Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1880-09-11
THE AID BUSINESS ABROAD.

pcComing ukrePutdDies Ane ieeibg uRainet
the movement is also becoming great In
the State, as we judge from the distrustful
comments in the preas. There has been no
drought in this portion Of the State since
the first Of May. The people who remained
have been able TO raise fair summer crops.
Many persons have obtained work outside
Of their homes. Among the number who
remained very few were objects Of charity.
A number have refused to receive employ
menf, preierring to remain ON their claims.
Ford county is reported to have eight hum
drei INDECENT or destitute persons. How this
number was Obtained is readily learned by
no effort. J. W. Sidlow, County Commits
fionsr, reported no destitute in the district
assigned to him; but the aid committee in
making up the List of destitute persons put
down the number Of forty as requiring aid
in Mr.. Sidlow's district. Dodge township
ia reported to have 200 destitute persons.
We have not heard Of single case of des-
tituiion in this township. Oar citizens have
become indignant over these reports of des-
tiiution, gotten up by couple Of pothouse
politicians, who expect TO make their inter-
esttd motives of charity count on election
day. The aid business has been carried out.
side of It's worthy purposes until the matter
of soliciting aid has become discFediiable;
and no blame need be attached to the Dodge
CITY TINES for the counter feeling existing
inside and outside Of the Safe. That aid
supplies have been improperly applied ap
pears to be an acknowledged fact. The peo-
pie OF Ford county feel that they have been
imposed upon by the exaggerated statements
OF the condi,ion OF the county; and this in
dignant feeling will increase as it becomes
apparent what abuses in aid soliciting have
been made. The grossly exaggerated con-
dition of distress is not an honor and ciedi;
to the industry, honesty and good name Of
the people of Ford county.
Here are some extracts which show the
feeling engendered through irresponsible
and extrsvsgant aid solicitations. The X.
City Times says:
The drouth-sfflicted portions of Kansas
still need assistance, but the struggling, bes-
ging commissioners in the East also need
looking after"
The Leayenworth Time, says: "The
Times made mention some time ago of the
bad effect an appeal abroad would have to
help those in the western part of the State
who are suffering in consequence Of pro-
tracted drouth and failure Of crops. The
Times said then, and Gays now, that Ksns
il abundantly able to take care of her own
poor, and IT is discredit to the State that
begging committees should be sent abroad
to solicit that aid that We ourselves are SO
we'll able to give. The number of people
in the State vino are suffering is very small
as compared to the total population, and
those who are we'll off are perfectly able 10
take care of these who have been unfortu-
nate. A few days ago committee waited
upon the merchants Of st. Louis for aid for
the starving people in western Kansas, but
those applied to said they thought that Ksn
sas was able to help herself and that they
would give nothing. We have sent abroad
that Kansas was prosperous, and facts and
figures show that it is; therefore, il We have
come poor and unfortunate, as every new
State is liable to have, the prosperous part If
the State should see that those who need it
are supplied with the necessaries Of life.
X ansss has too much at stake to allow her
reputation to be jeoparized in any such mar
ner as this, especially when she has the
remedy right in her own hands. To show |