The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-28
NON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY E. HOUSE
(From Philadelphia Public Ledger)

(From Philadelphia Public Ledger.)
Mr.. Bryan again energies reluctant
~ from his retirement to say a few
words for publication. He says Mr..
Palmer's beer decision will either be
reversed by Mr.. Daugherty or killed
by congress. Mr.. Bryan seems bell
licose and belligerent. Where, by the
way, did he fight during the war?
If Mr.. Daugherty reverses Mr.. Pal
mers ruling, that will be satisfactory
to the column. If congress kills it,
that also will be satisfactory. The
thing to which we object is Mr.. Bryan
giving orders to either.
1t May Have Been a Breach of Trust.
Sir-I am afraid you have been
taking money under false pretenses.
Thru your column you have sold your
self to the community as a roughneck.
Yet I saw you at the Symphony con-
cert last Saturday. Does this mean
that you have capitulated to culture
Or did you go merely to watch the
fellow with the cymbals? I hope, sir
that you can clear yourself of the
| first insinuation. r. r.
The guy has doped us wrong We
never pretended to be a "roughneck."
We aspire to no such distinction. We
lowbrow. 1t is a very comfortable and
satisfactory mental status, in that it
enables one to assimilate a Symphony
concert or a performance of grand
opera without getting out of touch or
out of step with the great purling
stream of humanity.
| Not that we are greatly intrigued by
the great purling stream of humanity,
but that it is very useful to US in our
| business
There is no objection to honoring
Theodore Roosevelt, but we suggest
that some method other than that of
making his birthday a legal holiday be
adopted. IT there is any one particu-
lar thing with which this country can
dispense it is another legal holiday.
OF course. our extreme attitude in
| the matter may be a prejudieed one.
| The only holiday newspaper man
! gets is the afternoon he takes off to
| get married. And then, If he be con-
nected with morning newspaper, he
| is expected to report for work i'm
mediately after dinner.
There are" says the columns con-
temporary, Life, in it's review of the
! ''fillum' version of Sentimental
Tommy" mo Roman bathtub scenes.
mo introduction of allegorical bunk
| slaves-nothing but a brief excursion
/ into Switzerland with back drops full
of Alps"
Life neglected to say how the audi
enee took it. We can think of nothing
more likely to depress an audience
than a motion picture Invested of the
customary scenic investiture.
A Quelque Ambition.
Sir-The local staff, consisting of
conscious, sub-conscieus and uncon-
scious humorists, suggests that you
and it swap assignments for one day;
in other words, that it, collectively,
write the column and that you. in
| dividually, cover one local story The
city editor has placed his official seal
! of approval on this proposal He
says he will give you your choice of
| Marine News, Real Estate News. Le-
tgal Intelligence and some other sub
jects that are badly in need of little
jazz. You have said the column is
written by reporter We are willing
to take your word for it; but here is
your opportunity to prove it to the
satisfaction of the American people.
For the local staff. NJ. M,
We accept the challenge, but would
defer the matter of selecting the date.
We would await the psychological
moment The first time we are
| seized of desire to loaf all day Wen
| turn over the column, take an assign
ment from the city editor and do it.
We may not be much of a reporter,
but we know all the traditions and
customs of reporting.
In deciding to investigate the rail-
roads, congress has, for the time being
at least, abrogated the regular order.
It is the packers who are due to be
investigated, the custom hitherto hav-
ing been to investigate the packers in
the spring and the railroads in the
fall.
The controversy as to whether beer
is medicinal is surplusage- Those who
attempt Standardization do not en-
ploy beer as medium. The man
who buys beer buys it for the kick
it carries.
We have always been insistent that
/ the truth be told about prohibition.
We are equally insistent that the truth
be told about the opposition to pro-