The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-11-19

:. have herenntO subscribed my name
isEALl and caused I" be affixed the great seal
Of his state. Done Il the city OF Tope-
IL, This Gih day of November, 4. ID
I>7i 1IiOMi- \ OSBORN.
BY The Governor:
". II ssArrwooo, secretary Of stale.
A PLAIN TALK.
Aid For the Destitute Of Sedgwick
County.
Ia The Summer OF 1865 Kansas. and
ed with severe dreuth The caam-
ity came upon people poor in pocket.
harra,scd by political troubles aud
WHO. for the most pare. had but Just
commenced to make homes. We were
without Il railroad, without wealth
and without surplus of ANYTHING in
the way Of farm products. cattle or
hogs. and il became absolutely neces-
sary to ask aid of The east Fourteen
years thereafter "" haze another dry
summer accompanied by flving
plague that devourcd the substance of
the people. The last calamity found
Il prosperous state with money in lis
vaults. Hines of communication every
where and hogs and cattle iii alum
dance. II found that portion of The
country THAI was settled in 1860 album
dainty able not only TO take care of
Itself. but to help its neiglbors. bat il
found ia portion of the new Kansas
people in exactly the same Tx that old
or eastern Kansas was in 1860. who
were left just as destitute and who
stood just ~ much in need of aid cx-
cept the new or western Kansas was
better supplied with railroads.
Being cogHizami of aud conyersant
with these facts. and knowing the dis
aslrous oileci~of the big beg in 1860
upon the state, The governor issued
his proclamation declaring that Kan
sas was able " take care OF herself.
The legislatnrc-wa> convened. when il
wa, ascertaimed that some fourteen
western or newly settled counties only
desired aid. Bar here came the first
difficulty. There was no way. under
the constitution, of taking the peo-
pies money from the treasury and dis
iribuling TO those who needed it, But
one thing could be done, and that, an
enabling act permitting each county
10 vote the necessary bonds 10 carry
II through the winter, which was
promptly passed. Under their oa,hs
the members could go no further. la
the mraa time portions of the east
were flooded with irrcsp onsible par
ties begging for Kansas. Some of the
stories told by these parties are As
ridiculous a they are untrue, and all
rejecting upon our climate ard soil
comparing u 10 a desert and warning
people to stay away from Kansas.
Ia view of he damage thus being
done and the swiadles thus being per-
petratcd upon our people and the state
for these assertions have gotten into
the associate press reports and the
columns OF prominent papers cast--a
meeting of prominent citizens of the
state was held AT Topeka last week, 1t
which time a state central aid commit
tee was appointed, which committee
will hold "A meeting to-day for the pur-
# al p1,it.nsS IN, fbn
pie OF the east, dcnouncing these un-
authorized bcggars and telling the
people of the east the exact truth. Civ
ing information as to the counties that
are needing aid and TO whom TO direct
their contributions. This committee
is made up Of leading men of the
state, with Hon. +. w. Giles. as lis
president and the Rev. DIR. +. :. Ne
Cabc. secretary. The committee will
act under the approval OF the govern
or of the state. The following resolu-
ton was passed. after the committee
of relief for the state had been desig- |
mated:
Rcs0iced. That the said committee, |
acting in concert with. and under the |
approval of the governor of Kansas |
are hereby requested to issue an adj |
dress, especially designed for the in |
formation of citizens Of other states. |
which shall set forth the degree of |
special destitution in this state. the |
relief iha, has been provided for the |
same. and the mode designated by this |
meeting for receiving and distributing |
such further aid as may be contribu- /
ted 10 that end.
4 : our readers all know. the EAGLE |
strongly favored the Llan of issuing |
relief bonds, as being the most indie
pendent, manly and certain. and as
being the only course that would not.
to greater or less extent, damage our
country and lis good name. A major
ity of the people of the county
thought with Us. and so voted. but.
unfortunately. 4 two-third vote was
necessary. But there are men in this
county and in this town who did all
they could by writing and speaking TO
defeat that effort OF the people TO help
themselves. and who are now. and
have been. making il a business 10
magnify the calamity. 10 curse the
country and 10 persuade the people
that il is better 10 beg than TO help
themselves. Having no faith in the
country and possessing insufficient
brains, industry and energy 10 make
an honest living, they lay hold of the
opportunity and 60 whining around
among their ncighbors imploring them
to help them 10 get MP some beg
giug scheme. Every case of partial.
or real want is magni;ied
70 hoart-rending proportions. Wha:
the effect of This narrow, short-sight-
ed action and advise will have upon
our county, j; takes no sage To predict.
II is simply deplorably hurtfpl |
Now what are the facts rs To deSti-
tuition in Sedgwick county? From
inquiries made of men from nearly !.
every township in the county. from
the reports of township trustees and '
in the hands of the board v
Of county commissioners. we are. sat
siicd, bel ond any doubt. that one-half
Of the amount that was proposed to
be voted would have been abundant q
for every ease Of destitution within
The limits Of the county. Mr.. c. W.
In IL, -. IL, I