The Iola register., 1890-05-02
THE PEOPLES FORUM.

| OF public matters. Contributors are not asked
to write in sympathy with the editorial views
of the REGISTER, nor is a failure on the part Of
the REGISTER to endorse or combat any views
| expressed In the Forum to be Jneidered as re-
1ecting in any way the REGIsrER's sentiments
Contributors are urged to be careful in the
statement of facts and courteous in controversy
Above all, articles should be brief, not over 800
words.
| Capt Stewards Way Out.
EDITOR REGISTER: 1 have read
with good deal of interest the articles
from Peffer, Reed, Winchester and
others you have given from time to
time in the REGISTER as to the "Way
Out" Being like the majority of my
brother farmers I have been anxious
to see if there was better road out
than the one have selected to travel
and while I have no fault to find with
any of their theories I feel constrained
to keep my own road.
| As you have asked for contributions
on this subject and shown as think a
a fair and liberal spirit toward all us
poor unfortunates Gf We may be so
called, will give you some idea of
my plan. And first may remark as
to "getting in" II walked i'm of my
own free will and accord" did it
after mature deliberation and so far as
my acquaintance goes land it is pretty
extensive as you know very large
per cent of my fellow farmers went in
the same way.
We saw an opportunity to buy some
adjoining land cheap and we bought
Oh time. {. believe nearly all of us act
ed ,oiscly in doing so. In my own
case have not single regret for CIV
ing a mortgage.
But having got i'm we are anxious to
get out. I have often found when i'm
trouble it is some advantage in getting
out to know how We got in. Having
shown that generally we got in by
buying too much land, will just say
that my plan was to make so far as
possible every acre of land produce
something. 1t has seemed to me that
"broad acres" of idle taxable land is
an expensive luxury which no farmer
with a mortgage to look after can af-
ford. Hence 1 am trying to
get my farm in good shape, ditch
ing wet land, getting in all the odd
corners, putting in tame grass and all
the time trying to find what crops will
pay the best and the best kind of stock
to keep to eat up what we raise and
the best way to feed and handle it. OF
course this keeps ME SO busy that I
have very little time to write to Funs-
ton or Plumb Oh Ingalls, or any of the
others of our delegation at Washington
to tell them what we want done; but
then 1 am acquainted with most of
those men and especially with Fuuston
and Plumb and am quite sure they
are good honest competent men. They
are "of the people" and i'm the case of
Funston he is "of the farmers" Know
ing that they fully understand our
needs and are in hearty sympathy
with us in all our troubles and will
take great pleasure in doing every
thing they can that will be to the best
interests Of us all, congratulate my
self that can let them alone and give
the more time and study to my own
| matters.
The same fortunate state of affairs
exist in our home politics. We have
so much good material i'm Kansas, II
say this in all earnestness) that we
seldom make a mistake in selecting Of
ficers. No State in the Union has bet
ter laws, none more competent or wor-
thy officers, as farmers are given a fair
show. So there is no need of any
worry on our part about the politics
of the country. Not that I would not
have all men, all voters, read and keep
posted, and be alb lie to discharge their
duties intelligently for in this country
We all owe it to ourselves, to our fellow
men and to Gus country to know some
thing of governmental affairs. But
just now 1 believe we will find
more relief in giving our most earnest
thoughts to ways and means connected
with our own personal business than
in promises preambles and resolutions
about politics.
Here again we are fortunate in our
farmers organizations. The +. NJ. B.
A. stands entirely aloof from party
politics. We meet on common basis
of mutual interest and hope to be able
to be benefit to each other in all our
common interests. In coming together
in our meetings We will become better
acquainted with each other personally
and must necessarily learn a good deal
about our own affairs.
OF course we may and will keep bet
ter posted in State affairs and be bet
ter prepared to vote intelligently at all
elections, and for that matter be better
qualified to fill some of the :offices
when they come around as they do oc-
casionally and are sure to do in the
future. But as 1 have never known
many farmers to make much money in
looking after offices, that business
would not come under my plan of the
"Way Out" spectfully,
SAMUEL J. STEWART.