The Topeka state journal., 1911-04-24
FROM OTHER PENS
MOTOR CARS IN THE ALPS.

MO4Oh S<A1NO 44N ALL -.
Motorists who desire to include the
most picturesque parts of Switzerland
in their itinerary have run up against
of the people of the canton which con-
tains the finest Alpine scenery, includ-
ing the valley of the Engadine, the
Maloja lakes, the famous resorts of
Moritz, Pontresina and Davos and the
passes of the Splugen, Maloja and
Bernina. The question of admitting
motor cars to the Grisons was submit
ted last month to the people by re-
sort to the initiative, and the result
was a vote of absolute exclusion. This
came to pass in spite of the disposition
of the federal authorities to encourage
automobile traffic and the active work
of the Swiss Automobile club on the
same side. The people, however, were
unalterably hostile for the reason that
the Alpine roads are narrow and that,
if motor cars were admitted, the use of
those highways would be fraught with
great danger. Obviously, II the oppo-
sition so manifested is to be overcome
the only means of accomplishing this
end is by the widening of the noun
tain roads. Here again, however, the
will of the people must be consulted
and the issue is bound to be mighty
uncertain.-Pittsburg Chronicle Tele-
graph.
TOM JOHNSON'S INCONSISTENCY
Those who criticise the late Tom
johnson for taking money by the meth
DDS of legal privilege and using it to
destroy the privileges evince a greater
concern for personal than for social
righteousness. They are indeed "im-
possibilities" teaching a wholly i'm
practicable doctrine in the confusion
world. Modern men are beginning to
understand that no man living in
corrupt society can be utterly free from
stain, and that brave men ought to ac-
cept the stain as a part of the price
that must be paid for social redemp-
ton.
If it could be shown that Tom john
son stealthily "devoured widows
houses and turned the rents and mort
cages into political capital for his own
pride the case would be altogether
different. He never did anything to in
crease the secrecy and complication of
wrongdoing, but everything to expose
and bring it into judgment. 1t was as
if some mple-hearted nobleman of the
British house of lords should turn We
hemently against the privileges of his
order, and should spend all his inf1u-
ence and estates to do away with the
advantages that had come unjustly to
his hand.-New York American.
CONTROL OF WIRELESS.
1t mas been found that the usefulness
of wireless communication has been
much hampered by the activity of many
irresponsible individuals, who, equipped
with cheap apparatus, are able to in
terrupt and confuse important wireless
messages. There is no way of reaching
these interlopers under existing laws,
and as the evil is widespread, mere
state laws will not reach the difficult
ty. 1t is, therefore, a matter for the
federal government to take in hand un-
der its constitutional power to regulate
interstate and foreign commerce.
The main objection to the making of
wireless telegraphy a government mon
opoly is the Importance of retaining the
system for commercial as well as pub
| lie uses. It is evident, however, that
| the wireless system cannot be develop
ed to its full capacity even as COM
| mercial medium of communication un-
| less the interference of irresponsible
amateurs is controlled. There are SC
! many cheap wireless equipments on the
market that the number of amateur
| operators is becoming constantly larger
| and unless something is done the inter-
| ference viii become SO serious that the
, whole system will be rendered unreli-
| able and not to be depended upon
New Orleans Times-Democrat.