The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-28
FROA OTHER PENS

MATERNAL RIGHTS INDICATED.
1t is with a feeling Of something
like an escape from personal humilia-
ton that one reads the decision of the
South Carolina Supreme Court in the
T1llman case. Had the decision been
the other way--if the court. that is.
had upheld the state law which per-
mitted young TilInan to hand his
children over to the custody of his
own parents, regardless of the wishes
and in spite OF the protests of their
mother-the deep disgrace of South
Carolina would have been shared
in some degree by the whole country
of which South Carolina is a part,
and certain measure of IT would have
in which legal sanction could be found
for an act so cruel. SO barbarous and
SO unwise.
But the court fortunately, found a
way to save itself its state. and the
United States-alI of us, in short
from the obloquy and contempt that
would have followed the upholding
of this abominable statute. 1t took the
children from the guardians selected
by the father, a man admittedly of
habits as likely to impair his judg-
ment as to make his conduct intoler-
able, and restored them to the mother,
a woman of whom much good has
been said and nothing worse than
that for what seem to have been suf-
ficient reasons she has developed a
feeling of antagonism against the
whole Tillman family.-New York
Times
EARLY'S CASE
The verdict Of the Society of Medical
Jurisprudence on the leprosy suspect,
John r. Early seems to be the Scotch
one of mot proven" In the popular
view, however, it practically frees the
former Philippine soldier from a stig
ma which for nearly two years has
subjected him to ostraciSm.
The controversy over the question
whether or not this pink-cheeked and
outwardly healthy man was suffering
from the dread disease has set medical
experts in several states at odds. cast
doubts on the accuracy of path illogical
diagnosis and incidentally developed
champion whose earnest fight in behalf
of client without money or friends
was a pleasing act of chivalry
It is to be wished that the verdict
could have been more conclusive than
that contained in the technical refusal
mittee report If the public has
wronged Early it owes him amends.
For patient exhibiting genuine symp
toms of leprosy to be at large Is one
thing. 1t is quite another for a man
suffering from burns caused by I've,
as was alleged to be officially pro-
nounced probable leper and isolated,
Stunned and treated like pariah.
The mental anguish occasioned by
such treatment in an innocent victim
of mistaken diagnosis is not easily COM
pensated.-NeW York World
APPROPRIATIONS NOT ALL.
Speaker Cannon was right in his
speech FRI the floor in urging large
liberal treatment of river and harbor
improvements for the greater harbors
and rivers. Expenditure should not
outrun revenue. but population is
growing and water transportation is
the best of all the investments for
great nation today, multiplying faster
than food and needing to have all
costs sheapened.
But appropriations are not all. The
American people call for improve
ment in more than rivers and harbors.
There are obstacles to trade and him
ORANGES to free competition in monop-
ohes and trusts that need to be dredg-
ed out by legislation. The Republican
majority must go to the country next
November with definite results accom-
p1ished. The new railroad court must
be established. Savings banks must
be brought near all the people. Less
than a dozen states have savings banks
on any scale today. The land laws
must be improved as well as the trans
portation of the products of land and
mine, anu the water power in the
| rivers must be protected against
monopoly, as well as the rivers them
selves deepened. These are public de-
m4nds Press