The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-11
Eoening Story
Taxing the Bachelors.
BY r. RAY BAKER.

with a sigh as he sat in his business
office that night and read of her cleo
ton triumph. She's chosen between
a career and me-she has passed out
of my life. and the irony of it is, had
to help her do it. My conscience
wouldn't have let me vote for her OPP
ponent, altho realized 1 was casting
ballot against myself when L marked
the cross in front of her name"
In truth. Alex was discouraged. For
several years two blazing lights of am
bition had been guiding him INTO the
future. He wanted to be general man
ager of the Dalton Housefurnishing
company, and he wanted to be the
husband of Cora Haines. The first
ambition he had at last realized, as a
result of hard work, but in the second
he had failed.
Alex at last was financially situated,
so he could step into matrimony, but
he had no more than got squared
away for the venture in question when
the young lady who had been his ideal
for years, coldly threw him over for a
political career.
Now he was at sea, his cherished
plans We've shattered, his soul felt
crushed. He did not even conceive
the idea that he might choose some
one else for a marital partner; in fact,
he had no other feminine acquain-
tances, who by the widest stretch of
Imagination could be considered eligi-
BILE. Only this one girl had won her
way into his heart during the thirty
years of his earthly sojourn, and he
knew there never would be another.
He endeaYored to reconcile himself to
his fate. For the rest of his days he
would be bachelor.
Now, Alex was a wizard when it
came to understanding business, but in
I'LL re In
nine, he registered zero. Making love
is not like selling chairs, and he should
have used different tactics. Cora had
not thrown him over, and If he could
have changed his perspective, he
would have realized it. During the
four years he had been calling on her,
not once had he even so much as hint
ed at marriage. He was waiting till
he made a financial success of him
self, and he took it for granted that
she understood that. If there had
been more of the romantic and less of
the business instinct in his nature, he
would have proposed first and then
got out and hustled for the dollars.
For a long time Cora had been
talking of a career. She was twenty
five and she said it was time for her
to pick out her life's work. Alex
felt somewhat that was his cue to
hint at the plans he had in store for
put his thoughts into words. Several
times he tried it, and all this time her
campaign went forward, and before
he knew it she was chosen at the
primaries and then in the regular
election. He could view it in no other
light than q. plain case of being tossed
aside in favor of a career.
Alexis disappointment was keen,
but he made the best of it, and threw
himself into the business whirl with
just so much more earneStness, with
the result that success mounted upon
future looked bright indeed-provided
he didn't stop to think about the girl
that had thrown him over for ca
reeF. He tried to dismiss her from MS
life, but he couldn't keep his hands
off the newspapers and they kept MIN
in touch with her legislative life.
One day business carried Alex to
the capital, and it happened that the
Legislature was in session. He prom
Used himself faithfully that he would
keep away from the state house, but
when his business had been trans
acted and he found a half day left
on his hands, he couldn't help wan
dering in the direction of the capitol.
There he walked about the capitol
grounds, and finally he went inside
and looked at the curios in the mu-
scum, and then he ventured into the
senate; but there was no excitement
in the upper house, so he walked to
the other end of the building ana
peered into the lower legislative
chamber. There was some kind of
debate on and it made him curious
so he mounted to the gallery and
took chair. He didn't scan the floor
of the house too closely, but his eyes
couldn't help picking out the only
faminine member of the assemblage.
He felt guilty, but eased his con-
science by telling himself repeatedly
that it was a public session and he
had a perfect right-indeed, 1t was
his duty-to be there. Too few citl-
zens interest themselves in their gov
ernments. -,
= The debate was hot. The states
funds were running low and some
means were being sought to replenish
the Golfers; and some happy married
legislator had hit upon the plan OF
placing tax on bachelors.
Huh" growled Alex, when he
learned the cause of the debate.
That's a fine idea! Make a fellow
pay for being single. What If he can't
find a wife-like me? What they
ought to do is tax the girls who turn
down men who want to be their hus-
bands"
The negative side of the argument
was getting the best of it. 1t hap
pened there were a number or bache-
lors who held seats in the house, and
they arose to air their grievances over
such an unjust, discriminating, lib
erty-stealing law. AS the speaking
went on it became apparent the as
semblage was waiting to hear from
the feminine member, and finally she
brose to her feet.
''Mr. Speaker, and my worthy col
| leagues" she said. cit is my opinion
| that a tax on bachelors is the proper
method to raise funds needed by the
state. Not only does the common
wealth require more money, but 1t
needs more marriages. A tax on bach
eIors would make some of the old
grouches get out and let a little sun
shine into their lives by the marriage
license route. Such a tax would
prompt many to marry, and it would
help to make brave a large number
who wish to wed but haven't the cour-
4 age to ask. I have in mind the case
of young lady who loved a man for
! four years, and waited patiently for
him to propose to her. But he was a