The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-28
WHITETELLS THEM
Eastern Students Hear 'SWhat's
the Natter"
New England Men Are Bound,
Editor Declares.
MUST FALL INTO LIN
With Kansas and Get Primaries
for Best Results.
West VIII Soon Be Entirely
Independent of East.

Emporia, KAN Feb. 28-William
Allen White, who discovered whats
the matter with Kansas ~ also has
discovered Whats the matter with
New England" as Well as Whats
the matter with the whole efete east2'
MI White has just returned from
Boston. where he entertained a host
Of Harvard students at the Colonial
club. telling them in his own forcible
English just what's the matter with
New England. And this is the way
he sums up the situation:
New England is bound. gagged
and thrown into the alley. because it
has not direct primaries.
In politics it is deficient and be
hind the times.
1T has a number of smart men,
but they are bound They are stulti-
flying their prospects because they are
50 politically hide-bOund-
New England no longer is a liter
airy center We no longer associate
the old celebrities with New England
No one now thinks of assOciating New
England with the intellect of this
country.
New England theories too much
1t allows things to interest It so long
as it does not get down to the prac-
teal.
MANY a reform starts in the old
Bay state, but it takes the practical
measures of the west to prove its
value.
1T is creative but not practical
New England conservatism is all
very well but we westerners soon get
tired of It.
I'VE don't want to have to depend
upon the east any more for our edu-
1--WE in the west soon viii be entire
ly independent of New England
f111h ~
Never.
.'Emporia, Kan, is the hab Of the
universe.
'.This Is what's the matter with
when it falls into line with Kansas"
Further remarking along the same
line, Mr. White says;
I'll tell you what's the matter with
New England and tell it in brief
way. There are thirty states in the
United States where nominations are
made direct by the people and in
those thirty states you see a progress
that keeps a state as we'll as a people
wide awake But in New England the
people have sfdetracked themselves
because they have no direct primar-
les. They are behind the times and
the exigencies of the times, so when
I am asked what is the matter with
New England this is what I find
ION economic problems New Eng
land shows what 1t can do and what
II comes to politics it is deficient and
behind the times. Yes. behind what
the people absolutely need. Out in
Kansas and other states we can show
you what the direct primaries can do
and what interest the people have in
the political situation
Yes. I tell you that when direct
primaries obtain in New England you
viii see an advance
THE old group of literary men in /
New England has passed beyond It /
is no longer a literary center. That /
has passed but the remembrance of |
Il is still inspiring. We still admire /
Longfellow, Emerson. Whittier, Low I
ell. Hawth orne and many others. but /
we are not associating New EngianP
any longer with these names. They |
have become part and marcel Of the !
country itself.
Then the west is giving full proof
Of its developments in this respect I
Nothing shows the interest that the /
west is taking in literary subjects as
we'll as the gradual growth of literary I
projects here and the birth of men I
and women to defend them
''But no one thinks of associating I
with New ENGLAND the intellect of I
this country. They may talk of the
culture and refinement Of Roston. but