The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-19
HeringtOn Merchant Says They
Seek Cheap NOtOriety.
He Brands Their Attacks on
Retailers as ScurriIOuS.
CHALLENGE TO DO SOMETHING
Dickinson Co. Representative
Resents Food Probe Tactics.
Merchants of State Meet To
Discuss PrOfiteer Charge.
Cheap politics.
Misrepresentation.

Cheap politics.
Misrepresentation.
Anarchistic agitation.
Deception and make believe unsup-
ported by facts.
Those are the practices of Senator
Arthur Capper, Governor Allen, At
torney General Hopkins and other
public officials who are arousing un-
rest and suspicion on unwarranted and
unfounded charges in vote-getting
profiteering campaign. That was the
analysis of the situation in Topeka to-
day by Representative D. E. Lamb of
Dickinson county
Lamb-prominent Herington mer-
chant-challenegd Senator Capper to
show "guts'' by supporting a federal
bill for uniform stabilization of ne
to be honest with both the consumer
and merchant and to tell the public
facts. He declared that If Governor
Allen wants a law for the prosecu-
tion of an occasional retail offender,
that he should call the legislature for
a special session to pass such a meas
ure. He said that the public is now
being misled and deceived and that
publicity and vote seeking officehold-
ers are securing cheap notoriety and
fooling innocent persons.
Attack Is Scurriious.
1--WE have never seen a more sour
rilous and unwarranted attack on any
class of people than is now being
made on retail merchants by certain
people in public office" said Repre-
sentative Lamb. ''I deny and resent
the charge that the retailers OF this
state are profiteers. Yet the agita-
ton which has been stirred up by
Senator Cappsg, the governor and the
attorney general, has directed an
odium against every honest merchant
in Kansas.
I'm the first place II the governor
or the attorney general should find a
profiteer, there isn't thing they can
do about 1t. They might just as well
be honest and tell the people the facts.
But Governor Allen admits that there
is no organized profiteering in Kansas
retail circles. Why, then, If he is not
trying to fool the people doesn't he
call the legislature for special ses-
sion and secure the passage of a law
which will take care of the occasional
offender? Why direct suspicion
against every honest and decent mer-
chant in the state?
Capper Criticised.
why doesn't Senator Capper do
something If things are as wrong as
are indicated by some of the charges
in some of his 81 varieies of publica-
tfons? Why has Senator Capper been
in public office more than four years
and done nothing? Why hasn't he
done something as governor OF Kan
sas? Why hasn't he shown some
CUTS in the United States senate and
sought to remedy the entire situation
Why hasn't he urged the stabilization
of all necessities? Why is 1t neces-
sary for hese men to direct an anarch-
istic campaign that arouses suspicion
against every honest business man II
there is an offender, prosecute him
If there is no law for the individual
as the governor and attorney general
know-why not get such a law?
Lamb came to Topeka today to at
tend the meeting of the executive
committee of the state retailers asso-
ciation This meeting was called In
, order to take action concerning the
/ profiteering campaign directed by the
governor and attorney general. They
will also take action regarding the
policies of Senator Capper.
Every Merchant Suffers.
There isn't a merchant in the state
who hasn't had suspicion directed
against him as a result of this un-
warranted attack" said Lamb. Mere
honesty makes no difference. An oc-
casional extreme profit is magnified
CONTINUED IN Page Two.l