The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-17


labor law every Sunday"
Moving on Sunday.
There is considerable discussion as
to the rights of a business firm NOV
ing on Sunday. The Sunday labor law
was not meant to cover such cases, is
the general belief. There are certain
emergencies under which an action
similar to the Dibble move seems to
be legal. 1t is pointed out that the.
Topeka Daily Capital was moved on.
Sunday. that their employees work on
Sunday. 1t is brought to mind, also
that the postoffice was moved on the
sabbath day. Any number of such
incidents could be exhibited in Topeka.
The law was passed for the protection
of the laboring man and the employer
who might take advantage of these
hours of rest
The malignant mendacity'' (what-
ever that isl policy of the State Jour
nal. as charged by the morning pa
per, is uncalled for and ridiculous
The State Journal reserves the right.
as does the Capital, to make due note
of all actions of public officials. A
man is elected or appointed to public
office with the knowledge that every
act is of public concern.
IF the morning paper is to discredit
criticism of the Wilson police admin
istration it should make a sweeping
reproach of all accounts of the eff
cient acts of the chief of police as
printed in the State Journal
If the State Journal has print ed
anything that would embarrass Chief
Wilson and his newspaper hackers 1t
has been a statement of facts Us best
gathered by the reporters. The activ-
tiles of the police head that have
brought down the most trouble upon
him are actions publicly and openly
censured by the chiefs own superior
officer, the mayor. If man in pub
lie life is unsatisfa Glory to the man
who appointed him and if the man
who hired him is not backward g bout
his dissatisfaction and is forced to
apologize for him. why should an in
dependent newspaper. newspaper
that prints the news. feel disposed to
hide the facts from the public?
The Capital newspaper on which
Ch1ef Wilson was employed before his
appointment, has purposely and I'M
fairly held from it's readers the de-
velopments at the city hall concerning
Mayor Houses troublesome exper-
fences with his chief of police. The
Capital, purporting to print the news,
has kept from it's readers who are
likewise taxpayers and who have con-
tributed to the upkeep of the present
administration. the kacs behind the
Wilson administration.
The State Journal has not printed
all it has heard about Wilson's tac-
tics at the police station. If this paper
was gushing propaganda to separate
Wilson from his job it could have
published scores of stories coming to
this office from citizens, cIty officials
and taxpayer who were not in accord
with the chiefs way of handling his
official duties.
Instead, the State Journc! has print
ed stories that have a direct bearing
on the city administratior-with the
possible exception of a report in which
Wilson had proudly exhibited his star
while shaking hands WITH the new
corners at a Lowman Hi. church
This Dibble grocery affair was sim
ply a matter of news Mayor House
gave out an authorized interview in
which he stated that Chief Wilson'S
for moving on Sunday was a d
outrage" The question of the law,
the rights of the chief and the legal
aspect was not argued or supported.
This is up to the courts, the parties
involved and the local officials The
State Journal isn't in the supreme
court business.
The State Journal has this personal
opinion of ]. E. Wilson-if you care
to read it: He is man of unlimited
energy. He is tireless. enthusiastic
and undoubtedly has many good in
tentions but is not tempermentally
suitable for the position. Ac-
cording to the edict of his superior
officer, the mayor, his energy has been
misdirected. But the chiefs personal
qualifications have nothing to do with
what he may have done as chief of
police.
The Capital states that the State
Journal has made persistent misrep-
resentations' concerning Wilson's ac-
lions. This is untrue. The Capital
cannot be blamed altogether for this
statement because that paper does not
know what it is talking about. 1t has
not attempted to become acquainted
with the mayors police administra-
ton, but has been content to sit back
and print denials. 1t takes Wilson's
word for its charges of ''misrepre-
sentation." The State Journal mis-
represents no one. 1t represents no
one. 1t is a newspaper published to
give the news and serve the public.
1t has the same police protection as
the man who pitches his tent over
highland demands it. 1t is not in
1uenced by man or men The State
Journal is your newspaper and a chief
of police is your chief of police. You
are entitled to honest and unbiased
service from both We have done our
part
If this is malignant mendacity,'
this printing of the news for which