The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-01-15
IC0BuRN TO RESIGN
Veteran Secretary Of Board of
Agriculture
Will Resign Tomorrow, Fol-
lowing His Reelection.
TO QUIT JUNE BOTH NEXT
Kansas Will Lose One OF Its
Big Assets.
Plan That SpOnsler of Hutchin-
son Will Succeed Him.


Secretary Coburn will tomorrow re-
sign as secretary of the State Board
of Agriculture.
Secretary Coburn's Statement
Speaking of his resignation Friday
In event Of his Selection as secretary
of the board OF agriculture, Mr.. Co.
burn made this statement:
ut is ny observation that excellent
men are sometimes continued In some
given public Office longer than Is Tor
their good or best for those they serve.
From uninterrupted tenure they are la
BILE, unfortunately, to acquire a feel
ing or air of ownership and to regard
their positions as personal property; to
lose a proper ambition, unconsciously
gravitate into rutr and become indif-
ferent to If hot actually resentful OF
suggestions for changes Of which there
is imperative need.
THE generous treatment accorded
me by the board, the public. and the
press everywhere, makes me unwilling
to risk a forfeiture of the good VIII
it has signified by consenting to re-
main longer where l have already
been so highly honored and where a
grade of constructive service is due
such as am no longer able to render.
While grateful beyond expression for
unfailing support given me throughout
the more than twenty years of my
service-a notable period of oppor-
tunity, and certainly Of length to
satisfy any reasonable ambition-I
am convinced that the time has come
when the secretary's duties should be
shifted to a younger, more aggressive.
more up-to-date man. In conformity
with this cony .ction 1 will tender my
resignation as secretary of the State
Board Of Agriculture. and ask that 1t
become effective June 80 next.
s,fs, Not = Sudden Plan.. ---sg-,.
This is not any sudden determine
ton; have had 1t in mind for q long
time. After more than twenty years
of constant grind I need change. I
have never taken the vacations which
themselves of and consider SO essen
tial. and intend now for a while to
see what a vacation is Like.
However, my work, although
sometimes trying, has never been irk-
some; on the contrary it has been
most congenial and I have come to it
joyfully with each recurring day.
Surely, no man ever occupied a pub
lie office under more agreeable cir
cumstances or more favorable condi-
tions in every way than those of my
~ <H4
Board Of Agriculture.
"Within my term of service a much
maligned and greatly misunderstood
state has found herself and advanced to
the front SO strikingly that the whole
attitude of her people toward them
selves, and Of the nation at large tow
ard them, has changed. Now. it seems
to me. a new period OF opportunity for
development is at hand, and to ade-
quately meet this. new and younger
men are demanded.
1.-The conduct of the boards office
must be changed to suit changing con-
ditions. and transferring 1t to a
worthy successor. aggressive and pro-
gressive. will be pleasure. BY this
1t is not meant that 1 shall he with
out serious regrets in severing my Gf-
ficial relations with the sp!en lii men
Of Kansas agriculture and their work.
'"The wonderfully cordial treatment
accorded me as an official, and per-
0ona1ly, has given the daily routine
and even the most arduous work Of
the office pleasant flavor from
which shall not easily turn away.
II have interests that will quite
keep me from being inactive and I
have no thought of leaving beautiful
Topeka. So long as 1 am given health
for work shall have work to do and
joy in its doinst
Story From Leavenworth.
Leavenworth, Kan, Jan. 15.-The
Leavenworth Post prints this evening
a statement from Topeka saving that
at a meeting held in Topeka last even
ing of a number the members ~f
the Kansas State. Board of Ag-
riculture. in session there this
week, 1t was stated that Sec
retary Coburn would be ae-elected
to the office of secretary tomorrow
but would immediately resign to take
effect July LIST, and that the PLANS are
to elect as his successor John L.
sponsler. president of the Hut .hinson
State Fair Association. thus elir,inat
ing Jacob Mohler. who has been Mr..
Coburn's efficient assistant secretary
for many years.
Topeka people nd eastern Kansas
people generally for that matter. yes
and thousands of western Kansas
f.,