The Topeka state journal., 1922-01-28
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BIZ JAY e. HOUSE
fFron Philadelphia Public Ledser.)

Two letter on the desk, running in
part along parallel lines, induce a.
train of thought. One of them is from
a wel1-known Philadelphia attorney.
1t is a kindly letter, in which the un-
dercrust of criticism is plentifully
spread with the butter of commenda-
ton. Among other things he says:
your column is a great potential
power for good or evil. Why not
preach the observance of the terms of
our constitution rather than constant
~ to reiterate the violations which
undoubtedly occur? Be construc-
tive, instead of a destructive, force"
In the abstract, that is an admir-
able suggestion and one which would
appeal to- any good citizen. AS a con-
crete proposition it isn't worth a tink-
er'S damn. If we should attempt to
be constructive, nobody would read
umn, Swe.d be back doing city hall or
state politics. The world is in pro-
cess of being bored to death by dull
and stupid people who are trying ito
do constructive work. Our concep-
ton of a column is that it should re-
fleet life, subject to the interpreta-
ton we put upon it. That conception
has been good enough to keep US off
the city hall 'beat" for a good many
years. But we are of open mind;
IL any one mas a DeIIer conception OF
what a column should be, we'd be
glad to know about it.
This column has sought to reflect
the fact that the country is running
hog-wild. Our Interpretation of the
condition is that the people are in re-
volt against over government. They
are resennng the zeal. admirable tho
its purpose may be, and the intoler-
ance of those who are trying to re-
strict them. They don't want to be
advised, set right or uplifted; they are
fed up on that sort of thing. Wed get
fat talking about the constitution to
a man who is wondering where he can
find a safe, reliable bootlegger. But
we may, ultimately, be able to "kfd"
him into Il realization of the fact that
looking for bootlegger is fool per-
formanee.
OF course, our Interpretation of con-
ditions may be all wrong. But it is
more interesting than anything we
would write about upholding the con-
stitution and will attract more readers.
Your column is a great potential
power for good or evil" says our At
torney friend. ''You fellows who
spread your thoughts in printers ink
writes c. E. H, have a power away
beyond your deserts" Now, that is
one angle of the game we never can
get. 1t isn't pose, and it isn't
modesty to say a suggestion that we
have influence or power always i'm
presses us as a great joke. We have
felt about the various newspaper
clienteles for which we have written
much as we used to feel at home. For
several years prior to, the date on
which we took oI1 the responsibilities
of matrimony we lived. after long and
indefinite absences. at home. There
were mother, the four girls in early
Womanhood on just coming into 1t, and
ourself. We were the titular head of
the family; we sat at the head of the
table. They were. we have always
thought, very fond of us& They were
interested in everything we said and
did and listened attentively when we
talked. We had a grand time. But
much. It did not influence them, and
they paid no attention to it one way
Or another. We doubt that our drag
with the newspaper reader is any
stronger.
And, while we love to be "kidded"
about our potential Influence and
power" nobody can "sell's us with
that line of talk. We don't get it.
We don't know much, but the other
night, in considerable gathering, we
were the only gent who knew how
EN- merson Hough pronounces his name.
That may not impress you as much
of an achievement. but wait until you
know something of which everybody
else in your circle is ignorant.
Arkansas has been insulted again,
this time EX- New York. Luther
Boldly, the negro who recently shot
two white men in New York, not only
is to be defended in court but his at
torney is a white man. -
We shall read the detail of the
Boldly trial with a good deal lof in
terest. We shall be curious as to the
sort of defense set up for negro who
is charged with killing two white men.
In conclusion, we wish to thank the
letter writer's Saturdays mail was
the sanest, the best written and the
most interesting ever received by this
desk.
sanest. the best written and the most
interesting ever received by this desk.