The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-12

of the general public that the news
papers. under the primary law. have
too much influence in politics.
The feeling against the primary law
has been brought about. to large
extent, by the actions of the newspaper
men. The State Journal believes in
the primary law but it may need linn
itations. In the Getty bill. it is pro-
posed to hold conventions for the
nomination of United States senators
and congressman and the state Off
GERS. leaving the primary to take care
of nominations for other offices as
now. ~
1t is alleged by the friends of the
anti-primary measure now proposed.
that the lack of conventions kills, to
d. large extent, party spirit. 1t is al
legged that those who have plenty of
money and those who have newspap
ers have an Undue advantage. 1t is
cited that there are very few newe-
paper men in Kansas that do not now
hold some office.
There is a long string of newspaper
men, to be sure, in public office
United States Senator Capper. Cover
ernor Hoch, etc. etc.
1t is brought out that newspaper
men use their papers to further their
office ambitions and use their own
papers unstintedly and without limit
to advance their personal ambitions
for office. One of the most notable
instances of this kind is referred to
in connection with Mr.. Capper's can
didaey for the governorship and, later,
for United States senator, wherein he
used his Topeka Capital and his farm
and other publications of wide circu-
lation, printing SO much matter about
his own candidacy that any opponent
could not begin to use a fraction of the
publicity that Capper used in his own
| interest without enormous expense,
Mr.. Capper, of course, securing this
unlimited publicity without the usual
| charges for advertising,
The State Journal is merely pointing
| out these facts and telling what it
hears in connection with the opposi-
/ ton to the primary law. 1t is also
charged that if return is made to a
modified convention plan, the Non
partisan league, or what is known as
| Townleyism, will not be able to get
much of a foothold in Kansas. Mr..
Capper since he has been elected to
the United States senate, has severely
denounced TowRleyism, which has a
foothoId in the Chamber of Commerce
of this city.
Today noon, Mr.. Rowe. chairman of
| this southwestern district of several
states covering the liberty loans made
| a presentation of the campaign for the
forthcoming victory loan, which is
worthy of the most careful attention.
In our news columns will be found a
summary of his speech. Mr.. Rowe
| regards the Forthcoming campaign as
probably the most important of all.
as it deals with the reconstruction and
the paying for peace" for which we
were not prepared. 1t means paying
| for the return of the thousands of
American soldiers now in France; it
means their earlier return If We put
this loan ovec; it means paying enor-
| nous sums covering purchases and
| expenditures for munitions and train
| ing of two million men who never
| went overseas; paying the bills of such
liberality to fight Germany, which
knew that against this -1iberality she
could not hold out.
| Another speaker of Importance at
| today's Chamber of Commerce was
| L. w. Lamkin of St. Louis, district
officer for the vocational education of
soldiers and sailors. Mr.. Lamkin
said that the duty of his organization
was to prepare the returning soldiers
and sailors for vocations, for their old
vacations particularly; to put the sol-
der in the earning class and put the
soldier pencil-vendor out of business.
The idea is to conduct the wonderful
work of reconstruction and of wound
ed men generally, so that they may
become as efficient workmen in the
different callings as any one.
| Z. p. NJ.
! hos arlxr in