The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-15
THERE ARE NO TWO SIDES TO 1T.

obey the dictates of their bosses, nor yet
care much where the said leaders reside.
But when it comes to questions involving
the material chances and material welfare
of the city and of all that the city con-
tains, and then outside men, who have not
| the shadow of any kind of an interest,
marshal their forces to defeat measure,
the wisdom of which is unquestioned by
| those most competent to judge, wave of
indignation must roll up, both high and
strong.
Every member of the two hundred and
odd men belonging to the Board of Trade
who had inquired into the matter, every
business man and Taxpayer who had
looked it up, as the city council in its Off
cial capacity did, endorse the idea and en-
terprise, were unanimous for securing the
construction, if possible, of an Independent
railroad from Wichita to Harper City,
Runnymede and on into the valleys of the
Canadian, Cimmaron and Salt Fork rivers
of the Indian territory, and to reach them
if possible by the time the Strip and the
other reserves were fairly opened to settle
ment All saw. at glance, the especial
importance to Wichita of this line, at this
time; not only its Importance,
but its pressing necessity, if the
city would reap and hold the
same advantage with reference to the
west end, that she does to the east end, of
that Territory They didn't stop to en-
quire whether the road would ever really
reach Mexico or not. In fact they didn't
care When it came TO signing the petit
tions it was not even necessary to hire
men to carry them, or to engage a lawyer
to lay the matter before the city council.
Nobody needed any argument or any pur-
suasion All saw the wisdom of the
move at once, and the majority of the tax
payers only wished it was a proposition
for three roads instead of one, recognizing
as hey did the truth that nothing possible
of being grasped just now would so
stimulate life and hopes and revive bust
| ness as the construction Of new lines of
! railway.
There were no two sides to it, and there
are not now The order that was promul-
gated to defeat the bonds for the Wichita
and Ell Paso railroad came from the head
quarters of this district, which headquar-
tiers are located in a town that would give
much to see Wichita fail The local man
ipulator who promulgated the order is
bg-mouthed blatherskite, and more Of the
dead-beat than anything else, owning no
property in tins city nor anywhere else.
lie is not the property kind, nor that
stamp of citizen. unless by some socialistic
steal he could come in possession Of that
which somebody else's sweat had earned.
He and his crowd have had the effrontery
TO tell business men and home owners that
those who are trying to save them
selves and neighbors by working for
this enterprise are going to make some
thing out of it more than their fellow citi-
zens will make. One seedy, noIsey loafer,
who wouldn't work if he starved, with all
the apparent sincerity of an honest man.
told crowd of wide mouthed gapers, on
was paid for all it said on the subject.
Further evidence of the blind prejudice
and malicious ignorance of the representa-
tives Of a crowd that for the qualification
of sinking spleen and contemplate
envy would pull down and destroy neigh
Dor and friend alike, is probably unneces-
sary There is but one class that is de-
serving of more contempt than these, and
that is the very small one who, in antici-
patton of political Stops, give counteuance
and pander to this really dangerous ele-
ment
No wonder that the disclosures Of the
past two or three days have sufliced to
arouse the apprehensions and indignation
of honest men all over the city. The spirit
that would balk a community's effort to
save itself from further prostration and
threatened final financial ruin, would
laugh in glee at the sight Of your home
in flames As to whether the we'll
meaning portion, but blind followers of
these men who have bound themselves up
with secret oaths. can be reached, is
doubtful. The only sure way is for the
business men and property owners to turn
ont to man and register and vote and
thus protect themselves and their inter
ests.
If all the solid men who have written
us notes and called upon us, asking that
the EAGLE explain the status of the enter
prise ard to urge action, would themselves
take hold and put in tomorrow securing
registrations, and election day to securing
votes. no envious outside interest, with all
its tools in this city combined, would be
able 20 defeat this honest and wise effort
to help ourselves.
If there were any doubts as TO the way
the enterprise originated, any doubts as 10
the sincere intentions of the men who pro
pose 10 build and operate the road, if
it is ever built at albany ques-
ton as to the terminal shops,
or any probability that the issuing Of
S.. O0j for thirty miles of road could pos
sibly increase taxes, then their would be
room for argument and cause for division
Of sentiment. under which circumstances
even orders from Inimical sources might
be excused if they were not respected. But
there being no doubts or questions, our
enterprising energetic people, whose faith
in the future of their city has never
wavered. cannot afford to permit an ire
spousible element, which has nothing at
stake. to get Wichita and her interests
under their feet.
- .SrII ANn MIIkES COLT