The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-13

posted on Kansas history and affairs
| than was Kan" Whitfield. He had
weighed his letters as he placed them
in the stick" The wise max1ms ana
deep reflections and fervent utterances
of the men of other days were IiNeu
in his mind. He had seen so many
statesmen. editors and builders come
and go. For forty years he had peen
bart of the pulsebeat of the printing
office. Under his own hand or under
his personal direction, the type lolu
the story of Kansas every DAY OF
these four decades. Age sloWea ms
step and cramped his hanus anu
chilled his blood, but it could never
dull the CLEAN of his eye or daunt ms
spirit or dim his pride in his calilng.
While intensely loyal to the best IRA
ditions of the past, Whttted was dlelt
to the progress of the times ana was
recognized in printing clrcles as mas
fer craftsman. In fact, he invented
devices in the composing room that
were ahead of his time. He knew lnti.
mately most of the famous printers Oh
the old hand" days, and mad an mex
haustible fund of Information anu
anecdote of these men and their "orK'
, Holding an. executive position with
noanv men under his direction he was
always kind and fair to them ana yet
Ioval to the shop" The foreman
word is law in the composing room
and the editor who enters there must
work with the foreman for the com
mon good of the paper. Wise the edl-
tor who recognized the wisdom of the
old printer-foreman. The man of ink
and TYNE could tell the man of paper
and pencil many things. Like most OF
| the men of his craft Whltted was
fine speIler, a close observer of correct
! forms and a splendid critic of news
I 18Th n. n,
| often. this old master printer has
stormed and fretted over the short
| comings of the editor and his starr
and how often he has forgiven the ed1-
tor and his tribe and helped them
again and again from the stores or MS
experience and wisdom.
Loved His Fellow Men.
All the old time printers stormed-
But the sunshine followed the tempest.
In the warm kindly heart of Kan"
Whitfield, malice did not dwell. The
strain of the printshop, the tediousness
of the type and the veXations of
trade where skill and application play
such prominent parts must of necessity
make these craftsmen nervous when
things persistently went wrong and i'm
patient with those outside the charmed
circle Whitfield loved his fellow men.
Like most of his fellows he was a
cynic and a pessimist as regards
|
he was always helpful, hopeful, affec-
tionate and true.
Not only did Kan" Whitfield rank as
a master of his craft but he was a
splendid type of Kansas citizen. He
avoided the pitfalls that beset the feet
of some of the best printers of the old
times. He was thrifty as we'll as in
dustrious. He was proud of his city
and took part in public affairs He
loved his home and family and spent
nearly all his time either at his fire
side or his office. He was a Kansan
thru and thru. He stored up
much wisdom: he had habits of in
dustry and application; he performed
a most useful part in the worlds work;
he was patriotic as regards his state,
and he loved his family and kept faith
always with his employer and his
! friends.
Who hath done more in this world
below?
Another old master printer gone.
But few are left today. The romance
of the old ink-stained printshops has
gone also. The Kan Whitteds of
the composing room and the Gene
t1elds of the local room have gone
forever. The modern organizations
and machinery of these days decreed
that they should go and that none
should take their place. Brave days!
Wonderful menl They did a fine
work in the world, standing out like
rocks in a torrent. The last song is
sung and the last prayer is said and
the old master printer is laid to rest
IN the hillside beyond the city. But
MS friends who knew him we'll re-
member him still and will not forget
Tor many day, and the traditions of
MS calling and of his printshop. they
never forget. Within the sacred pre-
clncts of the type and case" and
rack and STAND and form" the
name and work and loving kindness
or Kan" Whitfield will live on lust
the same as tho the old master printer
was there still bending over the
stone with his thin, eager face and
skilled, tireless hands TO nut the Ia ct
touches to the immortal type before
sending the last form to press"
A