The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-13
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY E. HOUSE.
(From Philadelphia Public Ledger.l

The moot question as to who wrote
the presidents message does not per-
turb US. We are among those who
hold that, when nothing Is said. that
matter of fixing the identity OF the in
dividual who said it is unimportant.
Approaching the state of the nation
from another angle, we admit having
been singularly unimpressed by the
Hon. VIII III. Hays's plea for Justice"
This. ladies' and gents, is situation
which requires weasel" words. We
await with impatience the advent OF
the gentleman adequately equipped
intestinally to utter them.
Speaking as on plain. plug citizen
to another, buttered conversation and
perfumed phraseology no longer ap-
pease US.
The attendance on the six-day BIZ
cycle race in New York never has been
so large. You may recall, in the con-
nection, that months ago the column
engaged in speculation as to the ma
ture of the abominable practices and
prived of their liquor, would engage.
About the usual number of persons,
Alexander Berkman included, have
observed that the late Mr. Frick
couldn't take 1t with him" Which
was to have been expected. 1t seems
to US. however, that the point is not
well taken. The late Mr. F'rick had
it while he was here.
Or, to phrase It a little differently.
he had 1t as long as he needed it,
Perusal of the days news reveals the
fact that the coach of the Rutgers
football team has been presented with
chest of silver. Should we be deemed
unduly curious if we were to ask what
for?
Pursuing idle inquiry a little further,
or farther, as the case may be. il Rut-
gers's coach gets a chest of silver. what
should the coach of Valparaiso have9
The New York World finally has de-
cided it cannot support President Will
son for third term. And that. We
believe, makes it unanimous.
The subject of football continues to
engross the colyumers mind. We have
been going over the mythical AIR
elevens picked by the various dope
sters. And so we revert to the subject
long enough to say we can remember
when the "All-American" team con-
sisted of six players from Yale and
five from Harvard.
But that. of course. was during the
only authority sufficiently expert to
pick them.
South Dakota has spoken. but we
shall know nothing definite Concern
ing the trend of public opinion as to
presidential candidates until North Da-
kota and Kansas give voice.
DIR. Royal S. Copeland's defense of
the silk stocking. The decollete blouse
= ~ y frrN s,,t4
far as the silk stocking and the afore-
said blouse are concerned, he need
offer no further arguments. He has
US convinced now.
For, while We hold tenaciously to
the theory that the knee is a joint.
We are disposed to regard a niftily
clad ankle as scenery.
Doctor Copeland's pronouncement
that the city woman lives longer than
her sister of the farm will be ac-
cepted by most of those familiar with
farm life. A city woman has some
thing to live for.
Meanwhile. we chronicle the march
of another expedition in futility. We
refer to the inquiry now being con-
Quoted in New York for the purpose
of testing the morals of "Aphrodite."
We should not care TO express it
publicly, but our private opinion is
that the New York woman who asks
$500, 900 for the alienation of her hus-
bands affections has grossly exag-
gerated the gentleman's value.
If you are a bachelor with money.
the possibility that you may be sued
for breach of promise becomes q
proba bility.
Mr.. Hays's speculation as TO what
the Republican party can do for the
women prompts brief exploration of
the reminiscent vein. We chanced to
have been in position. in 1916. to OBJ
serve what the women did to the RE-
publican party, and IL was a-plenty.
We are as optimistic as anybody
else concerning the future OF the ma
ton. 1t is the thought we may never
see Emma Goldman again that. de-
presses us.