The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-27
FRON OTHER PENS
PLENTY OF SMALL ARMS.


If there are those who have taken
alarmist literature so seriously as to be
apprehensive Of the invasion of the
United States, such may derive comfort
from the knowledge that the invader
Will not find US unarmed or compelled
to fall back on fowling-pieces. The
Springfield armory is turning out the
new service rifles at the rate of 500 d
day. We must have now available. in
the hands of the army and militia and
stored against possible emergencies.
well on toward 100000 rifles of the best
pattern. Our condition of prepared
ness is very different from what 1t was
just before the Spanish war. We then
had ONLY enough magazine rifles to sup
p our small regular army We did
not have $4,000 Of these weapons until
the fighting with Spain was over. This
deficiency was not chargeable to this
one official or that. but to the failure
of congress to provide in peace against
script.
A WONDERFUL PARLIAMENT
The parliament recently prorogued
made wonderful record. The import
ant measures passed by II exceed in
predecessors during the past 40 years
II all the measures which passed one
branch of it had been enacted into law
the record would have ecipsed that
llldOS ny litG Pal lTOII WuiCn
came forth the repeal of the corn laws
and the first real factory acts. During
it's life the British army has been re-
organized on startling lines and an i'm
perial plan of defense formed: changes
have been made in the method of gov
erning India. the Transvaal and Or
ange river colony; the South African
union has been established; Ireland has
been granted a university and a sup
Elementary land act; trades union bill
and a domestic servants bill of far
reaching significance have been put on
the books. miners have been granted
eight hours a day. old age pension
granted. antiexchange and anti-sweat-
ing laws adopted. while the deceased
wife's sister bill. and the bill by which
to hold local offices. are also now a
part of the law of the land--Boston Globe
CHRISTMAS REMITTANCES.
Last year the transatlantic ships
east at about this season were crowd
ed with home-going steerage passen-
gers. This year their strong boxes are
filled with international money orders
and other negotiable paper transmitting
funds to the relatives of immigrants.
1t is estimated that these Christmas re-
mittances amount in cash to between
so and go millions: to say nothing of
merchandise gifts. The New York post
Office alone has handled more than
seven millions in foreign money orders
since the first of the month, while other
agencies have done proportionately as
large a business. The total record is
believed to be about equal to the high
est heretofore At all events, it is an
astonishing demonstration of the thrift
if the immigrant. as of his opportuni-
ties for gain. According to the post
Office figures, Great Britain is the larg-
est beneficiary from the Christmas
money which Uncle Sam has provided.
with Italy close second; though the
business through express companies and
banks may establish the italians in
first place. Doubtless some of the mon
ey will come back in the form of new
acknowledgements Journal.