The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-02
Kansans Bitter Against Bris-
lows Stand in War.
Many Want Him Removed
From Utilities Commission.
SHOULD Be BEHIND BARS
That Is What Howe OF Atch-
isOn Says OF Him.
Governors Paper Sees Two
Sides to Question.

Kansas
L. Bristow's Misrepresentation OF her
attitude on the war. Reports from
over the state indicate clearly that
demand will be made that Bristow ne
removed from his position as mead Oh
the state public utilities commission
or at least denied reappointment when
his term expires next January. Eu-
gene A. Howe, editor of the Atchlson
Daily Globe, today urged that Brls-
tow be accorded the same treatment
as DR.. Eva Harding, Ike GilberS ana
0ther disturbers.
Men nroninent in affairs in Kan
cas- are not pleased with the spectacle
of Bristow's unpatriotic stand on the
war while serving as chairman OF the
state public utilities commission at
salary of $4,000 a year paid by tax
pavers who do not hold his views II
Is known that a number of demands
have been made that Bristow be re-
moved from the state board because
of his attitude on the war question
Other demands have been MADE that
he be denied reappointment when ms
term expires next January Win
Rristow as a candidate for the United
States senate next year, his utterances
will doubtless be made a vital issue IN
Republican senatorial primaries.
No Party Issues.
Criticisms of Bristows stand nave
come almost wholly from men and
women within his party. There has
been no attempt, seemingly. to arouse
party issues and the burning criticism
has been from Kansans who feel deep
~ the reflection of Bristow's remarks
on his home state.
Fred w. Parrot. editor and pub
Usher of the Clay Center Dispatch
Republican, today declared that BrlS-
a distinct
resentation of the Kansas sentiment
and had met general criticism in his
home community.
mo recent utterance upon the part
of "A public man has attracted such
universal condemnation here as the
Bristow editorial said Parrot, land
the only endorsement of it comes from
circles which reflect further discredit.
The editorial distinctly misrepresents
the Kansas sentiment and it is regard
ed here as peculiarly unfortunate that
such a view should be given wide pub
Lefty by one holding a high official
position in the state.
1T could only have one possible eff
feet That would be to encoura ge
those who have already taken a dis
loyal attitude toward the government
and it will have a tendency to increase
the difficulties encountered by the
government at a time when all loyal
ana patriotic citizens should be rem
dering ali the assistance in their pow
err"
Howe Says Treason"
Eugene \. Howe, son of z. w.
Howe and editor of the Atchison
Daily Globe. suggests that the jails
should not be opened alone to DR..
Eva Harding and her followers, but
that many kansans would not grieve
il Bristow were given a nice quiet ad-
Joining cell In an editorial. Howe
declaI ed Bristow approached treason
in his statements. Howe said:
j. L. Bristow verges on treason
in his comments on the war, as quoted
in the Topeka State Journal Afford
ing comfort to the enemy is treason.
and his remarks at least approach
that. Mr.. Bristow will not again be
senator from Kansas, and the state
will not grieVe to see him in the same
jail which sheltered DR.. Eva Hard
ing"
Editorial cognizance is given the
Brlstow stand in an editorial this
morning in Governor Capper's Topeka
Daily Capital. Rather mildly slap
ping the utilities commission head on
the wrist, the governors paper men
tions that there are two sides to the
issues discussed by Bristow and that
the former United States senator
elected to displease Kansas by getting
on the gloomy side of the question.
In part the Capital said:
The Capitals Stand
1t is too much to hope perhaps that
in the great conflict on which this coun-
try is embarking there should be an alb
solute unanimity of opinion in regard to
the country but il ought to be that there
should be absolute unanimity of de-
termination to uphold the hands Of the gov
ernment and to present solid front to
the common enemy. Whether the army
and navy should have been recruited by a
volunteer or a conscript system was a
talr subject Of debate up until the time
the issue was decided by the congress
Whether the war shall be financed chiefly
~ taxation or by a bond issue is a cues
tion for reasonable debate but there should
be no question that il should be fully and
generously financed. So with the other
problems that present themselves. But
in the discussion there should be no note
that would indicate n lack of sympathy
with the determination Of the government
70 prosecute vigorously and emphatically
the war In which we are engaged. Least
or all should there be an expression OF
narrow partisanship.
SO II is with keen feeling of disap-
pointment that the people OF Kansas viewed
the gloomy picture Of the nations capital
as presented by the states former United
States senator, Joseph l.. Bristow. 1t can.
not be denied. of course. that along will
the high spirit of patriotism, greed and
self seeking are to be found in Washing
ton, but in charncterizing this as a period
OF grab and plumber" Mr.. Bristow pre-
sents but one side of the picture II
there be "cupidity and greed gloating ap-
peutes for piIlage and plumber, vain de,
sire for pomp and goldlaced parade, unre
strained conviviality," as Mr. BristoN
points out. there is also unselfish devo
tion to duty, generous surrender of pri
vate interest to the public good. an alb
sence Of self-seeking, as evidenced by tbs
unselfish work of Herbert Hoover anC
members of the national defense commits
sion, a willingness on the part of many o.
large property and great incomes to sub
nit to extreme and unusual taxes for thu
SUPPORT government.