The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-08
AS STUBS SEES IT
Governor Discusses Newspapers
at Wichita.
Primary Law Has Brought In.
creased Responsibilities.
WHAT HE DESIRES.
Full and Free Discussion of Pub
lie Matters Wanted.
Cornerstone Ceremony of New
Beacon Building.

wichita, kan.. March Sat noon to-
day Governor Stubs addressed the edi-
tors of Kansas on the occasion of the
laying of the cornerstone of the new
Beacon nine-story building which is to
be the home of the Wichita Beacon,
Henry ]. Aliens newspaper The gov
ernor referred to the new skyscraper as
monument to both the private enter
prise of Mr. Allen and the public en-
terprise of the people of Wichita. Af
ter speaking of the humble beginning
of the frontier village of Wichita a few
years ago the governor made the fol-
lowing prediction for the Peerless
Princess:
But 1 want to say to you my
friends that you have only just COM
menced your career of fortune. Within
this generation you will have 100000 in
hab1tants and in 20 years you will be
laying foundations of other buildings
that will make this one which we are
eulogizing here today look insignif
cant. No man of understanding can
reflect on the vaStnesS and richness of
this valley and territory, or estimate
its development. without seeing in the
distance a city of a quarter of mil
ion peope. Your pioneer fathers were
considered the widest sort of dreamerS
when they saw in the far-away future
a city of $4,000 in habitants. You have
more than that now and you will have
doubled it within the near future or l
am no prophet.
paper men and his observations upon
his relation with them were very in
teresting. He said in part:
Wichita Needs Public Utilities Control.
ST am not here to hint for a single
moment at politics, but 1 can, n,not re-
frain from impressing you with the
fact that great city with more suit
able and adequate public utilities must
of necessity bring you great civic prob
lens and. now is the very best time for
you to prepare to meet these problems
with a patriotic view to the public well
fare.
.sIt is especially gratifying to me to
know that the first ten story building
in Kansas is to be the home of
newspaper. Modern civilization is
largely influe 1ced by the public press.
Cities can dispense with almost any
other civic factor and succeed, but
they can not make satisfactory prog
ress without newspapers.
'sNow I am sure yoE Will all agree
with me that at the head of the news
paper which IS to make this building
business man who has few, If any,
superiors in The Mississippi valley
have known Henry Allen for some
years and am we'll aware of his faculty
to make himself heard in the world,
and in making himself heard he will
make all Kansas and all of the United
States hear of you and your city. with
the added prestige of his great
achievement of financing this building
he has an extraordinary opportunity
before him to not only increase his
fame and fortune but to be of signal
usefulness to his city, his state and his
country. feel sure he will improve
this opportunity at every point and
hence my aIlusion to the meaning and
significance of this occasion
''The newspapers of our state have
n cd a harvest
ity as the enjoy today, and as many
of that profession are with us l can
not refrain from giving expression to
some of the ideas of a layman.
have some right to do this. for in my
brief public career have contributed
indirectly to an increase in your pow
ers in the state. I have taken an num-
BILE part in making government in this
state responsive to public opinion. This
came from my faith in the people and
I hopeI shall never have any reason to
regret it
Greater Power of Press.
'I participated in the movement
that gave to every man in Kansas a
free voice in the nomination OF men
for public office. call this matter to
your attention for no other purpose
than to say that the day the primary
election law became effective the news
papers were clothed with not only
greater power, but also with greater
responsibility. The public press in a
large measure moulds public opinion
and under the primary election law
public opinion makes or unmakes pub
lie officers. If did not have an abid-
ing faith in the patriotism of the edi-
torial profession 1 am frank to state
that would not have voted for law
that places in your hands such tre-
mendous power to shape the destiny
of this state.
"I think it would be misfortune if
you would agree in your support OF
public men and public measures, and
am not insincere when / say to you
that nothing pleases me better than
to see a full and free discussion of
all matters relating to the interests OF
the state. But. my friends. the inter
eSts of your community. your civiliZa-
ton and your God demand that you
found your opinions upon your con-
science and upon your intelligence. II
you fail in this you will not have meas
ured up to your opportunity, and If the
people lose confidence in the press the
beginning of the end of your power in
shaping public affairs IS at hand; but,
If on the other hand, you will use your
power Justly, it will be increased
editor of good clean newspaper will
be one of the highest honors a citizen
can bear.
Publisher and Public.
while the publisher of a newspa-
per owes a great deal to the COM
munity, you must remember that the
community owes a great deal to the
publisher. You cannot expect the pa
per to be true to you unless you are
true to the paper. This is an age of
commerce and an age OF competition
and you cannot succeed without tell
ing the public what you have to sell
or buy through the press. / am in
formed on excellent authority that
selling goods is much more diff