The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-13

emption law by removing the discrim-
ination against certain classes Of W0-
men.
IL. To authorize cities Of tho drst
and second class to establish public
loan institutions that the loan shark
evil may be abated.
Stronger Rural Schools.
Only per cent OF the boys and
girls OF Kansas ever go to college. For
the % per cent whose only means or
schooling IL the district or the city
school. we must provide what we are
not now providing, an education that
Will better fit them for the struggle
Of life. We have nothing more Inn
portant to consider than the teach
Ing, the courses of study and the well
fare OF these primary schools and high
schools. And 1t IL vastly important
that the farmers children be as well
provided for. az the children Of the
towns and cities. We spend more than
a million dollars a year on our col
leges and university, and 1t ID money
well spent: but We must have educa-
ton that fits not the few but the
many for the business of life. Abso-
lutte thoroughness in the common,
fundamental branches is necessary. A
boy or girl who has gone through the
eight grades should possess COM
plete, practical education and should
have received special training in some
her to earn a livelihood. Vocational
work should De done in all the schools
beginning with the fifth grade. Wher-
ever conditions favor it, the estab
fishing of a consolidated school or of
a township high school is worthy of
much consideration. We should pro-
vide for and encourage a wider use
of school plants, making Of them edu-
cational and social centers for all the
people throughout the year.
A4vS An% - 80 <A%4
superintendent Of public instruction,
as well AZ that Of county superinten-
dent, should be removed entirely from
politics.
An institution which supplements
the work of the public schools and
the state il the Kansas Travelling Ii
brary. In the last two years it has
sent out a total of 61.25O books.
reaching. it il estimated. 100000 per-
for a continuation of it's good work be
provided.
Free Text Books for Schools.
All school books should be supplied
to the children of Kansas free of cost.
I recommend compulsory district and
municipal ownership of such books.
Twenty-one states now follow this
properly safeguarded. providing for
the use Of supplementary books.
am convinced the state can publish
the text books needed for use in the
common schools at a material saving
to the people. During the last two
been enlarged with this purpose in
view. So far only three books have
been issued. 1t 10. of course. physical
ly impossible for the state to under
take, during the next two years. the
publishing Of all the books to be re-
quired in the public schools Of all
grades. I therefore recommend that
an appropriation be made sufficient
to print such books within the present
capacity of the printing plant. as, in
the judgment of the school book COM
mission. are most Immediately needed.
Rural Credit Associations
Farming is our biggest business in
Kansas. Our prosperity, our progress.
our very existence depend on 1t. It is
a business in great need of financial
relief. The farmers of Kansas are
sorely in need of a credit system
meeting their special requirements
that they may more readily obtain
money on short or long time for their
farming operations. or that they may
become owners Of farms. Our present
system Of credit is based on business
as conducted in cities. where capital is
turned quickly. In New York. Ohio
and in other states this need has been
loan and savings associations similar
to the building and loan associations
in the cities. We should make 1t pos
sibte in Kansas for our numerous
building and loan associations to ex-
tend their services to farmers under
a law which also will encourage and
permit rural communities to organize
cooperative loan associations to be
under the supervision Of the state
banking department. New York state
has a very comprehensive law of this
kind.
Cooperative Societies.
The necessity for a better organized
now generally regarded as urgent.
Kansas has no adequate law encourag-
ing and providing for the formation
and conduct OF farmer cooperative
societis such as exist in the states of
Wisconsin. Minnesota, Nebraska and
Iowa AS we live in one OF the fore
most Agricultural states, we should not
be backward in providing every con-
ditfon which will aid our greatest in
dustry.
Abolish Nominating Petitions.
Several amendments should be made
to the primary and general election
laws to improve them. but such
changes must in no way interfere with
full and free expression Of the peo-
pies choice in naming the candidates
to be voted on at general elections.
The direct primary law of Kansas has
be come q part Of our political system
and our efforts should be to simplify
1t. to render 1t more direct. rather
than to weaken or discredit it,
I suggest the law be modified to
eliminate nomination petitions, SUBJ
shutting therefor q small entrance
NO STOMACH PAIN,