The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-02
KANSAS COAAENT
AS TO sNoRs.


That town was never so small that it
did not have its quota of snobs. The
pest is universal and is as destructive
to good society. as 1t is unproductive of
any good. 1t lays down social rule, de-
timing who is eligible to be recognized
and associated with and woe betide the
man or woman who attempts to butt
in in opposition to the DEGREES of the
snobs. Refinement and education are
scarcely ever considered requisites to
admission to the favored of the snobs,
put personal wealth or the wealth of a
Iather Will cover a multitude of short
conllngs: The young girl of refine
ineht, education and high ideals finds
herself barred, while the brainless flirt
VINO gads about the streets all day IN
the hope that the boys will take notice
OF her is considered highly eligible. The
snob is rank poison to good society and
when anyone begins to set up lines to
keep out young men and women be-
cause OF poverty or because they do
honest work to provide for themselves
or aid their parents they should be sat
upon hard. The young people who
refuse to become droneS are entitled to
the greatest respect and encourage
ment and the question of eligibility
into society should be solely a. personal
one based on character Money is an
accident; good breeding and character
are acquisitions which are within the
reach OF every individual and by en-
couraging their development we DO
much toward the Improvement of So
ciety. If We get to be broad enough to
Judge each young man and woman on
Individuality and ignore the nonessen-.
tials OF environment or worldly wealth
the snOb will be pushed into the back
ground and that is a consummatfon
most earnestly to be desired.-Marys-
Vile acknowledgements.
BRIBED BY HIS POCKETBOOK.
Bribery Of public officers is highly
condemned by all honest men. The
man who, holding public Office, accepts
bride which influences his official con-
duct is properly denounced, as one con-
temporary puts it as a traitor to his
trust.
There is another bribery however,
more dangerous because more subtle,
for which the law provides no punish
ment and for which only the whip of
publIc scorn can afford penalty. This
bribery is by ones own pocketbook.
Some men who would scorn the bribe
offered by another will accept without
apparent nfsgiving bribery from them
selves.
1T will hurt my business This is
the plea made by persons who are
asked to take a stand for righteous
ness. 1t is a selfish plea, but it is
-, - ~ q ClAAAiAiielA piCo. II 10 oAi
the same low plane of bribery that
public opinion condemns and the crimi-
nal law Furnishes.
The reformer meets the evidences of
this subtle form of bribery when he
seeks the support of those who place
self above principle. Don't quote me
it would hurt my business" is the re-
ply to the newspaper reporter when
some question of vital public concern
is under discussion
Conservatism is often another name
for cowardice. Silence is golden some
times but gold is the most cowarily
of things. There is no bribery more
poisonous than the bribery of ones
own pocketbook. Such bribery cor
rupts the very fountains of public and
private morality
1t is desirable to make living, but
it is necessary to make 1ife.-Selden
Independent.