The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-30
He OutdOes Anti-Drafters in
Signed Editorial.
SAYS War Is a "Mask for
Grab and Plumber"
BITTER ON ADMINISTRATION
Stand Looked Upon as FOunda-
ton for Senatorial Fight.
Proposes to Make War Big Is
sue of His Campaign?

Joseph L. Bristow, chairman of the
state utilities commission and a can
didate for United States senator in
1918, has laid ground plans for a
positive fight on the nations war pro-
gram. Bristow is now in Washington.
And from Washington Bristow has
sent to his Salina Evening Journal a
first page editorial which should
prove excellent reading matter at the
anti-draft meetings.
Nothing published in Kansas news
paper since the presidents message
could be entered in so much as close
competition with the Bristow attack
on the present policies of President
Wilson and congress. A period of
grab and plumber" is Bristows char
acterization of war activities Then
he adds: Behind it all in the dim
~ concealed background are the giant
financial and industrial organizations
that are to make billions out of the
war;
Takes Open Stand.
Bristow's editorial is doubtless an
advance notice of the program which
the state utilities commission head will
adopt IN his fight to regain a seat in
/ the United States senate.-~For weeks
1t has been known that Bristow stood
with the ultra-pacifists Governor
Capper was a pacifist, too. But he
made some changes. Bristow stood
still. Now Bristow has defined a pro-
gram Of open hostility to the national
administration in the war crisis-a
program of utterances as drastic as
anti-draft expressions which are now
the occasion for government investiga-
ton.
His Editorial.
In the editorial, printed on the first
page of his paper and over his own
| signature, Bristow said:
Never, except at Inauguration times
ianlmed as now. Hundreds of contractors
statesmen, and manufacturers besiege the
departments and special boards in desper-
ate efforts to get their share, anC more
of the seven billions which congress has
authorized to be spent in carrying on the
who for the war and high taxes, but
who want to get out of paying theiI
share, or as much of it as they can.
Railroads Want Theirs.
There are hundreds of railway officials
| and experts who want to drive thru q
| fifteen per cent increase in freight rates
so as, t.. get, their share of loot in this
period of grab and plumber. Hundreds OF
others are applicants for civil appoint
ments or commissions in the army or navy
statesmen, experts. grafters, and all man
ner of men and women.
| This assemblage is a fitting concom
| liant of war Cupidity and greed, gloittins
appetites fol pillage and plumber, vain de
/ sire for pomp and gold laced parade. un
restrained oonvivialfty, which arouses tho
latent passion for rapine and destruction
are there. Behind it all, in the dimly con
cealed ba background, are the giant financia
and industrial organizations that arc tC
make billions out of the war. Mr.. Wilson
this a holy cause Mr.. McAdoo, SECRETARY
of the treasury, flies about the country
making frantic appeals to the people t.
! lend their money to the government a
3I2 per cent, when they hesitate because
they need ali the return on 1t they can ge
! in order to procure the necessities of life
and pay the excessive taxes due to tbs
1 war
/ tor of the nature of these proceeding!
comes to the average citizen, we do no
know; but we confidently predict tina
some vain and arrogant statesmen wht
knowingly or unknowingly have been th'
plant tools of unrestrained avarice, viii
| Understand what has happened to them