The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-29
Reports Lack Originality and
Versatility, He Says.
THAT DONKEY FABLE.
Has Changed Mind Since 1t Was
Written IL Years Ago.
Too Early to Make Accurate
Estimate Of Vote.

Mr.. T. A McNeaI was seen this
morning by a State Journal reporter
and asked IF he had read the state
ment by Congressman Anthony's po-
Htical manager. Billy Biddle, published
! in last nights State Journal?"
Yes said Mr.. McNeal. II read Billy
Biddle's weekly estimate of Mr.. An
thongs prospect with considerable in
terest. 1 might say that about the
only criticism 1 have to make of these
estimates which come out with the reg
ularity of weather bulletins is that
they lack originality and versatility.
For eleven months now Billy has
been making this same weekly report
in almost identically the same Ian
guage. 1t occurs to me that he could
add interest by varying his style of
expression. Billy will never make n
success as a novelist, 1 fear He has
abundant imagination, but lacks orig
inality of expression
81 observe that Billy has become
quite diligent reader of my book of
fables. The fable quoted in last nights
State Journal was written by myself
eleven years ago. and was afterward
with a number of others. compiled In
a book of fables published by Crane
& Co. ten years ago. 1 may frankly
state that I am not particularly proud
of this fable or any others in this col
ment of this particular fable are sub
ject to just criticism. 1 might say.
however, that at the time of writing
this fable, eleven years ago. 1 did not
anticipate that the Philippine islands
would be gobbled up by a syndicate
headed by the promoters of the thievisn
sugar trust. which syndicate is rapidly
nonopolizing the sugar lands, the to-
magnificent forests Of the Philippine
islands; which has obtained control If
practically all of the valuable fran
chises in those islands and which is
preparing to exploit the islands and
the Philippine people for its own en-
richment.
Neither lid 1 anticipate eleven years
ago that the holding Of those islands
would mean the multiplication of our
military expenses five times. I did not
years the Kansas share of keeping up
the military establishment of the
United States would amount to three
fourths of million dollars year
tanning our state government with all
of our educational, charitable and penal
institutions
Il see that Mr.. Biddle makes the
charge against me of inconsistency, be-
cause 1 have changed my views some
what from what they were eleven years
ago My opinion is that no man who is
entirely honest, mentally or morally,
can also be entirely consistent IN the
sense that his opinions do not change;
because every honest man must ac-
knowledge that he is often mistaken,
and when he finds that he is mistaken,
he ought to be brave enough to frank
ly acknowledge it; every honest man
also knows that conditions change and
that what may be entirely right at one
period may be wrong at another.
Billy wants to carry the impression
that he is entirely consistent-that he
never changes. The same thing may
be said of the patient donkey which
'brays just exactly the same kind of a
bray that it brayed ten years ago or
20 years ago, if it has lived SO long, |
and exactly the same kind of a bray |
that it's father brayed before it was
born. I was going to say that Billy is |
very similar to this beast. but that IS |
not fair to an honest and useful ami |
NAL, because while Billy can bray all |
right enough, he is neither honest nor |
useful.
Il do not know that there is any ne
cessity for saying anything about his |
prediction in regard to the result of
the primary. 1t is the same stereotyped
expression that he has been making
for the last year. 1t is too early for
any man to make an accurate estimate
of the vote at the August primary. I
may say, however, that I am fairly we'll