The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-18
FRON OTHER PENS
PATrEN.s POSITION.

People who fScall-and who does
not flames A. Patterns part in the
which resulted IN forcing prices far
beyond the range of the naked eye,
will find it difficult to synpathize with
Patten to any great extent in his re-
ported reverses in the corn market
even though, in the present case, 1t
posing, rather than encouraging, the
advance in prices. While 1.-THE dear
peepul' appreciate any honest effort
to keep the prices of staples within
reach, they seem decidedly suspicious
as to the extent to which the element
of humanitarianism enters into the
bearish propensitieS of Mr.. Patten in
the corn market. In other words,
there is generally apparent appre-
hension that Patten is governed by
what he considers his own financial
interests in choosing which side of the
market shall have his leadership or
support; and that he would as lief
corral bundle of banknotes for him
self by bulling the market as by bear
ing it, provided the signs were favor
able. If this impression is unjust to-
ward Patten, it can hardly be denied
that his own conduct has created it
Manchester Union.
PEERS ON THE PLATFORM.
One of the novel features of the
present political campaign in the Uni
ted Kingdom is the appearance of so
many peers on the platform. Hitherto,
by an unWritten law. members of the
house Of lords have abstained from any
direct participation in the election of
members of the house Of com mons; such
participation has been regarded as an
unfair attempt to influence voters. But
in contest brought about by the action
of the house of lords, in which that
house is the direct object of attack, it
was inevitable that the ancient Gus
tom should succumb. The lords have
been talking directly to the voters, and
for the most part doing it very well.
The conditions of political campaigning
iE the United Kingdom are materially
more exacting than they are in this
country. Here a Republican candidate
addresses Republicans for the most
part, and the Democrats stay away.
He talks to an audience that is already
convinced and is cheered, not Kissed.
On the other side of the water the
speaker more often is talking to hos
tile hearers. who ''heckle'' MIN. 1t is
a great test of resource and of good
temper, and the lords appear to be
| standing it so we'll that their popularity
! with the masses is rapidly increasing
| Providence Journal.
LEAGUE AGAINST COMBINES.
Organization of national antitrust
league. now under way. with headquar-
LSiS DIT tuC Capital may De Regarded DIS
an effort to crystalline the sentiment of
the consumers against excessive prices
| charged for some products which have
| fallen into monopolistic hands. The
means Of operating a national boycott,
however. in the effort to bring prices
to popular level, may involve the pro-
meters in some legal difficulties, for
while the primary boycott is possible
without conflict with the statute, still
| the courts have shown themselves hos
| tile to some measures for enforcing it
1t must be admitted. however, that the
consumers are but following the lead
| of the United States government, for
| it is but few days ago that some of
| the officials at Washington decided that
| the purchasing agents in their depart
| ments should not be permitted to buy
| supplies from corporation. which had
| been declared to be illegal because op-
| Grating in restraint of trade. 1t will
| be interesting to observe how sincere
| the mass of consumers are in their ex-
pressions of hostility. for their SINGER
| ity may be gagged by the eagerness
| with which they take hold of this
weapon now held out to them.-Omaha
4 Bee.