The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-13

ords of Kansas City already show labor
surplus with early prospect of an in
crease in the army of unemployed. The
same condition is reflected in less degree
| Everything that we can do to show a
spirit of deep appreciation of the services
OF rhsse men as t t; come Dae 6,, IRON
done
! Greed and Profiteering.
I regret to note that since the reguia-
various avenues of business and produc
tfon, there is definite tendency toward
be spreading. 1t strikes at US from every
have been Increased Merchandise has
, pawn 70 the unscrupuloqs seeking of un-
| just profits. Even the public work of the
! state is threatened.
| At the very inception of the road build
! ing effort, one instance has come to light
/ in which what seems to be a combination
| OF the dealers in materials has placed
| price of more than $4,000 mile upon
| brick road twenty feet in width. total
nues of business is apparent even In the
! few short weeks since we have returned
10 individual control. We are threatened
when We should be thanking God for the
! salvation of the victories to which we have
/ sacrificed. we are menaced by the greed
! of those to whom patriotism apparently
| means nothing but cheap buster. Every
| effort of which legislation is capable thru
! heavy taxation unjust profits should
be made to stamp out the unhealthy ten
| dency. fery possibility. of righteous pub
| lie Indignation should be employed that
our patriotism and loyalty of the past two
| years should not be degraded. The men
who choose this crowded hour for the eX-
ploitation of their greed should be made
/ to feel the just resentment of the public
they seek to plpnder The Obligation is
| flll The demand is here to hold in high
| regard the example of those unselfsh ones
, who have given everything to make our
| l1V better.
| should find when they return to us state
| debauched by the selfishness of those for
| whom they have been fighting.
| Submit Constitutional Question.
For some years now we have had a BIZ
| ennial discussion of the need of rewritin &
| the fundamental law of the state in con-
| provisions for calling a constitutional con-
vention, the earliest possible moment at
would be three years from this date. All
! the present legislature has power to do in
! the matter is to submit to the people the
| question as to whether we shall have a
! constitutional convention and the plan I'M
/ der which the convention shall be held.
! / believe the people are entitled to the
| right to vote upon this question. The need
of new constitution is apparent that
/ no thoughtful man now denies it. Kan
| gressive tendencies. should be given the
valuable privilege of possessing new con-
| stitution. This should be written upon
| broad lines which would have a fleXibility
! sufficient to give the necessary legislative
| freedom for future state growth. 1t should
not be jammed with legislation the
constitutions. of soma of the states but
| should be a broad. elastic document after
| the fashion of the national constitution.
/ defining the outer limits within which sane
and proper legislation may be expressed.
| The people. who have the right to vote
! upon the calling of the convention. should
! also be given the right to vote upon Its ac-
| ceDtance or rejection after the document is
| written
Better Schools and Health.
! out the fact that there should be a more
| fundamental attention to the education of
y0ung men The first zos se deo draft
| between II and II years of age in this
| country. Kansas has $4,000 illiterates 10
years of age and over; she has practically
| 15.OOO males of voting age who are illit-
crate, and while this number is relatively
not large AMI places the state in the fore
| front of those commemorative which have
Il right to be proud of their lack OF Hitter
/ acy the number is yet too large and there
| There also should be action to equalize the
4 educat ionaI opportunities far as possible
| of rural and city children.
| The physical examination of millions of
| our young men in the draft disclosed the
fact that far greater. percentage than
has been supposed are deficient in health
| and physical standards. and these, too,
! from the very group of our populat alton
show the highest standard of efficiency
i in these lines. Every plan of Legislation
which will secure sufficient health super
| NlSloIl III CITY anu country ScHOOlS uHtler n
compulsory plan. should be made. 1 be-
lieve we should embrace every opportunity
to mfngle in our educational system a
! course of training that shall equip all
| physically and mentally to be better
fitted on the instant to defend the ma
tiOnal life as well to carry on its bur
dens in time of peace We have had in
this state at the agricultural college, Camp
Funston and other institutions whole
some example of the introduction in edu-
cation of a helpful cooperation along lines
| of better training. The experiences of the