Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-01
A GREAT CRIME.
Governor Martin Denounoes the
Democratic Circular.
The Document Passes Far Beyond the
Bounds of Partisan Political Politi-
cal Libel with Figures as False as
They are HurtfuI.

yesterday looking over a document re-
Gently issued by the Democratic State
Central Committee, purpOrting to give
'faTm, city and town individual mortgage
Indebtedness" the municipal bonded in
debtedness. except school, and the "as-
sessed value of the real estate Of Kansas
for 1885" He spoke very bitterly of the
publication. He said:
''This document passes far beyond the
bounds of partisan politics-it is polit-
ical infamy. The man who, for a sup
posed political purpose, would thus ira
duce and defame Kansas, and destroy the
credit of the State, and of its citizens, is
public enemy, and ought to be so regarded
by every decent citizen of the State.
SIN the first place, there is no more con-
nection, direct or indirect, between the
amount of the mortgage Indebtedness of
our people and the bonded indebtedness of
our municipalities, on the one hand, and the
tariff question on the other, than there is
between Cleveland's vetoes Of pensions on
the one hand and the theory of evolution
on the other.
at is fact too, that two-thirds of the
mortgage indebtedness of Kansas was in
Cured; not because of the poverty of those
who borrowed money, but because of their
firm faith in the growth and prosperity of
the State. To illustrate: John Smith has
s.. 600 in cash, and his neighbor owns a
farm or a town lot he offers to sell for
$1,000 John Smith has faith to believe
that the farm or lot Will be worth 50 000 in
q year or two. So he buys the farm or lot
for $1,000, pays $1,000 cash. and gives his
note, secured by mortgage on the farm or
lot, for the remaining $1,000, but the farm
or lot is worth all be gave for it and could
be sold any day for that price or more.
No figures paraded by a political COM
mittee for a mean partisan purpose can
make John Smith believe that, because of
this transaction he has been robbed by the
tariff.
Another illustration: William Jones
owns a lot in some prosperous Kansas
town, worth s., 800 He has. also, 81, 900 in
cash. The lot vacant, is unproductive.
He borrows $1,000 at 10 per cent, securing
the loan by mortgage, and with this Il, 600
puts up q building costing 81, 1000, which
rents for so per month. The mortgage
don't make William Jones believe that he
is beng robbed by the tariff. If some
Democratic statesman would tell him he
was robbed, he would be very apt to reply
that the d mocretic statesman was either
lunatic or liar. Because he knows that
he has valuable property, paying the in
terest on his note. taxes aud insurance
and, in addition, fully Il per cent on the
total value of his property, viz, 81 800.
"Still another illustration: Farmer
w .llams came to Kansas, ten or fifteen
years ago, with only 500 He homesteaded
or pre-empted 16O acres of land. He has
improved it, built himself comfortable
house and barn. has horses, cattle and
hogs and $1,000 in bank. He has chance
to buy an adjoining 100 acres at $25 per
acre, OF $4,000 He borrows 50, 900 at eight
per cent, securing the loan by mortgage,
and adding the amount to his $1,000 in
bank, buys the coveted quarter section.
1t is worth every cent he paid for it, and
he knows that he can make out of it, every
year, twice the amount of interest on his
note. No Democratic statesman can con-
vince Farmer Williams that, because of
this transaction, the tariff has robbed
him. If any Democratic statesman came
TO him with any such story he would be
apt to reply as did the old Philadelphia
Quaker to a man who dealt in similar
stories. Said the Quaker: Friend John,
if the mayor of Philadelphia should come
to me and say: Friend Williams, wish
thee would bring to my office the greatest
liar in the city, l would hunt thee up,
rend John, and 1 would put my hand on
thy shoulder and l would say to thee,
Friend John, the mayor wishes to see
thee"
"Two-thirds of the mortgage indebted
ness of Kansas was, as | have said, in
CURED by just such transactions as these,
and it represents, therefore, not poverty
and distress, but the confident faith of the
people of Kansas in the growth and pros
perity of the State.
But the figures in this political libel on
Kansas are as false as they are hurtful to
the State. l do not believe that the mort
gage indebtedness of Kansas will aggre-
gate 81, .00n, or, in other words, it is
not one third the amount stated in this in
famous and mendacious attack by the Dem
ocratic State Central Committee on the
credit and good name of Kansas and her
people. l know that the pretended re-
ports from many counties give figures that
are grossly exaggerated, and l do not be-
Geve that the figures, in single instance,
are either official or correct. Lying dema-
gogues, who would ruin every interest of
the State to secure a few hundred petty
Federal offices, have furnished them,
drawing upon their imaginations for their
facts.
This infamous and mendacious cam
paign document, issued to deceive the
credulous and ignorant during political
contest, will be quoted all over the United
States by enemies of Kansas. Every
State jealous of the splendid development
and growth of Kansas will parade these
shameless lies as evidence of the fact that
Kansas is bankrupt. Thousands OF people
and millions of capital will be kept out of
Kansas by this infamous publication.
Every man in Kansas who owns a farm,
or a town lot, or is engaged in business of
any character, will be pecuniarily damaged
by this lying circular, issued to serve
political purpose. In brief, this publica-
ton passes far beyond the bounds of
partisan politics--it is simply the act of
public enemy, who ought to be treated as
such.
wherever figures have been obtained,
have no doubt that the so-called mort
gage Indebtedness includes the railroad
mortgages. For example, every railway
company in the State having mortgage
bonds has TO record such mortgages in all
the counties through which its line passes.
II the mortgage is for 81 ,000,0 900, and the
company's line traversss twenty counties,
the mortgage for 5000, 900 is recorded in
the Office of the register of deeds for each
county. Aggregating all these records
and the amount is swelled to $780, 900 on
a debt which is really one-twentieth that
amount, or S,0O0,O00
''Many mortgages, too. are given to Sc
cure the payment of Indebtedness payable
by annual installment. That is, citizen
borrows 5000, and gives four notes in
equal amounts, one payable in one year,
So In