The Topeka state journal., 1908-12-28
FPOM OTHER PENS
RECRUITING THE ARMY.

That army recruiting officers should
have rejected eight times as many ap-
plicants for enlistment because or
saIcoholism" the last year as in the
preceding is cited by service paper
as a wonderful circumstance in view
of the spread of prohibition sentiment
Two years ago the reflections for this
cause averaged about 10 per 1000 of
applicants, but the surgeon generals
report, Just issued, indicates that in
the tWelvemonth covered by 1T they
rose to 75 per thousand. AS the
regulations governing enl1stmentS nave
not been changed in the interval, the
difference is not to be accounted for
by their increased stringency. officers
are wondering If there is an increase
in hard drinking among the people
generally proportionate TO the per-
centage of alcoholics" among those
who enter recruiting offices. Pos
sibly an explanation is found in busi-
ness depression compelling many nara
drinkers who ordinarily find some
civil employment to choose between
enlisting and starving. There is so
much good material offering now that
officers have no temptation to let
down the lines even in favor of mod
crate drinkers.-Boston Transcript.
INTERSTATE THOROUGHFARE
Commenting upon the presidents
country life commission. Mr..
Bachelor, master of the National
Grange, says that the reform which
would mean most to farmers. in dol
lars and cents. would be an adequate
appropriation for the Improvement of
highways. This is a good suggestion,
and if we discern rightly the litera-
ture of the grange, it favors the rails
ing of the money for this improve
ment by cutting down the battleship
building expense. That is itself a
great argument for the road reform.
1t is hoped when our new president
gets in he will have it this way. There
have been some slight omens that
naval jamboree as quickly as he
might, but we shall trust him to this,
also. There is a possibility of fol-
policies rather languidly. and this one
is specially referred to, of diverting a
large section of the resources now
absorbed in building warships, to the
happier proposition of employing sew
eral thousand men in constructing in
terstate thoroughfares, and thus
illustrating the federal principle in
grand and peaceful way.-Ohio
State Journal.
GUBERNATORIAL PARLIAMENTS
A conference of governors of the
New England states is now in session
in Boston, called together to consider
matters of common interest which
may be better forwarded by common
effort The better conservation of
water-power as a means of manufac-
turing growth and stability; forest
preservation; encouragement of ma
rine industries; better means of inter-
communication between centers of
population, and improved sanitation,
are among the subjects to be con-
sidered.
This getting together of the COVER
nors, east, west and south, to take
concerted action, whether for
uniformity of legislation as to mar
riage divorce, suffrage, corporate
regulation and other matters of gem
eral concern in which state authority
is paramount or for purposes of sec
tional and special Improvement such
as the meeting of governors Of the
coal-producfng states soon to be held
in Pittsburg to consider means of life
saving and waSte-Stoppage in the
mines, is altogether desirable. There
is also high reason for the states to
pull together as a means of dissuading
and preventing federal encroach-
ments.-Philadelphi Record.