Wichita eagle., 1890-02-08
A REPLY TO aFARMERs' FRIEND" ;"

| To the Editor Of the Eagle.
note that some one under signature
| Farmers Friend" disagrees with my
emergency rate" paper. do not claim
| infallibility. / may be wrong; / often
| find that am on cold trail; yet be-
lieve that if Kansas obtains a reduced
rate that Nebraska. Iowa, Missouri and
other states will be after the carrier in
| twenty-four hours, demanding restor-
| alton of former rates or corresponding
| reduction.
| The interstate commerce act was con-
ceived and created to prevent railroads
from fostering the produce of one state
to the damage and injury of another.
Under this act railroads can grant rate
in defiance of it, from point to point
within the limits of state, but not be-
yond it. Hence in Illinois a rate can be
given to Chicago which the interstate
act can not prevent, and which might
| hurt Kansas and benefit Illinois. The
| final effect of our acts should not only be
thought of, but deliberately considered.
The sum of wisdom is the bold and
aggressive agitation of any question
coming before the public. Contention.
argument, debate, discussion, results IN
general information. Kanzan is wholly
indifferent to criticism by any writer.
So long as there is no rebound it Is a
doubt If anything has been said; the re-
bound is some evidence that some one
has read the article. To preach the
earnest thought Of Kansans on every
problem, the discussion of which may
result in awakening people TO think, is
the desire of s'kanzan." To arouse peo-
pie to work out the reasonable possibili-
ties of Kansas is my only desire. [
write for the press without profit, with
out any ''axe to grind" hoping for no
reward other than that which may be
shared by every man who calls Kansas
'home."
The demand for an "emergency rate"
is an admission of state weakness, con-
fession that we lack capital, and this
weakness was one of the main causes
that led to the formation of the Estate
Immigration Bureau" and if this era
wing for an emergency rate" has the
effect of stimulating our people to exert
themselves it will be benefit.
have no objections to an emergency
rate" though believe that worse things
can happen than being forced to hold
this corn crop over one year. My idea
is that the study of the causes that pro-
duced the demand for an emergency
rate should move our people to SO labor
and think as to make a second "emer-
gency rate" demand unnecessary. Our
present necessities should teach us to
correct the evil, not stand still and court
its repetition. And while an ''emer-
gency rate may contain a present per
cent of quick profit, continuity of the
present humiliation, stagnation and de-
preston must eventually result in final
ruin to the agricultural interests of the
state.
Our wish is not to prevent the farmer
from getting paid for his labor, but to
get people to thinking, in the belief
that the result of the concentrated
thought will be to the advantage of
agriculture, commerce, general business,
mechanics and laborers.
am not posing as the especial friend
of any one class. and if Farmers
Friend" means to insinuate that | am
not friendly to the farmer, or desires to
have it known that he is the champion
of the farmer alone, | resent his insinu-
alton as an Insult, and suggest that the
same thing that benefits the farmer helps
all classes; hence sign my name exam
zan" as sign that embrace
the entire state and all classes in
my punv efforts The desire or effort to
sustain one factor in our state to the
neglect or disregard of the rights or in
terests of other classes, is the cause of
friction, class legislation, society differ
ences and wrangling, and should meet
the condemnation of all cititizens whose
wish is general prosperity to the entire
state.
Every interest, railway, milling,
banking, mercantile, industrial,
manufacturing, mechanical and la
boring has as much at stake
as the farmer, and that which tends to
benefit all should be the study of our
people.
am no more friend to the farmer
than | am to every other interest on
Kansas soil. | recognize agriculture as
the source of all our worth, prosperity
and greatness, but at the same time in
sist that an emergency rate" is only for
one crop. / would that we so work as
to never again in Kansas see petition
for an emergency rate" would that
Kansans study the cause, discern the
remedy and apply it.
If we conclude that 'emergency rates"
are the the panacea for low prices event
ually we shall be, and should be, tinan-
cially damned. "KANzAN. Z"