The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-13
ON SECOND THOUGHT
By JAY z. HOUSE.
(Fron Philadelphia Public Lsdgarl

We credit Mr. Ryerson w Jennings
with the choicest bit of flapdoodle un-
loaded at this desk within the twenty
declines to vote the Republican ticket
because Gen. Leonard Wood WASH
nominated and intimates the doughty
general was the victim of skullduggery
and sharp practice. We have no IN
terest In the manner in which Mr..
Jennings discharges the more OF less
sacred obligation of the ballot. Nelth-
( er, we imagine, has any one else. BUT
as one who endeavors to set forth cur
rent events in straightforward fashion
we deprecate baseless innuendo- 4
General Wood had. to begin with,
the advantage of all the publicity
growing out OF a more or less conspic-
uouS connection with great war he
was figure in the public eye. He had
( the benefit OF an elaborate organiza-
ton, and. possibly, the largest cam
paign fund ever expended in behalf OF
a presidential candidate. In many
states he had such advantage as a
I presidential preference primary gives
! to one who has been the beneficiary OF
newspaper and ma gazine publicity.
But with all these advantages. he was
able to win only about one-third of the
| delegates to the Republican conYen-
ton.
! We had nothing against General
Wood, but We didn't want him for
I president We doubted both the desir-
ability and the expediency of his nom
| nation. Had we been delegate TO
the convention, and, in a different en-
vironment, il is conceivable that we
| might have been delegate. we should
4 not have voted for General Weed un-
der any circumstance. Isn't il fair to
believe the 500 delegates to the con,
| Wood were just as sincere and hOnesI
/ in their opinions as the delegates who
were favorable to him? II it isn't, why
isn't it?
| Possibly we make loud outcry over a
very small output of wool. But IL
there is one trait of the average Amer
lean citizen which inks US more than
another it is his disposition. to regard
the man who differs with him in polit-
icai matters as crook and an outlaw.
We read the column infrequently.
The spectacle of our own stuff in the
paper is an old story and no longer
produces a thrill. Always. too, we are
abashed and Inundated by our own
errors or by blunders committed IN
the composing room. All this by way
of saying that the next time we use
the phrase, "metes and bounds" we
hope the proofroom will let it ride. 1t
is perfectly good language long estab-
lished by precedent and usage. Meter
and bounds" doesn't mean anything.
Very properly, we think. those au-
thorized 10 speak for the Lambs club
are Withholding the name OF the actor
who whipped John J. McGraw.~ 1t is
no DISTINCTION to lick Mr.. McG-aw, and
the feat has been so often accom-
plished it no longer has a news value.
But. If Mr.. McGraw ever whips
anybody. that will be a ''top-head''
story.
1t is believed the reiterated refusal
of Governor Holcomb 10 call the Con-
necticur legislature into special session
will be received calmly, not to say
placidly.4 by the country at large. But
the fear that the New York Tribune
will burst into another fit of weeping
is entertained in some quarters.
1t has been a sad summer for the
Trib. 1t hasn't been able to contem-
plate its beloved country with a Cry
eye since Hiram johnson won the
Michigan primaries.
The Whipping Post.
Dorothy JLouise-It was good stuff
! but why should you want to be re-
porter? Why should anybody want to
be a reporter? Aside from the met
that one always has an excuse fei
coming. down town nights, there is
nothing to this business.
! ID. H. W.-We don't know what Mr..
| Harding means by it. but If you want
to vote for Governor Cox, go ahead.
! We shan't mind
| Jeff-Why go to Atlantic City or any
| other beach? You can see more or
Chestnut street for nothing.
You probably believe the situation
| in which you find yourself to- be a
most annoying and exasperating one,
| but We know why Mr.. Lansing was
asked to resign as secretary of state
| and we can't tell it.
The pleasure in travelling about lies
7s gsGgg9 "a