The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-13

fort and benefit of the Civil war vet
Grams who make this place their home
! in their declining years. The manage
ment of the home, as well as the farm,
| has been placed upon a sound business
basis by Comnandant Breese, who is
| an ideal man for the position ne holds.
! The state normal school and the Uni
versity of Kansas have both made I'M
precedented development and advance
ment during the past four years The
university has greatly extended it's field
in useful and practical work for the
state in recent years. The repairing
and making sound of hundreds of de-
formed and defective little children and
men and women by the university dur
ing the last two years is a great step
forward in the history of this common
wealth.
The work of the university experts
under the direction of the board of
health, along sanitary lines, in connec-
ton with water supplies for cities, and
{ the disposition of sewage, in the en-
forcement of the pure food and drug
laws and the standardization of weights
and measures is of tremendous ma
terial value to the state, to say nothing
of the protection of human life.
All politics have been abandoned in
the Hutchinson refofmatory and the
discipline greatly improved under Su-
perintendent Amrine, who has been
very successful in the management OF
the institution. The physical plant and
property is in vastly better condition
than it was two years ago. the spirit
of the institution is wholesome ana
good.
A Tribute to Joe Mercer.
Joseph H. Mercer in the live stock
sanitary department has given "a service
which merits the highest commenda-
ton. Under his guardianship was an
interest of great Importance to the PEG
pie and one of the chief sources or the
very general prosperity of the state. He
has put his heart and soul into the ilVe
stock industry and has given 1T Tree
dom from disease that it has not en-
joyed in this state for more than thirty
years. The vigor with which he com
bated the horse plague and cnolera
epidemics of the last year faIriy anu
justly entities him to the good opinion
of every man who believes II sincere
and faithful public service.
The policy of procuring land for dairy
and intense farming at the state in
situations is of vast Importance to the
state More than one thousand acres
of rich farm land has been purcnaseu
for the state institutions during the
present administration. If this pohcy
were continued until sufficient ianu
has been procured, the various 1nstltu-
lions could produce all the beer. pork
poultry dairy products, fruits Snd larih
products necessary for food In All state
institutions This is a practical plan
not only for a solution of the tax prob
lem. but also affords a splendid oppor-
t11nity for healthful exercise by pro
viding outdoor work for the inmates
of PENAL and charitable institutions.
Early in my administrator l au I.,a
ed the policy that no man who hVeo
in a county where a state 1nstltutloii
was located, would be appointed TO d
board or as head of the lnstltutioii
The old policy of turning an lnstltu-
ton over to local politicians Is VI
r,01iti0S which al !
WAYS contributes to the demoralzation
of the institution.
That Progressive Movement.
The value of a movement for better !
and more comprehensive popular gov
eminent cannot always be justly meas
ured either by the completed or un-
COMPLETED items in it's program. Sue
cess does not always represent the
triumph of that vital progressive SEN
timent which has taken deep root III
the hearts of the Kansas people Many
times a glorious victory rises out OF
what may seem for the moment 10 oe
a humiliating defeat. AS an instance
of this fact 1 might refer to the fall |
ure of the initiative and referendum |
and recall in the state senate Two /
years ago through the opposition or the
reactionary minority of party that
had honestly and sincerely promlseo
to give the people these great weapons
of power in popular government. MY |
personal championship of the fulfill
ment Of that promise earned for me
the hatred of many active and power
full enemies and brought many male
dictions upon my head. For these 1
did not care, for saw a power beyond
that party minority-the power of the
right thinking common people of KAN
sas-that would ultimately insist that
the initiative and referendum and re-
call should be given a place in the
af
people have spoken and those who
failed to obey them two years ago
have been properly rebuked as all leg
islators and all parties will be re-
buked who fail to give these defensive
measures of constitutional power to
a people who have to daily combat the
of power and the inf1u-
ence of corruption in their govern
ment.
A LEGISLATURE Fresh From the People.
I predict with great confidence and
pleasure that a legislature fresh from
the people of Kansas will write these
measures into an amendment to the
If the legislature fails
to do it, I shall reserve the right to
make another prediction.
While I am upon the subject I desire
sincerely to thank the faithful senators
and representatives, Republicans and
Democrats, who stood by these measures.
! also want to thank them publicly for
supporting the principle that the peopio
of this state had a right to express a
preference as to who they desire to have
for their United States senator. This was
a long step in the right direction of real
government and ! trust
that every succeeding legislature-includ-
ing the one coming into power tomorrow
will unanimously ratify it. In a state
like Kansas, whose people are first
among all the states of the world in the
of political intelligence, as well
as moral and political conscience, we can
always hope, when reason dominates a
campaign, and prejudice and hatred are
that fair and just selection
will be made.