The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
JUDGE JOE REED.

When Judge Joe Reed was found
dead, an inquest was unnecessary. He
died of heart trouble. and the trouble
with his heart was that it was too
large. His death will not affect Wall
Istreet, or the value of railroad stocks,
but his loss will be keenly felt by
large circle of real friends.
For many years Judge Joe Reed had
overlooked chances to become rich
because he was too busy attending to
the legal rights of poor people. He
was the mediator between the petit
offender and his common enemy, the
law, and no man was too poor to hold
his attention. His word was better
than the average thousand-dollar bond,
both with his clients end the courts.
Not only was he respected Tor MS nom
esty, but for his ability as lawyer,
ming of many legal battles for which
others cleaned the credit-and, Incl
dentally, the fees.
One time a certain chief of police
was accused of taking a bride for dis
missing defendant, and then .'renig-
ging'' on his bargain. The defendant
made his charge sound plausible, ana
it got to the newspapers certain
newspaper editor called in a certain
reporter who was familiar with the
courts and police department, and
asked:
"Do you think this chief of police
got this money!"
Judge Reed is this defendant's at
torney," answered the reporter. wait
until he tells what he knows about 1t,
and then take his word as gospel"
When Judge Reed come to bat he
branded the story of his client as
falsehood. That chief of police was in
bad, and under suspicion. The defen-
dant's story was we'll told, but after
Judge Reed made statement no
court, newspaper or individual pur-
sued the matter further. 1t was set
tied forever by the word of one man.
Many are the citizens who could at
tract more attention by the simple
process of physical dissolution than
did Judge Joe Reed, but few indeed
could leave record of honesty, char
to the Golden Rule than did this same
Judge Joe Reed.
OH, YOU PRoHIBITIONIsT.
The vote of a party is based upon
the vote for secretary of state. Taking
basis, we find that prohibition Kansas
has just 55S Prohibitionists who vote
as they pray and preach. OF course,
there are other Prohibitionists in the
state, but only 55S of them withstood
the temptation to tag after the poll
candidates who appeared on a Prohi-
bition platform.
The politicians during the late un-
pleasantness derived much harmless
amusement from references to some of
the Socialist candidates. 1t was with
broad smiles that they mentioned the
ample name of Charles r.. d. S. Oak
ford, and VERNE ". Oakford,g who is
probably his wife. But glance over
the tally sheet indicates that Kansas,
which is not a Socialist stronghold, but
is widely advertised as THE Prohibi-
ton stronghold, polled Socialist vote
of 3,1Ss, as against Prohibition vote
of 55S.
which indicates that the Socialist,
whom the political bosses hold up to
seorn as an erratic visionary, votes his
principles while the alleged Prohi-
bitionist breaches his doctrine-and
then votes for a politician.
Have you ever taken the trouble to
observe that the "fan" who invariably
shouts or weeps over the winnings or
losings of the Cubs or Pirates is the
one who was never farther from Shaw
nee county than st. Joe, Missoury?