The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-02
KANSAS COANENT
APPEALS IN CASE OF DISASTER.

q
me nre which recently devastated
one OF the suburbs OF Boston gives US
several views OF the attitude of public
omclais insofar as relief from the out
sue sue TOT those afflicted is concerned.
me mayor OF Boston issued an appeal
TOT nelp, but the governor Of the state
OF massachusetts, decried the necessity
OF such help on the ground that the
state would De able to care for its own.
calamity such as this OF the Chel-
people OF California are citizens of the
same country as the citizens of Massa-
cnusetts. A man does not ordinarily
say; am native of Massachusetts.
an American 1t is much better that
the privilege OF helping these people
snoulo be extended to the people OF
the entire country. No bond is SO
Denencial to the people of a nation as
the bond of sympathy. If you help a
man you take an active personal in
terest In him. Such calamities as
those which befalI us from time to
Time are exceedingly lamentable. but
tney bear fruit in that the sympathy
tutes bond which is invaluable as a
means OF national betterment.
IL II were In relation to an appeal
TO the people of foreign country.
governor Draper might have been
justified in his effort to have the ap-
peal withdrawn. President Roosevelt.
It is understood, signified his dislike of
the idea of foreign help at the time OF
the san Francisco disaster. And it is
not well to suggest to the nations OF
not capable of taking care of her own
In times Of great trouble.
speaking also from the sordid stand
point, it is as well that the other
states should be allowed to add their
quota to the relief fund from the
standpoint that it will involve a much
smaller drain upon a state already
crippled-Wichita Eagle.
WORK FOR THE LAWYERS.
Yesterday the first legal step was
taken toward securing Harry Thaw's
release from the New York asylum for
the criminal insane at Matteawan. OF
course this move has been expected
ever since Thaw was confined there at
the end of his second trial.
After 1t is all over. and Thaw has
paid the attorneys, and again COM
menced the distribution Of his wealth
among the chorus girls, what fine
farce the whole great case that had
It's beginning In tragedy will seem!
First, there was Thaw, the roue and
inebriate, posing as the champion of
injured innocence. Then there was
Evelyn, several years his mistress and
the mistress Of other men, who was
supposed to be this injured innocence
personiied. Then. when the 'protec-
ton of home" plea failed to impress
the first jury. more attention was paid
to Thaw's insanity. All the eccentrici-
ties that an idle rich man might in
dulge in for the purpose of killing
time were dug up and brought for
ward as an evidence of a mind dis
eased. Because a spoiled child had
turned criminal, he was necessarily
crazy. The attorneys for the defense
worked hard to prove the theory, and
the alienists-also for the defense
looked wise, 5uggled the big words, and
said the attorneys were right; that
Harry was a raving maniac. So the
jury returned a verdict of not guilty,
and Harry was sent to an asylum in
stead of q death cell.
And now Harry feels he has been
in retirement long enough. Therefore
more Thaw money Will be used to en-
ploy more lawyers and alienists to
prove that Harry Thaw is sane and
safe, the mental equal of the average
man, and that a great wrong is being
done by keeping him imprisoned.
And all of this may be no proof
that Thaw came free because of the jul
dicious use of much money. But it
certainly is an illustration of the ma
jesty Of the law which makes 1t look
greatly like a monkey to the layman
-Atchison Globe.