The advocate., 1891-09-09
John A. Martin, submitted to the Legls-
lature on January o, 1889?

DN~~N--J
The laws concerning mortgages need re-
vision and radical improvement. IL should
require something more than mortgage to
to steal mans farm, either in this or any
other state, Appraisement of property be-
fore its sale under foreclosure should be
surrounded with stringent limitations TO
protect the interests of the debtor, and the
right OF redemption should be not only OK
tended but made secure. Our Chattel mort
gage laws invite outrages on property rights
that are as fragrant as grand larceny, and
the wrong and injustice that.has been done
under the shield Of these laws is disgrace
TO civilized government. Our mortgage
laws should be generally remOdeled, 80 as to
protect the interests and rights Of debtors
and mortgsgors against the greed and in
humanity of creditors, mortgages.
John A. Martin was the foremost man
In the Republican party in Kansas, and
while he was many times honored by his
party with responsible positions, might
have risen much higher had he been less
scrupulous. Do his words indicate that
our mortgage laws are "fair and equita-
blep Do not his words imply that these
"fSlr and equitable" laws are made the
means by which hesrtlesS mortgage
sharks and interest sucking vampires
''steal" the homes Of the people? Why
do you talk about "gulling" the people
when your own Governor, elected by
your votes and lSuded to the skies by
your speakers and your papers, throws 1t
In your face that these very Equitable"
laws about which you prate and for
which you have so much regret "invite
outrageS"- read it, professor, read it
"invite outrages on property rights that
are worse than grand larcenVp and de-
nounces their workings as a disgrace to
civilized government"
While we believe-yes, while we know
from personal experience that Governor
Martin expressed the truth concerning
these infamous crime breeding and pau
producing laws, we have not organ
lied this association to nullify them nor
TO "assist slippery persons who try to
evade them" but simply to assist honest
men to secure the benefits of what little
law there ls in their favor. The editor
Of the Empire knows, and so does every
other person know, that the farmers Of
the country are the most conservative and
the most law abiding portion Of our peo-
pie, and such contemplate slanderS upon
them as lie contained in the clipping
which heads this article will be con-
demned and rebuked as 1t should be.
The farmers and laborers Of Kansas
know what alls them. They know that
poverty and want as the sole reward for
q life Of ceaseless toll and self-sacri6cing
Is not the result of natural laws. They
have studied the workings Of the twin
tools of plutocracy for the past quarter
of century and find 1t all against them.
In fact from your own speakers and
writer's they find an abundance Of evi-
dence to condemn you. The ballot Is
their remedy. They are going to use it
effeCtually, and when they do the two
old rotten, sinking, worm-eaten hulks
will be sunk to the bottom Of the sea.
Until this can be accomplished they pro-
pose to stand together TO protect their
rights by every legal means. They have