The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-03
FRON OTHER PENS
RURBER AND ZANE

South America has a checkered his
tory, but few districts have a more
picturesque record than the District of
Acre-the piece of territory which has
just led to riots in Bolivia and which
may bring on war. Acre is a district
at the meeting place of Peru, Brazil
and Bolivia. It is rich in rubber, which
fact explains why there has been trOu-
BILE over it. Disputes as to it's possess
sion have existed for a long while, and
for a time Acre claimed independence,
as a sort of baby republic or kingdom
But it manifestly belonged to one or
more of its stronger neighbours; and the
president of Argentina has Just decided
that it shall be divided about equally
between Peru and Bolivia. 1t is this
decision that has made the present
trouble. Bolivia sold the district TO
Brazil without walti.-g for the decision
of the arbitrator, and now stands in
the position of having disposed of what
was not its own.
BoIivians are indignant at the de-
cision but it is hard to see what they
be hopeless for them in practical
way as we'll as indefensible from II
moral point of view. Probably Bolivia
Will have to return part of the $40
100000 it received from Brazil But
why did Brazil buy territory in dis
pute ?-Buffalo Express.
THE REFUGE OF ANARCHY.
Curious paradox as it may seem. no
one will depIore the anarchist crime
in London the killing of a member
of the British government by
Hindoo anarchist. more than the
anarchists themselves. London,
handy to all the capitals of Europe,
easy to reach and easy to get away
from, has for many years been the
leading resort of the anarchists of
the world Here the Russian nihilist,
the Armenian revolutiOnist, the Ger
man agitatOr-an the people rightly
or wrongly dissatisfied with their own
governme found haven and
freedom, not only to push their pecu-
liar propaganda, but even to organize
their campaigns of crime;
Because of the freedom of the
laws of England which have
guaranteed these anarchists have
been careful, even among themselves,
to maintain such good behavior as
would prevent any extreme measures
mated by the London police that
there are now resident in London
over 5000 anarchists of various ma
tionalities, and so long as they con-
fine their energies to talk or the pup
LEGATION of anarchistic documents
thev are not Washington
Herald.
FAIR PLAY FOR MOTORISTS.
Motorists in Massachusetts are re
ioicing over the immediate application
Of the new state law. whereby general
state speed limits are substituted for
those var;ously and arbitrarily pre-
scribed by city councils and other To-
cal bodies The state regulations pre-
scribe a limit of 20 miles an hour in
the open country, Is miles in thlckly-
settled districts and miles in corners
nd curves. By the general application
Of these regulations the motorists are
released from a species of oppression
which not infrequently smacked OF
tlackmail. uncertainty as to dlfterent
local limitations making it an easy
natter for them to fall a prey to con-
stables and other officers on the look
cut for a chance to turn an honest
re my a t the expense of unwary tray
slers 1t Is eminently proper that the
81 ivers of motor cars should be held
under restraint; but it is also proper
1nd essential that there should not pc
a confusion of laws and ordinances in
This regard tending to promote abuses
IF power and of opportunity on the
part of different local authorities. Ihere
s certainly no essential evil in motor
rg which forbids that its votarles
should enjoy fair olay-just such fair
play as the state of Massachusetts, Is
showing them.-Pittsburg Chronicle
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