The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-22
A NATIONAL BANKRUPT LAW.
To the Editor of the Eagle.

To the Editor of the Eagle
Every newspaper in Kansas ought to
be urging upon congress the passage of
the pending bankruptcy bill. In I'll epres-
ent condition of affairs in this state the
people have more direct and vital in
terest i'll this bill than in any other
measure now before congress.
Local pride and prudential reasons
generally have cOnspired to prevent
public expression of opinion on this and
some other subjects. But the time has
come to tell the truth. Lying dOesnt
pay; and day of reckoning is tolerably
sure to come. The late census returns
from Topeka and other cities in Kansas
are an illustration of this fact;
The truth is that the initiation and
boom speculation of 1856, followed by
loss of crops in two succeeding years
and the subsequent collapse of values all
over the southwest, have produced their
natural and inevitable result in this state.
Thousands of the best men of Kansas
are laboring hopelessly under mountains
of debt, and these mountains are grow
ing at the rate of II per cent every year.
Judgments are hanging over men for
amounts far beyond the hope or even
possibility of Observation-Disclosures which
are of no value TO the creditor but which
utterly destroy the hope of the debtor.
They simply keep man down, destroy
his usefulness. and by rendering it i'm
possible for him to secure credit. prevent
him from engaging in any enterprise by
which alone he could retrieve his for
tune.
This condition of things is not confined
to Kansas. 1t exists in many states; yet
every single county in Kansas Will fur
nish hundreds of witnesses to the truth
of this statement.
A general bankruptcy law would wipe
out old scores: would make new men
of tens of thousands and set them again
on their feet; would awaken new ener-
gies, stimulate fresh enterprise and re-
vive business in every channel.
This country is full of life, vim and
natural energy, and a man only needs a
fair chance to get along. But III
thousands of instances natural en-
ergies are now fettered and
clogged by conditions for which the man
who is the greatest sufferer Is sometimes
the least responsible. Remove these con
ditions and in few years many of the
men. who are at this hour struggling
hOpelessly in the mire of debt, will be
again on their feet, wiser for past expeT-
fence, carving out anew fortunes for
themselves. and. in time, ready and will
ing for hOnor's sake alone) 10 pay mp
every honest debt Nor would creditors
as a class BE- the losers; for III the wip-
ing ont of old and worthless debts. new
withdrawing forces viii be called into
PLAY which. in the long run. VIII benefit
all classes alike Moreover il must b.
remembered that a vast proportion Of
private Indebtedness in this state has
been secured by mortgages on land; and
the creditor has either got or Is getting
the land Existing conditions, # not
relieved. will drive thousands Of men
from the state: and every one knows that
the effect Of this viii be 10 keep land
values depressed: while, on the other
hand. a general wiping out Of old scores
would keep thousands Of men IN the
state and thus have direct tendency to
increase values of all kinds; and no
class has a larger interest IA this than the
creditor class.
The pending bankruptcy bill has been
drawn with great care. The large costs
and other Objectionable features Of
former laws are done away with 10 the
proposed act. and the most careful pro-
vision j. made for it, honest and eConOm- |
iCai administration.
Our delegation IN congress ought 10 |
fight for this measure with even greater /
earneetne7s than they fought for frse |
coinage. for its immediate benefit 10 the |
state would be vastly greater It's pas |
age would bring relief 10 thousands and /
awaken new hope in the breasts 81 many |
1f the best men IA this western country /
who for three years past have seemed % |
struggle against fate Itself.
According 10 the press dispatches from l
Washington the bankruptcy bill viii D. /
considered in the house of representa- 1
ives tomorrow and Wednesday ! have /
,ought personally and by letter % i'm
press these views upon some OF orr dele
cation. But there ara many readers Of |
he EAGLE who's opinions would carry
greater weight than mine. and a few tel !
grams on this subject, sent t. the Kan
as members Of the house might do much
rood: Tor no one knows how the vote
sill stand. and the aciiye support II the
Kansas delegation NAV - u the utmost
GEO. L. DOC6LAss.
Wichita. July q. -.