Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1913-03-28

Topeka. Kansas. Mar. "a. 1ala.


OF course it was foreordained in the
sanctums Of certain bull moose pa
pers that nothing Gov. Hodges could
do would be pleasing in their sight.
Hence fauluinding and criticism was
10 be expected. Some of the COM
plants, however, are real amusing.
Just now the appointments the gov
ernor has made are not to their Hk-
ing. First of all, there has been too
many editors appointed. The editor
ial fraternity must plead guilty to the
charge that the governor has dealt
generously with it, in distributing the
appointments, but we think the real
trouble with our faultfinding friends
Is not the fact that a few editors
have received appointments, but that
they think mistake has been made
in the kind Of editors chosen. Had
they been bull moose editors-well,
as Kipling says, that would be a diff
terent story.
The next cause for offense is that
in appointing the minority members
Of the several state boards standpat-
tiers only were recognized. Oh, the
Unsuitable appetite Of the average bull
mooser. He has stood up for the con-
stitution, the flag and an appropria-
ton so long that he has come to be-
lieve that he has a vested right to a
place on the pay roll. There always
comes a time when the bull calf has
to be weaned, and the Kansas calf
might just as well take it philosophy
cally. His time has come when he
must eat grass with the rest of the
herd.
Now for the GROWING infamy. In
the closing hours of the legislature,
when everybody was rejoicing in the
fact that the sixty-day grind was over
and the members were telling each
other what royal good fellows they
were, resolution was introduced ask
ing the governor to appoint one of
their members, a minority member,
Of the irrigation board. Did it pass?
Sure, with a whoop. The governor
didn't appoint him, however, and the
bull moose organs threw a few more
fits. The fact that the member in
question violated his party pledge
when he helped defeat an initiative
and referendum measure, that he vot-
ed against a recording mortgage tax
a measure the administration was an.
xious to see passed, and that he lined
up with the Kansas City, Missouri,
board of trade and the grain gam
blers to defeat grain inspection
law, were reasons enough why he
should not receive any favors at the
hands of the administration, but you
can't please bull mooser so what's
the use to try.
State Superintendent Ross is an
other individual who is suffering
from a bad case Of the Molly Grubs."
He is peeved because the legislature
went ahead and passed a law provid-
ing for the state publication of school
books without consulting him. He is
by virtue of his office a member Of
the commission, but he doesn't like
his associates. 1t has been charged
that in the past the state superinten-
dents office has been citadel of
strength for the school book trust
and Mr.. Ross is taking exactly the
right course to make people think
that it hasn't entirely lost out. He
has placed himself in a position where
he will be an object of suspicion and
his influence will be minimized. Kan
sas has tried for long time to reg
ulate the school book monopoly, but
she has been forced at last to &C.
knowledge the fact that the state
cannot effectaully regulate something
that it doesn't own. Mr.. Ross will
find that majority Of the members
of the commission with which he
must work believe in the law and
that they are going to see its provi-
sions carried out in good faith.
Among the appropriations made by
the legislature is one for $751; to
complete the Memorial building in
tended as the home Of the Grand Ar
my of the Republic and the State
Historical Society. The commission
in charge of the work consists of the
governor, lieutenant governor, speak
er of the house, department comman.
der Of the Grand Army, secretary of
the State Historical Society, one SEN
ator and one representative. The
commission will meet April q to let