The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-22
Topeka Papers for No One Class
Says Marco Morrow.
If Truth Isn't Printed 1t Is
Withheld, He Charges.
MERCHANTS ARE TO ORGANIZE
Get-TOgetheT Movement Is
Launched in Topeka.
Representatives of All Glasses
To Solve Unrest Problem.

Following the sensational implied
charges that the news printed in the
columns of The Topeka State Journal
and the Topeka Daley Capital are col
ored by class prejudice and that the
two local dailies consistently pander to
publicity seeking public officials, a
special committee on resolutions APP
pointed at the mass meeting of mer-
chants and manufacturers at the Elks
club Thursday night met at the Cham
Der of Commerce this noon and drew
up a set of resolutions which are de-
signed to draw some of the rancor
from the statements made at the mass
meeting.
This set of resolutions. according to
statements made at the committee
meeting today, is intended to be the
basic and fundamental organisation
slogan on which will be built a. citi-
zens' body to be known as the citi-
zens' committee. This proposed com
mittee will have as its personnel fifty
men, each one representing some par
ticular class in the city. 1t is pro-
posed that labor-specified that the
word shall be taken as meaning labor
as a whole and not solely organized
labor-have a representative; that the
citizens at large have a representative
and that every single class of citizen
have its voice in the committee. Also
the much derided press of Topeka is
to be represented.
Attitude of Press.
The committee which drafted the
resolutions today was composed of s.
z. Cobb. chairman; Fred Voiland.
Charles Brooks, and Marco Morrow.
The meeting today noon resolved itself
into an audience for Marco Morrow,
who held the floor for almost the en-
tire period of the meeting explaining
the attitude of the press and pointing
out that its fundamental principle is to
serve the general public.
1t was the difference of opinion be-
tween the press and the merchants on
the matter of the amount of news IN
the "profiteer stories" related by state
and national officials which wasi the
basis of the charges against the press
made at the mass meeting Wednesday
night. Morrow pointed out today that
the press and the merchants and prac-
tically every other class of citizens or
business men of necessity must have
their differences Of opinion on more
subjects than one. The sole endeavor
of the press, according TO Morrow. Is
to print the truth, uncolored and un-
alloyed, and IL any misstatements have
been made in any kind of stories 1t has
been because despite unlimited effort
used in trying to find the truth of a
story that truth has been withheld.
The Committee Resolutions.
At the meeting this noon the follow
ing resolutions were adopted. the
same to be the basis for the organiza-
lions OF the proposed citizens commit
tee:
l. To lend aid to public officials In
bringing to justice profiteers OF every
class.
2. To act as mediator. II so request
ed, in cases of disa agreements between
! employers and employees.
3. To advertise Topeka as a city
whose retail merchants are not prof
iteers, but on the contrary are repu-
table and deserving public patronage
4. To unite in every movement cal
culated to drive from public >service
flamboyant advocates of radical de-
parture from cherished American
! ideals.
5. To help steady the ship of state
until the processes of law, state and
national. have had opportunity to be-
come operative.