Dodge City times., 1888-03-22
Eastern Kansas Has the
Lions Share, Central
Kansas a Morsel,
AND WESTERN KANSAS NOTHING.
STATE INSTITUTIONS AID STATE OFFICIL Is
ALL IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE
STATE.

remand ar OF the state and fOrmea lnUO
a separate commonwealth, it would be
found in the action of the State Com
mittee at its recent meeting in Topeka,
and in the apportionmeDt of state In
stitutions and state officials. We DO
not doubt that the committee intended
to act fairly, and perhaps the apportion-
ment of delegates was as equitable as
could have been made under the cir
cumstances; and We have no disposition
to find fault with our allotment.
Even going a step further, it may be
entirely fair, and srill fall far short OF
doing the western half of the state JUS
tice. and furnishes an argument which
only results can relate, in support OF
the plea that the western half OF the
state never has received, and for years
cannot hope to expect just recognition
in the distribution of public favors.
1t is quite interesting to draw few
imaginary lines through the state, and
study some of the figures suggested by
them. Let us divide the state first in
to three as nearly equal divisions as
may be without disarangiDg county
lines. This brings the first division on
the west line of Marshall county at
the north line of the state, and at the
west line of Cowley county on tina
south; This territory embraces thirty
nine of the most popu!ous counties in
the state; and in 1886, cast, in round
numbers, 147 900 votes. Within this
one third of the state are located the
Capital, Reform School and Insane
Asylum at Topeka, the State University
at Lawrence; the Orphan Asylum,
Soldiers Home and Soldiers cemetery at
Leavenworth; the Agricultural College
at Manhattan; the State Normal at
Emporia; the Insane Asylum at
Osawa tonne, the Asylum for Deaf
Mutes at Olatha, the Soldiers Gene
terry at Fort Scott, the State prison at
Lansing, and the State Reform School
at Ottawa. OF these it may be urged
that the Soldiers Home and Cemeteries
are not state institutions, but they are
of state Importance, and were located
in accordance with state influence.
OF the seven principal state officers,
the home of Gov. Martin is at Atchison,
Lit. Gov. Humphreys in Montgomery;
Atty. Gcn'l Bradford in Usage, and
Sup't Lawhead in Bourbon. In other
words fourteen of the fifteen state in
stitutlons, and four of the seven state
officers are locatsd..in the eastern third
of the Estate.
Making a second division of the
state at the west line Of Phillips
county south to the state line, we have
territory which includes thirty FIVE
counties, with population which cast
about 100, 600 votes in 1886. Within
it the only state institution we recall is
the State Reform School now building
at Hutchinson; and it is the home Of
Secretary of State, Allen, Auditor
Mccarthy and Treasurer Hamilton.
In the western third of the state,
there are thirty two counties
which cast "a, 900 votes in 1886, and
have neither state institution nor the
promise of any; and, judging from the
claims made by the eastern two-thirds
of the state, will hardly be permitted
representative on the state ticket.
A division of the state into two equal
portions by a line commencing on the
west line of Jewell county makes even
more unfavorable showing for the
eastern half, which would then include
every one of the fifteen state institu-
tions, and all but one of the state Off
cials, with 22O, 900 votes against about
$4,000 in the western half Of the state.
In the apportionment, of delegates to
the state convention. the eastern divis-
ion gets 212; the middle 154, and
the western 81; or division
which gives majority of six
delegates over the middle and
western divisions of the state com
bined. In the approaching political
campaign If there is any fair apportion-
ment of Offices it will be brought about
only by united effort on the part of
the delegates from the middle and
western portions of the state, and the
politicians of Western Kansas should
lose no time in considering this fact in
its full Importance.
Farmers hold on to your farms.
Don get discouraged and give them