The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-29
Kansas Hands Tied in Anti
Draft Meetings Here.
Expressions of Indignation
Come From Over State.
THEY'LL GIVE ALL ASSISTANCE
Officials Offer All Aid to Gov
eminent Officers.
National Guards Cannot Be Or
dered to Stop Meetings.

Kansas state officials doubtless re-
Elected state wide sentiment today in
expressions of righteous Indignation
over the movement launched in To-
peka TO block registration and military
conscription. In the state house to-
day officials and state department at
taches discussed with feeling the
sentiments expressed in the Sunday
uprising. These sentiments were
echoed by numerous men from over
the state who visited the state house
during the day.
Yet the state is powerless to act
Absence of state law covering such
demonstrations and utterances, ties
the hands of state officials. Other
wise, there is little doubt that the state
departments would have taken an ac-
tive hand in quelling the unpatriotic
demonstrations. Failure to find state
law covering the case has tied the
hands of Governor Capper, S. M
Brewster, attorney general: and
Charles I. Martin adjutant general.
There is no doubt, however, that ev-
cry assistance will be rendered the
federal government IN blocking all
displays of national disloyalty.
Ike Gilberg, Dr. Eva Harding and
other persons who participated i'll
sundays meeting, were bitterly criti-
ing the day. Accounts of the meeting
as published in The State Journal had
been read by many men active in pub
lie affairs turnout the state. Several
prominent Kansans who visited the
state house during the day were Sc
we're in their criticism of the move
1nent to block registration June 5.
When a man who left Russia to
seek protection under a free democrat
ic government. makes such utterances
as are credited TO Gilberg and his as
tsociateS, it is near treason, was the
brand which one state department
head today placed on the Gilberg-
Harding following.
Humiliation and shame mingled with
rage in the expressions of state house
visitors. The sense of humiliation
was in evidence in many remarks.
kansas has stood proudly by and
expressed scorn at the demonstrations
in other states and in large cities
said one visitor I'VE were inclined
to point the finger of scorn at our
lneighbors and felt righteous pride in
our own patriotism and loyalty to the
nation Now we are branded by the
sins of misdirected leaders with So
| cialistic tendencies and utterly lacking
in the spirit of honor and patriotism.
Support Government
Men in state departments today de-
| clared fatty that every support would
| be given the federal government in
! discouraging a repetition of Sunday :
meeting few state department
heads were inclined to smile in spite
of their scorn for the spirit of dis
| loyalty.
! The people in Sundays meeting,
! as 1 know them, are natural ants,
said one sarcastic official They ara
never for anything. If everyone wer3
| against consumption, they would
doubtless be for it. The only harm
such person may do is to mislead
some young men who are eligible to
register to stay away from the polling
place ami draw a term in prison"
| State troops cannot be used, eXcep;
on order from the war department OF
on order of the governor in case c.
riot, and Charles 1. Martin, adjutant
general, declared he had no authority
to act or his own motion in EVEN
future meetings are held. The stat
ute books do not provide a law ade-
quate for action by Governor Cappe1
or S. NJ. Brewster, attorney general
But there is no doubt but that the
machinery of state government will
be placed at the disposal of the fed
eral government in procuring evi
dance