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Show THE CITIZEN S admit that it is a farce to go and vote for a man that has al- in the Senate and he has been there ever since. He is not now a candidate for the job. purchased ready Senator Underwood's public career has been a long and It is agreed that a situation has developed making it almost honorable one. He has served under six Presidents, McKinley, impossible for a poor and honest man to run for office. Even Taft, Wilson, Harding and Coolidge. A stalwart Ahe most party, under the old convention days, felt Roosevelt, Democrat he has always stood for sound representative governobliged now and then, if only for seasoning purposes, to nominate particularly competent men whose financial resources were ment, and has been in opposition to the radical elements both in out of the Democratic party. The country and his party can ill very small. Primary nominations now are only secured by men afford to lose Senator Underwood, but as he retires from public who are able to meet the bills for what is virtually an election. the people, regardless of politics, will wish him well. The Pennsylvania episode, like all similar episodes, even life, though it leaves a bad taste in the mouth, if it works toward Aimee Semple McPherson's story of her abduction which in will that us convention the feeling system, justify restoring cost her life and her thrilling experiences with the kidthe expenditure of the money in this case has served a good pur- nearly nappers and her escape to freedom is the talk of the entire pose. country. However, according to press reports some of the California GAS IS POPULAR officials are inclined to doubt her story and a big public investi0 is to be made. Sales of gas for all purposes in 1925 were 421 billion cubic gation Just why a woman of such an exemplary reputation and feet, an increase of 16 billion cubic feet over 1924, and a five-yein the community should stoop to deceive the people, increase of 100 billion cubic feet. In the last ten years, sales of standing would indeed be a mystery and if her story does prove true, doubled. more than have gas these hinting officials ought to slink out of the state and hide inthe ever most taken the gas by important step Perhaps their faces in shame. at recent establishment was the of in its behalf customers, dustry All those connected with this abduction, if caught, ought to Cleveland, Ohio, of a laboratory for testing gas appliances. In be hanged to the first tree within twenty-fou- r hours after it bethis laboratory will be tested for the information of manufac- comes positively known that the right parties have been arrestmanall and the dealers turers, gas companies, general public, ed. There are too many of such scandalous outrages occurring ner of appliances in which gas is burned for domestic uses. Ap- in this country and it is time for the decent people to show the as so of kinds will with be various sorts all tested of gas, pliances the courts and the judges the way to go home and the to determine their efficiency under varied conditions and in dif- juries, enforcement of law and order in the name of justice. limits which with ferent localities. Appliances comply specified with the standard specifications of the Association will be given FAILURE certificates to that effect, which will both protect the public and be of benefit to the manufacturer. Looking over the field of candidates, in this state, who have wonderful made of this has The gas company progress already asked for preferment at the hands of the people in the city during the past two years. The people are now realizing that coming primaries, and at those threatening to run as independgas as a fuel is so much superior to the old coal system that there ents, for offices ranging from minor political positions to those is absolutely no desire for coal use wherever gas can be pur- of United States congressmen and senators, most of us find our chased. gorge rising at the preposterous assumption on the part of some of this human material. FAVORS We regretfully begin to realize that it is our present system of primaries, once heralded as a cure-a- ll for every evil in politoo often tics, which makes it possible for this It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful spume of ignorance and Distincto acts of selfish bend the their government purposes. sublimated mediocrity to rise up and demand that positions of tions in society will always exist under every just government. trust, which require brains, ability and trained administrative Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth cannot be pro- capacity, be placed in their inept care. duced by human institutions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts The political boss, the ward heeler and the scheming politivirof heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and cian are making no outcry against the present primary system. to is tue, every man equally entitled protection by law ; but when They have no desire to return to the days of open conventions, the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages where, as leaders, viewed by the spotlight of pitiless publicity, artificial distinctions, to grant title, gratuities and exclusive they were forced from necessity to pick candidates who posprivileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful sessed qualifications which would attract public attention and sethe humble members of society the farmers, mechanics and la- cure popular approval. borers who have neither the time nor the means of securing They find the workings of the primary game much simpler. like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injus- Certain in their knowledge that only a small part of the vote will tice of their government. There are no necessary evils in gov- come out in the primary, and that that vote is represented mainernment. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine ly by tried and true henchmen, the political leaders are assured itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower in advance of the nomination of their pliant tools through the its favors alike on the high and low, the rich and the poor, it popular voice of the people. would be an unqualified blessing. Andrew Jackson. With our national, state, urban and municipal problems becoming more complex and abstruse each year a situation which SENATOR UNDERWOOD demands that the problems be handled by men of the highest attainments are we willingly to perpetuate a system of selectWith the retirement of Senator Oscar W. Underwood from ing men to represent our interests, most of whom we know to be public life, the Senate will lose another member whose name has of peanut mentality? lcn before the public for almost a generation. The Alabama That the people will not vote for them in either party is evisenator has purchased a beautiful estate on the Potomac river denced by the steady shrinkage of the vote at the fall elections. in Virginia not far from Washington, and doubtless will become St. Louis a citizen of the Old Dominion. Senator Underwood's national services began in 1895 when Uncle Sam is about as popular in Europe as the village he went to Washington to serve in the House of Representatives. squire and money lender was in the Horatio Alger books that In the year 1915 he was selected to represent his native state we used to read when we were boys. re-electi- on. boss-ridde- n, . ar . so-call- ed Post-Dispatc- li. . |