The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-05
'SPOPUL NOW
New Legislator Is Being Treated
With Consideration.
MAN With the Velvet Foot" Is
Here.
TALK
Needs of State Institutions of
All Glasses.
Fred Knapp Leaves Board of
Control to Be an Editor.

At this time of the biennial period
the man at the head of a state insti-
tuition, whether college, hospital or SUBJ
station, is the man with the velvet foot,
the pleading eyes, the siren smile and
the silver voice. He invites the legis-
lator to come and break bread with
him, yea. he insists that the member
from the far western county deliver
an address in the chapel or deliver a
learned opinion concerning reforms for
the school.
There is none like him in the land for
suaY1ty, this head of a department that
needs a new building or two, or an
other terrace for his hanging gardens
OF Babylon or more water pipe or an
other milch COW.
He cometh to Topeka even as a
Heecy cloud comes to the mountain
top, for the reason that, like Mo-
manned he cannot make the mountain
come to him. And when he arrives he
seeketh out the member from the
shortgrass and the member from the
Walnut valley. He telleth them of the
glory of his institution and how it is
the saving grace of the state; the leaven
that leavens the lump.
These heads of departments wear
long black coats and are well fed and
knoWeth the ways of mankind. They
have read in their books that 1000 years
ago the world was saved by grace and
later lost in sin and that now It can
be saved again before the judgment
day only by f1attery
A soft answer turneth away wrath.
and they have much wrath to turn away
in the shape of ]. M. Nation, state aud
1tor, who not long since went forth with
his bill and pruning hook and played
havoc with the appropriations.
Yea, ne is with US today, the man who
runs a state institution. and he is a
master in all the arts and a postmaster
in all the degrees that soften mems
hearts.
He has a work to do, and the state
needs him to keep its institutions up
to their high standard. He is rebuffed
by the legislature, rebuked by the press,
Scoffed at by the multitude and bears
the burdens Of the administration. in
time of peace and is pushed out on the
firing line in time of war, yet he al
ways brings home the bacon and he
leaves a monument behind him for
those who come after to point to with
pride when they show stranger how
Kansas cares for her unfortunate
wards Or prepares her children to face
the world. the flesh and the devil.
If he had his way, this head of a
department, he would double taxes at
one blow and make his institution a
palace like Louis XIV built at Versailles.
So his enthuiasm and pride and
seductions must be met and balanced
by the cold, shrewd conservatism of
the legislature and the happy medium
between the two will be about right.
J. E. Brewer, a merchant of Abilene,
is deeply interested in the proposed
bulk sales bill law and writes the
State Journal the following about the
| measure that is to come before the
next legislature:
LAS one of the retail merchants of
Kansas, 1 am deeply interested in the
proposed Bulk sales bill which the
wholesale dealers of Kansas, Kansas
City and eastern trade centers are pre-
pairing to push through the coming
| legislature. The measure is of vital in
terest to the standing of every retail
m Merchant doing business in the state
| and they should know something of its
| obnoxious provisions. A Bulk sales
bill has been before the last four leg
! islatures and pressed very strongly
| by paid lobbyists representing the
wholesale interests but each time the
bill met with deserved defeat.
| 81 am not familiar with the pro-
visions of the proposed bill for this
session, but presume it is drawn along
lines similar to the other bills which
were almost identical, and provided
that when retail dealer or merchant
desired to sell out his stock of mer-
chandise of whatever nature he car
ried, he must first take an invoice and
|
lister of deeds at the court house, also
make list of all his creditors and the
amount owing to each party and file
a copy of the same with the same
county officer, also mail a sworn copy
! of this statement to each one of his
creditors and perform all of the above
red tape ten days prior to closing the
deal with his purchaser otherwise the
sale would be null and void.
THE very nature of this proposed
-
| chants of Kansas are dishonest and
| that before they can sell their stocks
| of goods they must advertise the con-
| dition of their business and standing
| to the world for the benefit of few
wholesale dealers. I maintain thai
| the great body of retail merchants OF
| Kansas are honest and honorable mer
land that no good reason exists why
the wholesale dealers should ask class
legislation of this kind. True, oul
wholesale friends occasionally ge
caught by some dealer selling out be-
| tween suns and forgetting to pay his
just debts, but that is not the rule, i
/ is an exception, and the chances ars
/ ten to one in such instances that the
wholesale dealers extended line o.
credit which the party was not entitled
to, the jobber having plenty of avenue.
open to ascertain the customers stand
ing before opening the account.
''If the wholesale interests doins
business in Kansas wish to better thei
credits. let them get behind and pus1
legislation strengthening the account
of the retail dealers and then ther'
will be no occasion for bulk sale
bills which reflect upon the honest,
and integrity of the retail dealers i,
Kansas. A word to the merchants o
Kansas II you don't want this un
lust legislation. get busy at once-see
. or write a letter to your senator an,
representative protesting against thi
proposed measure"
rrad w Luanp secrafarv of tn