The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-09

here is fundamental 1t helps to ex-
plain the different political tempera
mentS of the desert people. In some
ways it may be said to be socialistic,
but if so, it is the better sort of So
cialism 1t is founded on the first
necessity of existence in the desert
community effort, community enter
prise, cooperation. These people of
the desert make mistakes; they will
make many mistakes in the future.
used to be appalled, at their enormous
community Indebtedness. But L have
changed my mind about that. They
owe millions of dollars for their irri-
cation canals. their schools, their good
roads, etc. But they have the prop
erty to show for their debts. We in
Kansas have no state debt, frequently
no county debt or township debt little
school district Indebtedness; but we
do not have the public property which
people of the desert country possess
Our system of avoiding debt and great
expenditures for public improvements
may be wise. good road costs ten
thousand dollars per mile. My Kansas
farm is bounded by three miles of
public roads, l could not afford to
pay my share of the $4,000 it would
cost to put "A California good road
around it, but my farm would make
forty-eight ten-acre farms and forty
eight small farmers in the irrigated
deserts of the far west would not lose
a minutes sleep over their tax assess
ments on $4,000 bonded debt for a
three-mile good road.
Il must conclude. 1t may not be
true, as the desert people insist, that
theirs is the better half of the repub-
lie, and that Providence blessed their
country with a forbidding aspect only
to discourage those unworthy to pos
sess it and unfit to subdue it. At all
events, a bold and enterprising folk
can succeed in the desert; they are
succeeding; and the desert is wide
enough to furnish homes for their
children's children for long ages to
come. A home, independence and
| prosperity await the landless man in
! graphers SO vaguely. but yet so pre-
cisely. defined as the Great American
| Desert
| The members and guests at the
banquet last night were: President
and Mrs j. p. Coleman, Justice and
| Mrs. John Dawson. Mr.. and Mrs Otis
Allen. Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur j. Car
I ruth, Jr.. Mr. and Mrs. Otis Hungate
Mr.. and Mrs. George Hughes, Mr.. and
Mrs. NJ. o. Locke, Mr.. and Mrs For
! rest L. Loveland, Mr. and Mrs. James
a. Mcclure. Mr.. and Mrs H. Ward
rage. MIR. and Mrs. Barton Phelps
Mr. and Mrs. E. c. Winters, Mrs
James G Cumlnins of Kansas City and
| Mr.. and Mrs. A. r. Page
The members of the Jayhawker club
who have entered military service are:
Col cad Hamilton. Capt. c. NJ. Hens
ley Lieut.. George T. McDermott.
Lieut. X: NJ. Yates, Lieut.. Forrest l..
Loveiand, ard Lieut. David Page.
X X
Mrs. w. 4. McCarter, chairman of
the committee to collect the money
from the members of the Woman
club for the liberty bonds announces
the Following committee, chosen from
the members of the club: Mrs. L. r.
Booth. Mrs. Guilford Dudley, Mrs. E.
/ G. Foster, Mrs. Frank Britton, Mrs.
| G j. Evans, Mrs. E. E. Brookens,
Mrs. L. T. Hussey, Mrs. j. w. Now
ers, Mrs. w. E Culver. Mrs. c. II Cur
~, Mrs. David Gossett, Miss Marion
| Garretson, Mrs. ]. p. Hicks. Mrs L.
! A. Floersch, Mrs. F. A. Ksester Mrs.
| b. H. Pugh, Mrs. H. z. Ray, Mrs w.
! D. Ross. Mrs. c. Is. Van Horn Mrs
Norman Keller, Mrs. j. NJ. Quail. Mrs.
/ W. d. Storrs. Mrs. J. r. Shelton, Mrs
E. S. Stanley. Mrs. Frank Sturges. Mrs.