The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-23
CURTIS LEADS ALL
Kansas Senator Introduces 277
Special Pension Bills.
Republicans More Liberal With
Pensions Than Democrats.
THEIR CONCEPTION IS WRONG
Kansas Farmer Not What
Eastern People Believe.
BriSt0W- POunces on Items of
Expense for Autos.
THEIR CONCEPTION is WRONG

Washington, March 23 A total OF
2.951 private pension bills has been in
troduced in the senate during the ex-
ira session of the present congress
and I'D to February 10 of the pres
ent session, according to a compila-
ton Just made by an official of the
senate. The statement was prepared
in connection with the fight now be-
ing made in the senate by some south
err Democrats on omnibus pension
bills, in which are com bined many
private pension bills
The statement shows that seven
Democrats and one Republican have
introduced no private pension bills
since this congress began.
In the number of pension bills in
troduced it is shown that Senator
Curtis of Kansas is sponsor for more
than any other senator. He has in
PRODUCED 277 such bills. Kansas is
known to have between 10000 and
$4,000 Grand Army men in its popula-
ton.
The statistics show that the Repub-
1icans are much more liberal in intro
ducing pension bills than the Demo-
Gratis, 695 having been put in by
Democrats and 1855 by Republicans.
Under the caption of 1.-The Kansas
Farmer, a Modern Man" the Wash
1ngton Post editorially says:
Old Farmer Is No More.
Reports from Salina, Kan, where
at the evening functions of the con-
vention of the Farmers Alliance all
the farmers appeared in dress suits,
now threaten to do away forever with
the generic caricature of the aged
gentleman with wispy whiSkers stand
ing in the middle of the road with a
few chickens at his feet and shaking
his fist as an automobile whizZes by.
It used to be very comforting to think
of the hard working farmer. the back
bone of his country, rising in the
morning at o'clock and blowing the
field until 5. It was always refresh
ing to consider his deadly hatred of
automobiles and persons who changed
their shirts three times a week. The
farmer was about all we had left OF
primitive days. And now even our old
conception of the farmer is being
swept away.
sit is not easy to picture the farm
err as he is described in the reports
from Salina. The dapper, well proper
toned dandies, with their waxed
mustaches. high hats and white bos-
omed evening clothes do not accord
with the picture the country has al
ways had in mind. Surely it cannot
be possible that the stove in the coun-
dori Surely it cannot be true that the
feet that are placed on the soap box
are now incaSed in patent leather in
stead Of the old cowhidei Tt seems
utterly Incredible, and yet we find one
wealthy farmer quoted as saying:
e Farming has been reduced to a.
science. Whereas 1t used to be drudg-
cry, 1t has now become a pleasure,
and the profits are more than salts
factory. Two decades ago a farmer
would size up a horse for its breed;
now the farmer, with the eye of an
expert, sizes up an automobile for it's
power and general going qualities
IF this be true, then civilization
has waved it's fairy wand over the
farmer of the country and he has
been cllaned into a prince of fashion
virtually over night. The wispy whis-
kers have given way to the waxed
1nustache, the sagging pants have
made way for carefully creased trou-
sers, and the old nag that formerly
pulled the farmer TO church on Sun
days has been replaced by the high
power automobile.
eff the change has actually taken
place, as reported, we look forward
to the day when the next farmer rep
resentative comes to Washington. He
probably will bring his valet along,
and it will make him very impatient
when he learns that the house office
building is without a Turkish bath
and manicure girls"
Bristow Fights the Autos.
Senator Joe Bristow of Kansas is
set against Uncle Sam
providing automobiles for officials
and employees of the District of
Columbia government. During the