The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-26
WE LEAVE TT TO YOU.


movement in this city. aided and en-
couraged by a morning newspaper, in
,sists that the report is "unfounded and
mendacious."
Furthermore Mr.. Hall speaks of
attacks on the work of the RED
Cross'' and attempts to discourage it,
/ on the part of the State Journal
Let Mr.. Hall be manly about it and
criticise the cabinet member who
made the statement instead of this
newspaper for quoting it.
! We hope that Mr.. Hall was mis-
quoted. We hope this because the
readers of the State Joul nal know too
well the work that this paper has done
I in behalf of the movement in this city
and state-they know that Mr.. Halls
! energies as a leader in this activity
have been literally reported-they~
know that Mr.. Hall could make no such
statements in sincerity if he had read
/ carefully the statements printed in this
paper.
/ In quoting Secretary Daniels the
State Journal did the Red Cross real
service-and Red Cross workers who
are not susceptible to the influences of
in-meaning editors know it. Secretary
Daniels did make a statement, pub
! lished broadcast, that the Red Cross
knitting was NOT NECESSARY. This
statement was due to be spread over
the nation. 1t was a statement from
the head of our navy. The State
Journal took this statement, COM
pared it to the statements from heads
of the Red Cross who challenged it
and refuted it and printed the ideas
in fun on the first page of this paper
Saturday. Furthermore the State
! Journal printed an editorial in the
same issue encouraging the women to
keep ON knitting and discrediting the
Daniels statement.
What more could a fair. open
minded. well meaning newspaper do?
Now just suppose the Daniels inter
view was a real statement of facts.
Suppose, wen say, that it is true, as
Daniels says, that the knitting is not
necessary as the government is pro-
viding for the men and will make
every provision for their comfort.
What aobut it?
1t means that millions of dollars,
the energies of millions of women and
the efforts of thousands of men are
to no avail-are wasted in other
words.
Wouldn't it be only right and proper
that the women know this?
wouldn't it bring about a conser-
walton of work and wool that the
country needs along other lines of ac-
tivity?
Most certainly-every one will
agree.
However, the State Journal be-
lieves there is a place for every sweat
er, for every sock, for every helmet,
for every wristlet. And 'the State
Journal has said so-hundreds of
times. Furthermore. the State Jour
nal said so Saturday evening in the
same article in which the Daniels
statement appeared.
Now to be frank about matters
this paper has heard this remark
made scores of times during the re-
cent Red Cross campaign: why is
it that it is necessary for the Red
Cross to take care of our soldiers and
sailors? Why doesn't the government
do it?"
r That remark has been heard by ev-
cry one. The question brings up a
problem that has been in the minds
of the people of the United States
for months. The persons who retain
this belief as to the ability of the gov
eminent to take good care of the Sam
mics and Jackies, some day. thru some
channel or other were bound to hear
TNI,1
4. Journal printed the Daniels statement
while it was hot so to speak. and
then proceeded in way to knock it
cold"
AS a. reward we are accused of dis
courag ing the work and publishing
: unfounded and mendacious editorials
We bandage our wounded feelings
with the thought that the rank and
file of patriotic Red Cross workers
. were able to read and understand
: without the aid of the disgruntled.
n P Slate this afternoon a state
e ment was issued from Secretary Dan
= iels and Secretary Baker at Washing
d ton encouraging the women of the ma
= ton to keep on knitting The state
o ment undoubtedly came about thru
h the sentiment aroused over the origi-
= nal Daniels statement from Washing
|, ton printed in the State Journal and
It hundreds of other newspapers last
d Saturday. The Baker-Daniels COM
e munication to the Red Cross appears
on Page 1 of the State Journal today
l. 1t clears up any doubt in the minds
# of the women as to the use of theil
st patriotic product. Nevertheless the
It readers of the State Journal must re-
5, member that the original Daniels in.
e terview was sent to this paper from
d Washington and printed in the same
lie spirit of news-value and news-interes