The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-20
FROM OFFER PENS
THE LAw-BREAKING HABIT.


| The man convicted of peonage,
whom the president would not let off
with a fine put insists should serve a
term in prison, had been successful in
making money. had respectable
standing in the bnsfn ess community
but believed he could escape punish
ment for peonage or, if punished,
could hope to be fined instead of i'm
prisoned.
The bankers who use the deposits in
their banks in aiding their own bust
ness enterprises know perfectly well
| that they are violating the law in the
extent of the loans they make virtually
to themselves, or in the security they
accept from themselves which is of a
sort they would not take from anyone
else. When arraigned they plead that
they were just carrying on legitimate
business, and if their enterprises had
lbeen successful they would have re-
stored the funds of the bank. That is
precisely like tie excuse o. the bank
clerk who helps himself from the till
and explains after losing it that he
thought he could win in a speculation
in wheat and if he had succeeded he
would have restored the money he
took.
| There are good MANY bankers now
in prison for conduct they would have
sent any subordinate to the peniten-
tiary for A good many men in other
constantly If they think they can es-
cape punishment Most of the pro-
motors of trusts and combines know
that they are violating the law, but
they hope to escape punishment the
habit of breaking the law is far too
common in respectable circ1es.-Phila-
delphia Record.
THE SENATE.
The integrity, prestige and honor of
the United States senate have been
mighty well preserved and maintained
all these years.
Unworthy men have occupied seats
in that august body, but they. few in
number, quickly passed off the scene,
and their memory today serves only to
emphasize that rule Of worthiness.
The United States senate tradition
ally has ever been respectable.
To keep itself so, to preserve and
maintain its integrity, prestige and
honor, and, above all, to inspire anew
the confidence of the people, 1t may
well look askance at the credentials
of any member secured as the result of
such a compact as enters into the SEN
atorial case now under consideration
/ All this irrespective Of the man in
volved.
The good name of the senate is at
stake. incidentally a great state and
a great political party are to be served,
and well served by the performance
of a duty which, however nara anu
Iseemingly harsh, Is still no less a duty
IAN obvious and unacceptable duty
Washington Herald.
WIVES OF VICE PRESIDENTS.
The visit of Mrs Adlai E. Stevenson
to Washington calls to public notice
the fact that five wives of men who
have occupied the second place in the
government are living-Mesdames Nor
ton, Hobart, Roosevelt. Fairbanks and
Stevenson Mrs. Sherman is the sixth in
q list Of women who have occupied a
prominent and peculiar place In the
social and official life of the national
capital And. in connection with Mrs.
Stevenson's visit, public attention is
called to the fact that these women
J constitute circle of their own in the
! social world, a circle Of influence the
claims of which appear to be regarded
: with universal interest and approval.
Each occupied a place Of unique sur
roundings and most remarkable inter-
est. Each, of course, was overshadow-
ed in social importance by the first
, LADY, Of her time. Each, however.
was honored much. And it Is pleasant
} to remember that, in personal char
acter, method of life and influence, all
J were worthy OF the honors given.-Chi-
scago Journal.