The Topeka state journal., 1922-02-09
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY e. HOUSE
tFFom Philadelphia Public Ledger.)

1t is intimated by certain newspa-
pers not entirely friendly to the Hard
ing administration that the appoint
ment of Senator Kenyon to the federal
bench was dictated by politics. Why
tread so gingerly on that setting of
| eggs? OF course, it was politics We
do not assume to speak for President
Harding; but, undoubtedly, he is in
terested in shooting the farm baoc full
of holes. 1t is interfering with his
sineSS-and yours. The first objec-
tive was to get rid of the bellwether
of the bloc. The obvious thing to do
was to transfer him to some back
pasture safely inclosed in a sheep
tight fence. That has been done. OF
course, it was politics; we'd say it was
good politics.
Members of the bloc who remain in
its service are mostly hokum peddlers.
They will spill hokum all over the
place; but they are now much less
likely to arrive at any spec;fice desti-
nation. Senator Kenyon knew more
than other members of the bloc and
could tell it better. The sledge driver
is making his exit; only the tack ham.
mers remain.
To this column the eonsoling
thought of the episode is that the
members of the farm bloc may be fid-
ding with fire. Most of them repre-
sent constituencies of political ghost
dancers easily stampe-ed from their
accustomed range. The herd may mill
itself clear into the Democratic party
and leave the trampled forms of the
farm bloc in its wake.
1t has happened before; it may very
well happen again. And, gosh, how
we'd hate to see it,
A reader wants to know what the
column thinks of the practice of the
police in beating up unoffending pris-
| oners with blackjacks, rubber hose
and other weapons of offense. We are
time we were in Jail we were treated
with unfailing courtesy. No 'tdick" or
/ harness bull" laid hand upon us.
Money has nothing to do with my
marriage one way or another" Mrs.
Marion B. Ream Stephens is quoted as
| saying. OF course not. But when a
lady of forty-five engages herself to
marry a youth of twenty three people
will talk.
On the whole, we believe there is
more talk about that sort of alliance
than there is when a gent of seventy
mates with Il damsel of twenty-three.
There is more of mystery about it.
There is no mystery about the mating
twenty-three. Anybody can under
stand it. 1t means the old gentleman
has the money.
We claim the Carlinville gentlemen
who framed" the game have a 'hol-
Ter" coming. We shall be glad to ex-
press it for them. They contracted
for Notre Danes first team and, for
the most part, got only second-string
men. 1t was shabby trick, played
by somebody whose identity has not
been disclosed.
The incident is bound to react un-
pleasantly. If-those who deal in col
lege football are not more careful OF
their obligations, the small-town
sports will stop patronizing them.
Which brings us to a definition with
which we wish to quarrel, The dis
tinctioR of producing the lowest form
of animal life has been awarded to
certain of our island possessions. 1t is
one unjustly placed. The small-town
sport is the lowest form of animal life
We recur to "Cytherea," possibly
for the last time, that we may advise
all married men. if possible, to pre-
vent their wives from reading it. 1t is
who reads it will identify her husband
with its hero.
And we ought to know: Adelaide
read it Wednesday night.
On the whole, we should say the late
Mr.. Drwin's reputation is reasonably
secure. Mr.. Bryan has entertained
uncounted thousands and has hypno-
tized a considerable number. But it
is not a matter of record that-41e ever
convinced anybody.
Tt is true Mr.. Bryan has shown the
greater Fesiliency. They buried Dar-
win only once. Mr.. Bryan has been
buried five times, twice under a fall
by the Democratic party.
However, as a citizen of the country
of the reporter who invented the poi
son needle. Mr.. Oppenheim's fabrica-
ton doesn't strike us as a master
stroke.