The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-20
Public Opinion IsGreatsstPOWer
Mr. CIaxton Declares.
Train Children Who viii Mould
It Properly, He Says.
K
SCHOOLS STOP CRIME.
Judge Dana Declares for Better
Paid Teachers.
Wisconsin Teachers Likes Kan
sas College System Best.
SCHOOLS STOP CRIME.

Al the dinner given in his honor az
the Commercial club rooms last night
Philander P CIaxton. United States
commissioner of education. called
upon TO respond to the toast, The
United states and Education spoke
drnpressiveIy of the great importance
of the school training Of the zO.UOO'uoO
children in this country and rnelr re
1ation to the future welfare OF the
land.
He had an enthusiastic band Of
listeners in the Congress OF state Su-
perintendents in session here IN the
prominent educators OF Kansas anu
Topeka and in the prominent men anu
women of affairs who were invited 70
attend the dinner.
Castes Result of Effort.
ssT'his is an industrial democracy as
we'll as a governmental democracy,
and il is a social democracy as Well
declared the speaker There are
trusts combines. and trade restrictions
II is true but il is an industrial democ-
racv. nevertheless Our people are not
born into q social stratum CUR iIeu
castles are the result OF lnolNldudl eL-
fort. a vorthiness OF head, or hand or
IN a democracy OF this kind. there
is vital Importance in the natlonal
educational department. There must
be universal education and shldll
element may vitiate the whole
Commissioner CIaXton used many
Incidents 10 illustrate his argument Tor
universal education and declared pup-
lie opinion the moulder OF the natlOh-
one Vote Decides Question.
II was in a city recently when the
most fn7nortant election that city had
held in 25 years occurred I was much
interested and when the votes were
counted. the measure had carried oE
one vote. suppose that one had voted
wrong: the older order of things would
have continued indefinitely
How do YOU get your laws IN han-
sase Through the legislature acting
upon their own initiative? No. your
legislators make the laws your people
tell them to make. It is public opln-
ion have had a great deal to DO
with getting laws on the statute books
and I never Yet have submitted to leg
islators what have not first submitted
TO the people who elect them
II one asked gOveruOr-elecI OF q
certain state his opinion on cer-aln
law which might be brought before
the legislature He declared that such
n law could not be executed. I thought
it strange that the man who was bout
to take the oath as governor with his
high sHerfffs and their deputies. the
police and the militia behind MIN
should say a law could not be executed.
But public opinion disfavored such a
law No governor is hardy enough to
enforce law distasteful TO the people.
Jury's Verdict Public Opinion
7 know the jurors oath He swears
to return a verdict IN accordance WITH
the testimony. But he doesn't The
verdict is the product of public opin-
ion.
4 like to stand in a great railway |
station and see q crOss-cOnunent train |
pull out If It is a freight train. FIVE !
men. perhaps. compose the crew. They |
viii haul across the country, in few |
days, a load which not so long ago |
would require 1000 men with 1000 /
wagons and 1000 horses months to /
haul. And every feature of this /
achievement is the work of schoolbred |
men Ignorant man had no part ex- I
cept as he raised q pick and let it /
fall where q college man said he /
should OF shoveled bit of dirt where /
a college man said he should
- state is not made OF rivers and /
hills and prairies. a republic is not /
made of q Mississippi river. a chain of /
rocky mountains. cultivated fields and I
rolling prairieS5 they are made of men
and women"
Fairchild Introduces Speaker.
Mr. Claxton was introduced BY state
superintendent of Kansas r. T Fair,
child. who presided at the dinner. In /
making his Introduction. he declared |
that whatever the people might dis !
agree upon concerning President Taft
all were agreed that he never made a |
mistake IN his appointments
JuQAE a " lana OF the first d. !
vision Of the Shawnee district court,
in responding to a toast. declared:
Ignorance IS the mother of the 4
greater part of the crime in this coun- I
try The records viii show that the
penitentiaries and jails are full of the
ignorant
If you want to empty your jails ana
prisons. / say. put more powder behind /
the arm Of the teacher
Education means more than TO be
smart as the Yankees would saw. If +
must make honest, loyal. patriotic |
citizens of the 10000 coo school aged I
children in the United States.
: We need more schools. better equiD-
ped and more teachers. better paid
Wisconsin System Bad.
C. P Cary of Wisconsin. formerly
county superintendent Of Brown conn
". kansas. took occasion to tell +ha I
superintendent Of other states fla
great problem in Wisconsin which III +
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