The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-11
ON SECOND THOUGHT

p 1t were high time the column de-
voted itself to a little serious discus
sion. Its tendency of late has been
flippant and f~cetious- As prepara-
ton for serious discussion we have
devoted the Ealf-hour last past to alb
straet contemplation. of the so-called
radical mind. Tho thing about the
so-called RADICAL mind we have never
been able to comprehend is the dis
trust and suspicion-the touch of
INTERCHANGEABLE which it is filled
Ours is the so-called reactionary mind,
but it never would occur to us to
suspect a man or distrust his integrity
merely because he espQused the So
called radical theories of government
This adventure in the realm of con-
lecture gets its impetus from discus
sion of Pierce Butler, to which we
were a mino- party. Now, we don't
know Pierce Butler. We don't know
anything about him. Neither do tho
other gentlemen who participated in
the imbroglie. But the feeling of
those of a tenS ency of mind more
radical than ours was that the fact
that Mr.. Butler is a corporation attor-
ney makes him biased at heart and
bench. Franklin, with the limited in
telligence which is ours to guide us,
we have n.ver been able to compre-
bend that viewpoint.
We 4ppose. 4. aho III. be a radical.
We had all the advanta ges-poverty,
an humble origin and a radical en-
vironment. But, as a matter of fact,
we can't stand 'em. About the diff
ferent panaceas and indictments of
government there may very we'll be
varying opinions No one man has all
the wisd n; it is fairly we'll distrib-
uted- No man can foreSee exactly
what would happen in any govern
f.,I r1Pf
stand the radicals lofty condescension
and his assumption of superior virtue.
If we are a. reactionary, theN radical
made us one.
What we think about it is that the
average man, whether he be of the
radical or reactionary type. has the
impulse to be decent, honest and on
the level. And we thir'- RESPONSE
bility accelerates the one and temperS-
the other, We had personal ex-
perience which confirmed US in that
view.
When we first ran for office, NOW
seven or eight years ag we had not
been notoriously a prohibitionist. The
%act that e had beer in the cellar
Was very well known. The reason it
was known was that it was ALWAYS
delivered in broad daylight. The bat
theory of those who. opposed US was
expressed In the contention that we
were wet" 1t was honestly believed
by many excellent and worthy per-
sons that the streets would run shoe
mouth deep in liquor If we were
elected to the office upon which, in
that community, the responsibility for
the enforcement of the prohibitory /
laws devolVed.
That which happened was that we
devoted more time, more energy, more |
vigilance and more money to the en-
forcement of the prohibitory laws !
than to any other single phase of |
administrative work. We did it be-
cause the open and scandalous man
ner in which the prohibitory laws
were defied seemed to US a challenge
to do our level best, AID we did it
without Interior motive. 1--WE were not
looking for glory-political or other
wise As proof of that assertion, we
cite the fact that we pulled up stakes
and left the community without try
we had made as a diligent law en-
forcement official. 1t was Just the
average Americans effort to do what
he conceived to be the right thing. We
radical would have responded to the
same impulse.
How did it work out? Well, we
the folks out there still
are getting their liquor, such as it is.
We lost the friendship of the boot
eggers'' and failed wholly TO gain
the approval of the 'pgohibitionists.
In Which Dietitian Loses His Recdpe.
Sir-AlI right, George, all right.
You asked us what We made of Daisy
Bells latest brew, and I, for one, re-
piled that it had the flavor of a very
fair brand of apple sauce 1t appears
rom your pout that this. was not the
answer you wanted. Furthermore,
you provide. the customers with the
spectacle of profession
Il kidder squiRming at a pin prick
from an inefficient amateur. But,
,heer up, George. I not only apollo
size, but, applying the reverse Eng
ish, am willing to admit that Daisy
Bell does not turn out a fair brand
If apple sauce. Which the same goes