The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-03-20

The eXigencies OF the hoof PfooP snoanel
sharpening Of our pencil; pot'th We have
any special mania to Be heard, but rather
becauss number of the citizens hers-youz
patroos-havs importuned % to reflect
their views upon the proportion to vote and
donate bonds Of the county to the Starch
Factory.
We digress for q moment to remark that
this movement to ret Messrs. johnson 4
Clements up in business. appears to our
mind % like . huge joke, that IN apology
for Offering to discuss the matter almost in
voluntarily inuudes ITSELF Firs: The law
making such . procedure possible, ema-
mates from . Legislature that permitted itself,
in panic-stricten moment Of excitement, to
discharge the highest duty and most honor
ed trust reposed in the State Lesislature-
the election of U. s. Senator. When the
discontinue Of the immaca!a,e ~ Pomeroy,
oen'ered in . hslo of glory about about the
Hon. John J. Ingalls, and secured his
election, that srntIeman, amid the adula-
tions of the people. and in the e1uberance of
his Own joy, had the temerity to declare ''the
Legislature had been making history"
All that time We subscribed to the sentiment
in the hope that the page Of history could
truthfulIy record Of that sstute body, that If
it had done no great good, it had, At least, not
done rs,y much harm. But even this futile
hope vanished when can act to authorize
counties to aid in the construction OF starch
works." became a Law. A fitting supple
ment to this closing scene Of the Senatorial
campaign, however. With the bonded in
debtedness-local and county-now over
hanging the taxpayer, it seems eminent'y
proper this latter proposition should partake
Of . somewhat stiaening nature. Third:
The time Of the election TALL FOOLS day.,
suggests sort Of sarcastic commentary on
the entire undertaking.
But to proceed to the merits of the Gaze in
hand: The advocates Of the measure have
already adopted Is the wa,chword Of the
campaign, III will benefit the farmers." 1t
strikes Us with peculiar force, that when |
bonds are wanted for any measure whatever,
the advocates thereof invarisbly manifest 90 |
much concern for the farmer. Whv is this |
thus? Why not sometimes, At least, select |
the mechanic, merchant, or professional man |
~ representatives, of the class 10 be specially
benefited? The answer may be anticipated
II 10 because they are not correspondingly
benefited. This being conceded, it may
then he argued with appropriate force, that
inasmuch NJ The last named callines are in
every way equally honorable, and quite ~
essential to the successful workings OF all the
complicated requirements Of society is
not justice 10 thus constantly seek to advance
the interests of one class, while othen equal
" worthy are entirely ignored, or sadly meg.
lected. But We seriously opine the real rea-
son has not been assigned; but tina. this
seeming regard for the farmer is subterfuge
Of the enemy, feigned for the double purpose
Of misleading the honest tiller Of the soil,
and silencing the compunctions of the little
remaining conscience Of courthouse cliquea,
railroad rings, or liberal. minded advocates
of starch factory propositions.
Long ere this, We apprehend, We have been
dubbed old fogy, non progressive, and lack.
ing in public spirit. II to be found operat-
ing in the line of what our judgment ap-
lu VRkN0luS tu1t WHICH C6IlflOly |
not for the bet interests of the producers Of
the county, nor, indeed, any of her citizens,
but only for the special and direct monetary
advantage of Meesrs. Johneon 4 Clements;
If TO Be found decrying against es.ab-
fishing precedent calculated to
rob men Of individual enterprise,
and encourage them in supinely taking their
ease, becauae perchance in the counae of
events some county may want a starch fac
tory, il this course merits the Indictment
aforesaid, We plead guilty, bot appeal to that
higher c0urt-public opinion-for the vim
dicaiion Of the truths herein contained.
1t would seem we'll to inquire as to the
probable causes that lead Messrs. ]. 4 G. to
desire change of location. First, then,
business men are not likely to change the
base Of paying business, particularly il tins
true when the new location needs the en-
ticing bait of forty one thousand dollars to
commend it to the favorable consideration
of the members Of the firm themeelves, or
to indemnity sgains. probable, or even pos
sible lOss. Again, these would be benefac-
tors would not ask dollar did their judg-
ment endorse Leavenworth a. . suitable
point. 1t may then be submitted that il il
not likely, nor reasonable to conclude that
the citizens of the county will b inspired to
take stock in project By the very apparent
lack of faith 90 wildly displayed on the
part Of the immediate bene6ciaries of the