The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-23

the people.
Today the intelligent laborer, whethel
in the field, shop, store or office, Is a
highly esteemed as the rich and hav'
equal advantages. Republicanism gav'
the common people ali these blessing
and as long as it is in power they will b
maintained. Under this party's benefi
cent workings you have all seen the poo
growing rich and living in comfort ant
even in luxury. Though the party wa
hindered in its early career to conquer {
gigantic rebellion, it has done more goot
for the people than the world ever saw
performed by political party before.
Kansas is the oldest child of the Re
publican party. There was something
of a row at her birth, and she has at
tracted attention all her career, by Away:
marching close to the music. Look at hel
today, age 81 years, the fairest star in the
nations crown, million and half Of
people, thousands Of productive farms
millions in corn and herds, one hundred
and twenty millions of wheat in two
years; forty millions worth of schoo
property; churches in every city. towr
and hamlet; 9, 900 miles of railroad, the
bravest ana fairest men and women tx
be found in the nation.
1t was Republican legislation for the
poor in purse but the rich in pluck
energy. enterprise and purpose that has
made Kansas. Our Republican friends
In the east, when We started to walk,
gave us helping hand and we have
done the rest.
A boy was standing under an apple
tree, longing for the rich fruit above. he
could not see how to reach it. A com
rade was across the street and boy num-
Der one called for number two to come
over and give him boost. Boost
yourself" replied number two. That
was what Kansas did. She boosted her
self and spells ELI with capital letters.
She laid the foundations broad and
deep in her constitution. 1t declares
that citizen, a head of family, should
have 100 acre farm or one acre lot in
! town or city free from execution in spite
! Of the misfortunes that might overtake
! him. This includes all improvements;
his household effects and books TO the
amount of $500.
Stock in trade of all manufacturers or
artisans amounting to $500 is exempt
from execution. The law also allows
ten hogs, two COWS, twenty sheep, and
their feed for year. Pension money
and wages for three months are invio-
late if they are to be used as the support
of the family, The supreme court has
decided that money realized from the
sale of homestead is exempt from the
provisions of law if it is to be used for
the purchase Of another home.
Where is there another state that has
SO literally fostered education: In the
ID L. L., Il
eral grants of land for schools. Our
state law has thrown into the scale large
sums of money for fines and other pur-
poses and surrounded our school system
with liberal provisions so that we are
known everywhere by our devotion to
educational institutions, and for the wise
enactments we have made in that behalf.
1t is safe to assert that we have as small
percentage of illiteracy as any state in
the Union. Rich and poor share the
benefits alike.
The problem of handling the railroads
is being carefully and gradually solved
III the interests Of the people.
We enacted tie commissioner law some
years ago and much has been accom-
plished for the peoples interests. Our
first railroads charged D and g cents
mile for passenger fare. This was re-
duced some years ago by the railroads
10 3 cents. An average decrease of
about 80 per cent has been effected in
freight rates. That still further conces-
sions viii! be made to the people as we
go along there is no doubt.
The Republicans have put an end to
wild cat insurance companies and their
swindles. They cannot do business in
our state without bond which protects
their customers. This is matter of i'm
portance. Kansas led of in the attack
upon the trusts, and her law is now be.
ing tested III the state courts. We have
laws which protect the wages of laborers
on public works from the dishonesty of
contractors; to require the wages OF
work men to be paid in lawful money
unless the laborer consents to take some
thing else; efficient lien laws in behalf of
the workmen, and last, but not least,
the most liberal provisions for the pro-
lection Of the property rights of women.
Other acts of this tenor might be sighted
but must hurry. All our laws for the
protection of the poor have been passed
by Republican legislatures, and the
party stands pledged to pass others for
the same general purpose as fast as Wis
dom shall indicate their necessity. Kan
sas has had continual growth and pros
perity under the benign rule Of the r.
publican party.
Turning again to the national feature
of the subject. A Republican congress
gave us the best money we ever had in
the country. To appreciate this state
ment you ought to have lived in the
good days we hear SO much about. Then
when we received pay in bank bills We
always made rush for bank note de-
tector to see whether he bills were of
any value. There was in those days a
''biack Friday" on small scale almost
every day in the year, and most general
ly to the sorrow OF poor people. The
writer is not very old-in fact, belongs
to the young crowd, but his memory
back to the period before the
birth of the good Republican party. He
had some taste of the good old days
when everybody was honest and nice.
In 1854 he was foreman of printing
Office at the munifcent salary Of 50 per
week and tolerably fair foreman, too. !
Six dollars was counted fair wages.
Those were the days when the country !
was ENJOYING the great boon of free !
trade, or as near ii. believe, as we ever /
had. This was before the life-giving in !
huence of Republicanism was begun to [
be felt: before the country was lifted +
from the despond of the material. moral !
and political ruin, to which it was !
Fastening. | can tell you of nv own /
the poor man and his family 1
wear better clothes, are better fed and I
have three times as many comforts 4
in those good old times we hear so much /
about from a class OF self-corstiiuted I
political teachers, and they have the ed /
ucating. elevatinC and refining influ- l