possible for coun-
try to be well governed unless the
people who do the reading are in the
habit of weighing the evidence. If
they shut their eyes to all facts eX-
cept those that they like, the govern
ment will be at the mercy of passion
and prejudice.
If every boy can understand that it
is political duty to give to the public
business of the country the same kind
gives to his private business and TO
adapt the facts to his conduct, our
public business will quickly be brought
up to the same level of our best pri-
vate business. And there is no way in
which this can be done so surely as
by beginning at the bottom and read
ing newspapers in that sptrit.-Wich-
ita Eagle.
ONE MILL TAX IS A FORTUNE.
The Kansas legislature will face a
most difficult situation this winter be-
cause the state valuation is so i'm
mense. Kansas has available for tax
able purposes about $2,250. 100000. This
means that one mill tax will yield the
state $2,250 900. One-tenth of a mill
means $225, 900.
When the legislature assemblies there
will be the usual calls for legitimate
expenses, but the rate will be so low
that every department will ask an in
crease and the plea will be: ''Why the
hundredth part of mill will yield all
the increase we ask"
1t may seem absurd to make the
comparison, but the solons this winter
will be in the position of a poor man
who has suddenly inherited a vast
fortune. and the first feeling will be
one of relief that the necessity for
strict economy has passed.
With this condition confronting them
it will require more real craftsmanship
to keep appropriations within bounds
than If the old tax regime were in
force. '--tc
The state does not own a dollar of
this two and quarter billion as every
cent of 1t belongs to citizens or cor
porations, and the Legislature has no
more right to. be- unduly liberal with
the revenues thancif the state were in
debt and had to Issue bonds to pay the
bills.
This subject is the more important, |
because this will be the first legislature |
to meet with so much money in sight, |
and it's course will make a precedent |
for all future ones.-Wichita Beacon.