The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-30
FROM OTHER PENS
DoUBLE,'s EDGED SWORD.

Authentic reports from the region
west of the Alfeshanies. indicate that
Mr. Bryan is TO nteceive the votes OF
many persons because he is -''ortho-
dox," while Mr.. Taft is not, judged
by "evangelicaP' tests. 1t also is said
that Mr.. Bryan is to be preferred by
some voters because of certain official
acts of Mr.. Taft in connection with
the Roman church. AS We have re-
marked before, a mans formal relig-
ion and his type of theology have no
inevitable relation to his fitness for a
place of administration in government.
He may be as good" as saint and
as inept and impractical in governing
as was Don QuixOte in championing
his causes. There is another and more
serious aspect of this matter. 1t es-
tablishes precedent that VIII be harm
full in American politics. 1t introduces
anti-American tests of an officials
worth. 1t points the way toward a re-
viving of animosities that were being
buried, and were best bpried. We also
observe that 1t puts a weapon in the
hands of the American electorate which
can cut those who now WELD t.-Bos-
ton Herald.
RAILWAY TRAMPS.
A writer in a current magazine de-
scribes railway tramps as a grave
menace not merely to interstate COM
merce. but to the safety of the travel
ing public. AS a rule, a train is In
charge of five men only-the engineer,
the fireman. the conductor and two
brakemen. Hoboes riding blind bag
gage on the trucks beneath the cars.
or snugly ensconsed in the grain In naiI
filled freight cars, or even-as some
times happens-lying across the backs
of pigs or sheep in the cattle cars, can
not only make trouble for the train
crews. but by turning the angle COCKS
can apply the air brakes instantly, thus
causing frequent wrecks and occasional
loss of life. 1t is comparatively easy
for a veteran of the road to eluoe tne
trainmen in a kind of hide and-seek
game, played in and out OF the small
doors in the tops of the cars and over
the roofs of a moving freight train.
There is hardly an accident that does
NOT include the death of tramp VINO
was riding the trucks or traVenng as
stowaway in the corner OF a pox car.
Very often the cars are set on nre ny
the matches of these undesirable pas
sengers The only way to sa1eguaro
life and property is to visit with the
severest penalties all attractions OF the
law inhibiting trespassing on railroad
property. The courts have been TOO
lenient-Ph Philadelphia Ledger.
AMERICAN MEATS THE BEST.
An investigation, conducted by the
government with care and exhaustive
". into the quality of the meats packed
in tins and glass which were on sale In
the English market brought out the
fact. gratifying from the American
standpoint, that such goods as were
packed in the United States were far
purer and more wholesome and CON
| tanned far less of preservatives than
similar foods of British origin. More
ever. the contention of some of the
British manufacturers that their pro-
lducts.- which stood lowest on the test
were those in which American raw ma
/ teriais were used proved likewise to Dc
untrue. and the-offfcial report so states
The commencement of the pure 1000
agitation in this country and the
revelations brought out as the result
of the Investigations then started had q
bad effect upon the market for Ameri.
can canned goods abroad. Strong pre-.
| iudices were created against them, anc
| for a time they were practically un'
| salable in the English markets. There
has been a reaction, and the recent IN
vestigation by the English authorities
showing the high quality OF the Ameri,
can product in comparison with tina
made at home. will tend inevitably Z
lpopularfze the American brands.-Seat-
tie Post-Intelligencer.