The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-01
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY e. HOUSE
ITrom PhiladeIphla Public Ledger.)

Having admitted that you have
| 'smattering of art " challenges I. f.
X. We admitted nothing Of the kind
| We merely indicated some OF the
things a columnist should have. We
could have extended the list indefinite
ly. Some of the things which should
have been included IN the original list
of qualifications are working knoWl-
| edge of gastronomy, tile drainage.
| botany, ORTHODOXY, typographical
wearing apparel, dogs. citrus fruits
and haberdashery.
We don't pretend to know anything.
All we claim is that we can write
better column than any amateur
Mayor Hylan thinks the two parties
should nominate men like SEN Hiram
johnson and William Randolph Hearst
for president. Assuming that, in the
circumstance, Mr.. Hearst would be the
nominee of the Democrats, the column
pledges to him its support. If there is
| to be any further odium in presidential
elections, we want it heaped on the
Democrats.
Unfortunately, it is extremely un-
likely that either Senator Johnson or
Mr.. Hearst will ever be president. But
the incident is illuminating. 1t indi-
Gates that Mayor Hylan, who is him
self a candidate, is going to wage a
kissing campaign.
Perhaps I am a back number and
hypercritical,' writes a woman reader,
"but this new Shifter developement
fills me with forebodings. If you
agree with my view in this, I hope
4 you will put in the column some of
| the trenchant words at your command,
which may make the thoughtless take
thought"
We wish to be entirely agreeable,
But we think our correspondent Is I'M
duly exercised. If it is desired to
leave it to us, and for the moment it
has been left to US, the Shifter move
rnent is as unimportant as a bale OF
hay, as inconsequential as street car
conversation and as evanescent as the
down that forms on dandelion.
The only danger is that somebody
will take it seriously. The disposition
to take fluff seriously is what has
made this country wild.
Possibly we can better project our
viewpoint by a personal relation We
had an opportunity to join the Shutters
three weeks ago. The office boy, hav-
ing discerned in us the qualities OF the
| true Shifter, offered to initiate us into
the order. He said the ordeal was as
nothing and that the time required to
! take the obligation inconsequent1al
But our curiosity was unstirred and
we declined the honor. We have read
! today three serious editorials and one
deprecating letter aimed at the Shift
| ers AS soon as we finish writing the
column we intend hunting up the Of
flee boy for the purpose of taking the
! oath and the obligation of the order.
The serious turn given the discussion
has piqued our curiosity.
| at would be difficult" says the New
York World, ito find a valid reason
! l.. ~
should renominate Mr.. Lodge for the
Senate or why he should be re-
\ elected"
There probably are forty or fifty
reasons why Mr.. Lodge should be re-
elected Senator. We don't know and
/ it doesn't matter. We know one rea-
son for the reelection of Mr. Lodge
every Republican voter: Mr.. Lodge
should be reelected because the
World is SO crazy to beat him.
Unfortunately. perhaps. the World
does not circulate extensively in the
Republican homes of Massa chusetts.
Likely most Massachusetts, Republic
ans take their own newspaper. If they
read the World, the Senator's re-eIec-
ton would be assured.
Opportunities to invest in the great
Danish lottery accumulate on this
desk. or would do so did we not sweep
them into the waste-basket. We par
ticipated in one lottery and failed to
! draw a prize. We don't care to invest
again.
No, you are wrong about it. We re-
fer to the lottery of birth. Marriage
with us was not a lottery; it was a
sure thing.
1t may interest you to know that
the New York American has again de- |
SPARED ofIthe Republic. Since jan
uary 1 ofthis year the American has
despaired of the Republic seven times |
or, roughly speaking, on an average of
once every two weeks We believe /
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