The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-23
Calls Attention to Unfairness of
Certain Interests.
TELLS A GOOD STORY
Uses Tt to Illustrate How PeO-
pie Are Fooled.
Calls Taft One of the Greatest
of Presidents.

ct observe that the Topeka Capital Is
aosng to get the sentiment of the voters
IF Kansas on the matter of presiden-
4fsl preference and has promised to
Give rs the result soon,'' former Secre-
4arv of State c. z. Denton said today,
on his return from a trip to New Mex
leo. The extracts from letters sent in
TO the Capital from voters reminded
Mr.. Denton of a story.
uncle Obedfah Simplxins, you know"
Mr. Denton observed, lived out in
Kansas and raised UP a family OF
eleven boys to manhood Uncle Obe-
dial. was a rock-ribbed Democrat, and
straight Democratic doctrine was
mart OF his religion. He preached it
at home during the week and on Sat
urCfay afternoons he 1abored with MS
nefghbors down at the country store
ssFinalIy his eleven boys grew to be
men and started out for themselves,
locating in different parts of the state
Ten OF them who grew up under the
influences referred to also became
rock-ribbed Democrats. One. likely
sort Of fellow, who was Independent
in thought and action, informed him
self on public questions, studied the
history Of political parties and their
services to the country, and, Of course,
became q. Republican
ga few years after the eleven boys
had scattered to different sections of
the state Uncle Obediah Simplins met
Uncle jeremiah Hopkins down at the
village store and engaged him in an
argument about the popularity of two
national characters-one a Republican
and the other a Democrat To prove
that he was right, Obediah said he
would write to the people of the state
and get their real sentiment on these
two men, He wrote to the eleven sons
in different parts of the state for the
real sentiment of the people, In due
time Uncle Obediah had the evidence
and laid it before Hopkins. There it
was, ten to one in favor of the Demo-
crat- That was. Of course, the senti-
ment of the 'peepul.'
1.-THE present efforts of the Capital
to take a poll of its readers as to their
preferences for president is in line
with Uncle Obediah Simpkins' plan of
settling the question of the popularity
of the Republican and Democrat For
years the Capital has lost no oppor-
tunity to discredit any Republican who
did not wear the brand OF insurgency
It has preached the doctrine that in
tegrity. honesty, sincerity and good
citizenship could only be found in the
camp of insurgents whose faithful
organ It has been Any Republican
who has not espoused this new faith
of Populism promulgated by the
'holier than thou band of Bristow' $,
Bill Whites and other 'reformers' and
true represe ntatives of the 'pee-pul,'
have been held up as enemies of the
state and unworthy of confidence and
respect. for, according to the Capital,
integrity and honesty were not vir-
tues that could possibly be possessed
by anybody but insurgents.
after five or six years of such agi
tation by the Capital, dingdonging it
into the minds of its readers day after
day, it would be a most surprising
thing if Presidcrt Taft should have
even a respectable showing from its
readers in this alleged test of presi-
Dental preferences. Mr.. Taft has
made one II the greatest presiden s !
this nation has had. He is honest, |
courageous and progressive. and with |
fair minded men everywhere he is so
regarded.
ITO expect the president to have even |
a. fair showing in a ballot cast by a !
constituency that has been fed on
antf-Taft doctrines, would seem to be |
unreasonable. For three years this |
systematic plan of misrep resenting !
and discrediting President Taft has !
been going on in Kansas Republicans |
who recognize his great ability his
craftsmanship and unimpeachable in |
tegrity have been classified as tools of |
corporate interests and unworthy the /
respect IF their Eel nv-nen. It would /
be too much to expect the president /
20 have a fair d s;-I from jury that |
has been prejudiced by such misrepre- /
sentation-"