The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-11

that those who are forcing it upon US
know that it is not safe; for the reason
that an army can not be raised on the
volunteer plan for an unpopular war.
The vote last November was the ma
tons protest against war, because we
all know that the sentiment that elect
ed Woodrow Wilson was expressed in
the words He kept US out of war
Now he has rewarded US with con-
scription.
Wilson has been able to reverse
the sentiment of his congress. and he
has even reversed himself under the
pressure of the interests that are sur
rounding him He has out-Jacksoned
Jackson himself in the autocracy of
his methods Democracy in this coun-
try is less than it is in Australia, where
they submitted the subject of con-
scription to a popular vote. 1t was
emphaticaIly voted down. In a rue
democracy surely all questions of vital
interest should be voted on by those
concerned in the issue
..NIilitarism Here
Mrs. Main then turned to her chart
We are told that this war is being
fought to crush Prussian militarism
which consists of conscription, censor
ship of the free press, restriction OF
free speech, restriction of free assem-
blage, industrial compulsion, and su-
premacy of martial law over civil law.
adopting CONSUMPTION, censorship of
the free press. restriction of free
speech, restriction of free asSemblage,
| industrial compulsion and the su-
premacy of martial law over civil
law.
Daniel Webster declared the draft
unconstitutional, and according to the
thirteenth amendment, it is so. That
amendment says that involuntary serv-
itude shall not exist in the United
l IN ant
crime, of which the criminal has been
duly convicted"
The company listened to Mrs. Mains
address silently. but as soon as she
finished there was mingled chorus of
clapping and kissing. Mrs. ]. D. Nc
Farland Immediately got the floor.
This is a poor time" she said, ito
criticise our government. 1t is no time
to give that kind of a speech, and 1
am very sorry that a member of this
club would do it. 1 am Republican
and the president is a Democrat, but
! is elected"
Exchange Personalities.
Mrs. Main replied that it was not
her intention to criticise so much the
government of the United States, but
rather the parasitic class too much in
control of the government
Again Mrs Mcfarland rose and de-
cIared that she was very much panied
at what had happened in the patriotic
organization of the Good Government
club Il am told that on a street car
/ lately q man went to shooting off his
mouth to the distress of other passen-
gers, and one man told him to shut
his d-n mouth I feel like saying
| the same thing with the oath left out"
Another woman at the back of the
room rose to express her indignation
at the criticism of the CONSUMPTION
law. Mrs Main, having shot her bolt,
said nothing more and showed no re-
sentiment at the i'll feeling she seemed
to have awakened.
Mrs. Lindsay rose to the rescue by
calling attention to the fact that the
president himself had said he did not
wish a suppression of criticism of his
| policies, and that the question was
open to debate and would be for some
time.
Thereupon the club proceeded with
its vegetable canning program, in
which Mrs. Fred Farnsworth gave her
experiences The club decided to go
| in body to the Red Cross rooms to
work on Monday afternoon.
At the close of the program, Mrs A.
H. Horton presented the club with a
large flag, which is her personal gift
| to the organization. Mrs. Horton was
the clubs first president, and is on its
| list of honorary members