The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-29
In State Politics i
DO own SPEAKING
kansan Doesn't Need Political
Campaign Any More.
He'll Study Tax Receipt and
Do Voting Accordingly.
NO LEATHER LUNGED LEADERS
Mister Taxpayer Has Decided to
keep Books on State.
Back to Normally Idea Is
Prevalent Turnout Land.
NO LEATHER LUNGED LEADERS
BY A. L. SHULTZ.


This back to normally idea seems
to be finding root in Kansas. Returns
which are coming into Topeka from
political leaders and. observers rather
have a new tone. Somehow the state
doesn't seem to be expectinga miIlen-
nuim next year. There doesn't seem
to be much of the old time clamor
leather lunged leaders with a pana-
cea. Instead there is a good deal of
sound thinking and tendency to meet
somewhat bad and muddled situa-
ton with horse sense instead Of turn
ing the trouble over to ever attendan Mt
political prophets and wizards who
somehow never quite work their won
ders.
Applying the old theory that time
Will adjust lot of the grief and sor-
row of mankind. there is evidence of
new day of reckoning in Kansas
politics Maybe it won't quite get
here next year. Maybe it will. But
when it arrives there will be a house
cleaning such as the state hasn't
known for some years.
Fed up on preaching about the
home grown ills. there is a bit of rum
bling coming in from the grass coun-
try districts to the effect that Mister
Taxpayers is going to keep a !Ot of his
own books for a time. It is a sort of
growing disease. apparently, among
the flock of more or less unhappy
property owners who have been voting
faithfully year after year for some
blessed relief that never came. Just
looking casually into the next cam
raiTn there is every prospect that the
chap who fishes successfully for votes
year hence might profitably secure
some new tackle. The old flies and
spinners aren't going to be just what
they used to. be.
Swat at Convention.
Away back some fifteen years ago
the state squared away and took a
free and healthy swing at the conven-
ton system. All the ills of the state
We're laid at the doors of the cOnven-
ton idea and some of the complaints
were not without merit. But they were
emphasized and the public ills magni-
fled by the outs who are always fight
ing the ms and the chasers of false
gods who had followed the Pops and
Farmers Alliance and hadn't been
given a banquet when they came back
to the fold of the dominant party.
With the passing of the convention
system. Kansas began to listen to
many lusty speeches and she read
promising editorials. There was much
talk about running the state govern
mont on the same plan that the Santa
Fe railroad runs its business. Later
there we're promises of rs per cent
decreases in taxes. Then came the
economy and efficiency idea, consti
tutional convention prattIe and con-
soiidation policies which when tried
always somehow cost more and gave
less public service. Always, year after
year. there was the distant hope
Just about to be realized-when taxes
would come down and the system IF
government would get better and
childish faith was about to be realized.
Every year, tho, the taxes went up
and UP. And that is the reason, may
hap. that there is a day of solemn,
serious bordering and rather heavy