The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-13
EARLY EDITORS.
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philosophy Of Journalism was illus
trated, and many a lesson Of original
and practical value was taught. The
editors somehow drifted into uniform
1ty of theories and practice. Their
governing influence was loyalty to the
state and activity in it's service. All
else was subordinate. excepting only
the stars and stripes and the glory of
God. The Kansas papers of that era
established a habit of independence
which your papers today are proud to
claim as one of their characteristic
virtues. And they provided many sug-
gestions which have since been devel-
Oped into so-called new features Of
Journalism"
Captain King pointed out the mir
acle of Transformation by which Kan
eas in less than a single lifetime. from
the sinister influence Of calamity, has
developed into the splendid Kansas of
today. He ascribed the change large
ly to the service Of the states news
papers.
''They evolved a new and striking
order Of publicity" he said, sin which
the fluctuations are to serve a bene-
fetal purpose. The repeated blows Of
adversely were set forth to attract
profitable interest abroad while con-
serving the strength and stimulating
the faith of the victims at home. More
than once Kansas eacaped by such
means the danger OF going back to the
primeval grass and weeds from which
the pluck and toll Of her citizens had
partially redeemed her.
Liked to Blow Bubbles.
Those papers were not merely ma
terial agencies. aiming only to extend
the area OF cultivation and to multiply
the crop reports. They were not lack
ing in any point of interest or attract
iveness. It was their constant aim to
MI uv1S
cheerfully expectant. They avoided
dullness as though 1t were q penal
offense. Now and then, indeed. they
pushed the glad mood to a point Of
excess, and then laughed at them
selves to restore their balance. They
liked to blow bubbles and watch them
drop back to elemental suds, they
never tired Of hitching wagons to
stars. and the wagons came tumbling
down. Of course, but the stars re-
great seal Of the state. All the time
they stood for something. and all the
time continued to send out messages
that were sound and salutary. Was
not that a genuine and practical Jour-
when it will be wise to discard the
foundations thus laid for a press that
should always signalize Kansas Spirit
and Kansas Conquest?
you editors Of this later generation
have improved on those former methods
and appliances. undoubtedly, but I beg OF
You not to forget the men who pioneered
the states journalism, and made it possi-
BILE. figuratively. for you to stand on their
shoulders. and look much further ahead
than they were able to see.
Only . Few Left.
You can readily imagine how lonesome
] seem to lag in a Kansas editorial meet
ing where there are few Of their faces
and voices. I recall only a scant half
dozen: Beck and Caveness and Wasser,
and the Voc Brothers, and Aleck Reyn,
olds. Kansas continues to be Kansas
largely because Of what they did to make
It such. They were my comrades. friends,
brethren, and 1 loved them so. That was
when was young as you are young. This
is my last chance to pay tribute to them
under appropriate auspices. Do not ex-
pect me to mention them individually.
each of their names would put lump in
my throat. 49,. 1880
LET me simply ask you to bear them
in rcverent and grateful memory the
men who put the Kansas press on it's feet.
and gave it the Kansas language with
which to tell the story and exalt the fame
Of this gallant and invincible state