The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-04
KANSAS COMMENT
ROIND TO WIN.

| BOUND TO WIN.
ut is evident" observes the Oska-
loosa Independent, "that everybody is
IN favor of good roads-f they don't
cost anything to speak Of" The point
| Is good one. 1t was disappointing
but not altogether surprising the
amount of opposition the good roads
bills considered by the legislature
cailed out over the stae. Except at
such times the class which is indiffer-
ent TO the value of good roads remains
silent, while the advocates of this
character Of public improvement are
continually talking for it, and work
ing for it.
OF course good roads will cost
money and a lot of 1t. If they were
boon to be had simply for the ask
ing, we should have been enjoying
them long ago. The mere fact that
to acquire them will make necessary a
big outlay of money, does not discour-
age us. AS plain business PROPOSE
tlon, the cost of good roads is just so
much added to the value of the prop
erty which they Immediately benefit.
They further have a commercial value
IN making it possible for the farmer
who may use them to get his crops
to market when the prices are the
best. They will insure the daily de-
livery of his mail. They will contri-
butte materially to his social life, and
accordingly to the degree of his con-
will ,as we say, cost money, and in
that measure are worth money. The
good roads movement in Kansas is
one which has so much to commend
1T that it can not fail. 1t is bound to
win.--Leavenworth Times.
THE REAL RATTLESNAKE
The meddling gossip causes a great
amount of misery in the world, but
she does not always succeed. In one
of Af e44+
gossips several years ago started ru-
NOR of a scandal about very charm
ing young woman who was engaged
to one of the prominent young men
of the town. The marriage did not
take place as scheduled. and the gos-
sip thought she had scored a big
triumph. But after a few years the
groom, who loved the girl dearly,
found out that it was merely malic-
ious gossip that had caused his un-
happiness and penitent for his lack
of faith. recently made due amends
to his former sweetheart, who was
living in retirement broken hearted.
and married her. Why don't some
legislator win real fame by getting
a bill passed providing that the
tongues of gossips shall be cut out and
tackled to the Main street telephone
poles Of the town as a warning for
other gossips to mend their ways?
Whisky causes considerable trouble, |
the boodler's page in politics is not
white by any means, penitentiary SEN
tences are none too severe for wife |
beaters and burglars, the assassin de- |
serves all execration given him, but
the malicious gossip is the real rattle |
snake of community and deserves to |
be treated as such.-Chanute Tribune. |
JOHN BARLEYCORN.
When the senate framed up a bill |
that would put the drug store joint
permanently out of business, the Ga |
zette expressed some regret that a !
loophole for the sale of booze in Kan |
sas was still left; the senate measure |
permitted doctors to prescribe and dis |
pense whiskey, and it seemed obvious
that this would lead to the establish |
ment of a new variety of joints in the |
state, conducted by doctors who had
more diploma than morality.
1t is pleasing to see that the house, |
after reading the Gazette, has come |
to a realization of the peril thus point |
ed out, and has so improved upon the |
senate plan that the booze doctor is |
cast into outer darkness, together with |
the booze druggist. There is no rea- |
son to doubt that the amended bill |
will become a law.
And so Kansas is going to have |
law that will drive the last I
nail into the coffin of John Bar1eycorn /
in this state. For a time there may |
stil1 be some evasions of the law, as
there are evasions of all human |
laws; but the penalties are so severe, |
and the punishment so inevitable, that |
only the feeble-m minded will try to |
build up trade In booze
Prohibition will prohibit to great
er extent than ever before.-Empor1a
Gazette.