The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-04
MANY AUTO TAGS PRESS AIDS Them
FIFE Carloads Received by Sec Power OF Newspapers Reco
rotary of State. nized by State Officials.
New Licenses Ready for De- Many Subscribe to Kansas
livery June 49, Press Chipping service.
APPLICATIONS DATED JULY KNOW WHAT IS BEING SAID
Charge Allen Informed About
IS Per Year. Industrial Court Matters.
Only OneHaIf of Annual Public Sentiment Shown in
To Be Paid Now, Newspaper Articles.
KNOW WHAT IS Being SAID
Governor Allen Informed About
Industrial Court Matters.
Public Sentiment Shown in
Newspaper Articles.

The power of the press is now gen.
orally recognized, but the substantial
part which newspapers play in Kan
sas government may not be fully real
lied.
Since state officials can read only a
limited number of publications. many
subscribe to clipping services, of,
which several are available. The clip
ping bureaus make it a business to
read Systematically hundreds of pc
riodicals, clipping articles desired by
subscribers. Thru the clippings re-
ceived in this way, the officials know
what is being said. favorably and un-
favorably, about their administration.
The moral effect which this Influence
has on their official acts can hardly be
estimated
Among Kansas officers and depart
ments receiving a clipping service are
Governor Allen. Attorney General
Hopkins, public utilities commission,
highway commission, board Of health,
board of agriculture. bank commits
sioner's department, fire marshars de-
partment and the state printing plant.
An editor in some portion of the
state, invoking the freedom of the
press" may take Governor Allen to
task for some official act.e This edi-
tor may be surprised a few days later
to receive letter from the governor
beginning, IAN editorial in your paper
of recent date has been brought to my
attention" After which may follow
an explanation or denial of the points
raised in the editorial. Likewise, an
editor may write an article commend
which results in a brief letter of
thanks from the states chief execu-
tive, who apparently sees everything
pertaining to the governors office.
Interested In Industrial Court.
In addition to the state service. Gov
ernor Allen receives clippings, from a
national agency, of articles appea ring
to the Kansas court OF industrial rela-
lions. In this manner, the governor
obtains first hand information as to
the rapidity with which the Kansas
experiment" is taking hold.
/ One example may serve to show the
effect of public sentiment as expressed
I in the Newspapers. Just before the
| 1921 session of the state legislature.
/ Senator Ben F. Hegler, of Wichita, an
administration leader, prepared a bill,
| of health and the state geological SER
Vey. providing for strict regulation of
the oil industry. Advance publicity
was given to the measure. Dozens of
newspapers in the southern section of
! the state at once took up cudgels
i against the Hegler bill. Mass meet
| ings of oil men were called. Front
page editorials against the bill were
common in newspapers in the oil pro-
ducing regions
| Governor Allen, of course, became
aware of the agitation. He investi
gated the bill personally and con-
ferred with oil men. As a result, ap-
parently. the Hegler bill never was IN
PRODUCED. A very much modified bill
providing merely for the plugging of
wells to prevent pollution of fl esfl
water streams, finally became a law.
| Numerous tips" come to Attorney
General Hopkins via the newspaper
route. The information of an alleged
ago was called to Hopkins's attention
by a newspaper article. A request
upon the Shawnee county attorney for
an immediate investigation for viola
ton of the state anti-cigaret law fol-
lowed. Much of the original informa-
ton of law violations in Leavenworth,
which resulted in an custer suit
against the mayor and his Subsequent
resignation, appeared in a Leaven-
worth paper. Likewise, the attorney
general keeps posted on new develop
ments in the Reno county road case.
News stories of fires of alleged in
cendiary origin come to L. T. Hussey
state fire marshal. thru the clippings
even before the official reports from
county officers. This information is
made the starting point for an inves-
tigation by a deputy of the depart
ment. The highway commission keeps
posted on new road projects and con-
/ struction progress. If fault is found
locally with any phase of the work, II
is brought to the commissions atten-
ton and remedial steps may be taken
J. C. Mohler, secretary of the state
board of agriculture, receives hun
dreLs of clippings with reference Il
general agricultural conditions. AND
so with the other departments Of state
government with reference to theil
work.