The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-27
WHY ABUSE GREAT Men ?
Why Not Help Them for Betterment
Entire Country.

Kansas City, Mo-, Nov. 27.-Ewing
Herbert of Hiawatha. Kan, editor of
the Brown County World, spoke on
Finer Points" at the Knife and Fork
club dinner Friday evening. He said
in part:
kansas has had political tangle-
foot more than once-and may have
it again. One of the chiefest states
men and humorists of the state said
in a recent interview that Kansas is
now in the rebel column-that it is
lost to protection, to Taft-gone in
surgent. He doubtless spoke as q
humorist rather than as a statesman,
but the newspaper and magazine
writer's say they see a great black
cloud of discomfort hanging over pros
porous Kansas and the political doc
tors and nurses are getting the hos
pitfalls ready for the wounded.
Now every time a Kansan fires a
popgun all the citizens do not neces-
sarily rush home for their shooting
irons, nor do they all join in the fus-
illade, on Cannonade. Before they take
part in revolution they want to know
what it is for. The call isn't yet clear.
Kansas isn't like South American
republic or a comic, opera perform
ance.
"All Kansans-those in office and
those who want to be-are loyal to the
interests of the state and people.
Elected by Republicans our congress-
men voted with the Republican ma
jority for tariff revision, except one
senator. who said the revision wasn't
downward enough to get his vote. The
others defend their vote and the law
as the best that could be made be-
cause of so many conflicting interests.
The majority of Republicans in con-
Eress, our Republican president, the
majority of Republicans in Kansas
and the nation. share that belief-or
at least they favor no further differ
ence of opinion until the new law is
tried and proven. But the minority,
lest they be forgot, call themselves
insurgents and advocate rebellion and
revolution.
$50 now We have the insurgents and
the regulars carrying on comic opera
warfare. The insurgents threaten all
the regular Republicans with defeat.
The regulars do not oppose any advance
to the people. They merely contend for
partv unity and the supremacy of the
majority over the minority, believing il
impossible for the few to be entirely
right and the many entirely wrong.
IF the Republican party tariff system
is wrong, then the entire Republican
organization should be held RESPONSE
ble-the minority as we'll as the ma
iority. If the Democratic party system
is right, then the Democrats are en-
titled to return to power. but no
apologist for either the system of the
Republican or Democratic party should
be supported by the loyal voters of
either party.
And those congressman who have
come home from the national congress
sional school complaining about the
rules made by a majority of the stud
ents-those, spoiled boys who can't get
along with tho teacher chosen NV q
1ority of the scholars-should go on
back to their work and settle their diff
ferences with each other. The people
will think more of them if they VIII
make their fight where those they at
tack may defend themselves. They
should do their best to have their way
if they think it is the best way-but
they should submit to the majority rule
for there is no other way to fairly
govern.
1.-THE Kansas farmers are prospecting
as they never did before The products
they take from the soil are worth each
year more than all the gold and silver
mined in America. Alaska and British
America. A disconnected farmer is a
bilious farmer-one who can't digest
good fortune-a foolish farmer who
beats his COW to lower the price Of
milk The farmer votes for a pro-
tective tariff because he is benefteT
by It.
NO leader mas ever Deen so noble
as to escape fault finding and no BAN
ner is too white to he safe from the
mudslinger. John Sherman was Sc
much abused for the alleged crime of
10 that it wouldn't have been safe
for him to come west. but how quick
" and justly that sentiment changed
THE principal speaker of the even
ing should feel that, despite the I'M
Just criticism he is subjected to that
he has thousands of friends and be-
lievers. He has given his best efforts
to the service of his country and wher
attacked no one can accuse him OF
asking for quarter. If he could per-
sonally plead his cause before his par
ty in every district of our country. nc
doubt he would be honored with the
confidence and esteem his honorable
service entities him to.
why should we be so hard on oul
great men2 Why should we be hard
on one another? Men only have sc
much fuel to burn in their lives-onl!
so much energy and force to give tC
public and private affairs. Why no
help them give it grandly for the uni
versal good-for the finer issues of life
to the glory of our country and fol-
the betterment of the condition of ev'
cry man, woman and child?"