The Iola register., 1890-05-23
THE PEOPLES FORUM.

InE fEUfLE y FUhUM.
1.-The Forum is open for q general discussion
Of public matters. Contributors are not asked
10 write in sympathy with the editorial views
of the REGISTER, nor is q failure on the part of
the REGISTER to endorse or combat any views
expressed in the Forum to be considered as re-
flecting in any way the REGIsTER's sentiments.
Contributors are urged to be careful i'm the
statement Of facts and courteous In controversy.
Above all, articles should be brief, not over 500
words.
Some Miscellaneous Suggestions.
HUMBOLDT, Kans., May u, 1890.
Editor Register. I too have been
somewhat amused in reading the Fo-
rum. Mr.. Strong's analysis of taxa
ton appears rather hypothetical, to
me, to get at facts and rate per cent.
He says he is often asked: "Why is
the rate per cent. so much greater
in Kansas than in the older States?"
Is it? Let us see: The rate In Mar
maton where they voted a heavy rail-
road bond is .031. In Cottage Grove,
where the people acted more wisely,
the rate is %. When I left Illinois In
1873 the rate i'm Urbana was small
fraction under ten per cent. In Cham
paign City it was small fraction over
ten per cent, in the adjoining rural
districts if my memory is correct it
was seven per cent. and eight per cent.
respectively. Now don't grunt so,
Brother Kansan, for Kansas is the
banner State yet. 1t is rather to be
regretted, however, that one corre-
spondent is SO confiding in the states
manship of Kansas officials. 1 have
been in Kansas some fourteen years,
but have failed to learn that Kansas
legislatures had elected much COM
mendation for wise and beneficent
legislation. Kansas Legislatures have
done some very wise things and 1
think some very foolish things. Of
the former was the adoption of the
prohibition amendment. And of the
latter the privilege of voting bonds
for personal monopolies. But Kansas
with all its faults stands like Saul
among his brethren,-a head and
above everybody.
But it may be asked, "Why were
taxes in Illinois so enormously high?"
I'll tell you: They ran wild on the
bond question, and voted bonds on
bonds until the territory appeared to
be plastered over with bonds. Then
men mortgaged their farms for ten per
cent. money to build fine houses and
the houses generally took the farms.
But enough of this. I want to try
to hunt the "way out" We may do
it in part, as one of your correspond
ents suggests, by diligent use of the
muck-rake, but the process will be
very slow and the results precarious.
Let us look again at that manufactur-
ing business. A friend said to me the
other day, kansas is not manufac-
turing State" For my part I fail to
see why. OF course we would not sug-
gest the establishment of iron furnaces
and forges. That line of industry be-
longs to points nearer heavy ore beds
and larger coal-fields. But Kansas
can eclipse South Carolina in the
growth of cotton. Let agriculture
turn its attention to raising cotton:
bring in your cotton gins and cotton
mills, grow and manufacture your
OWN cotton. believe Kansas already
carries the banner for the growth of
fax. What we want is machinery for |
The manufacture of the lint. Kansas
would be very dangerous rival to
Kentucky in the growth of hemp.
Why not spread out on that line of
industry, and cease importing hemp
md jute and sea grass and all that
lind of thing, and furnish profitable
to our own people? Then
here is the sheep and wool industry.
Why ship your wool away off "to
sosting," when you could manufac-
ure it at Humboldt, lola, Chanute,
Fort Scott, indeed all over the State?
hen there is the canning business
referred to, and finally your
nexhaustible marble beds. Some
ody said: Heaven helps those who
elp themselves" Now let our peo-
lie strike out on these lines of indus
ry, judiciously, and nothing in the
Iorld can prevent them from finding
he "way out"
r. V. REED.