Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-12-02
Western Kansas as Advertised.

yember 18th, published in the Ma
rietta (Ohio) Register and, doubt
less, in most of the eastern paper
which would give it space, descript
i've of the financial and agricultural
conditions Of western Kansas, under
the startling headlines - "Only
Awaiting Starvation!'- "Land So
Arid that Nothing Except County
Bonds Can be Raised in Western
Kansas!T-"For Two Years Not a
Stalk of Corn or Spear Of Wheat
Has Been Raised!!!
The article in question purports
to be, in substance, the report of
George E. Studebacker who was sent
by the Grand Lodge A. O. U. w. to
investigate the condition of their
brethren in several counties in
southwest Kansas before distribut-
ing aid that had been contributed for
the relief Of the members of the
order.
An investigation was made in
those counties and Mr.. Studebacker
reported the condition as he found
it in those particular counties. Per-
haps his report which was published
at the time was not much over
drawn. Of that we have no per-
sonal knowledge and will therefore
neither affirm nor deny, but the
writer in question, taking the re-
port as a text, has doubtless drawn
largely upon his imagination, even
SO far as these counties are concern
ed, and his vicious intent is made
plainly apparent when he endeavors
to include the whole Of western
Kansas in his vindictive assaults, as
no evidence is produced-not even
the claim made-that the writer
has the slightest knowledge, either
personal or hearsay, Of any portion
of the state except that CLEANED
from Mr.. Studebaker's report which
only included particular locality
and that only very small portion
Of the state known as western Kan
sas.
That our readers may understand
more fully our objections We copy
the following:
"Mr. Studebacker reports the in
habitants in a deplorable condition,
having nothing to eat, much less
having anything for seed with
which to tempt Providence another
year. The men are idle, there be-
ing no employment of any kind,
and as a consequence they have
nothing to do but quietly await
starvation for themselves and their
families.
"These people are hopeful, as, In
deed, the people of western Kansas
have always been. Could hopes
feed and clothe the people, the in
habitantS of that section would long
ago have been the wealthiest on
earth. They can no longer depend
upon the loan agent, as all the
western counties long ago fully ex-
hausted their credit.
"Most of the land has already
been mortgaged for more than
three times its value, and no more
money can be secured. Just as long
as eastern people continue to lend
money upon western farms, especi-
ally those in western Kansas, just
so long the people had something
to live upon. The fact is that
they farmed the money owner, with
the aid Of the loan agents, and now
their crops nave failed.
"Mr. Studebaeker reports many
pathetic scenes. Among them was
that of widow who lived in a lone
ly dug-oat on the plains. The only
food in the shanty was some dam
aged wheat which she was grinding
In coffee mill. She intended to |
convert it into porridge for her
three little children, who were cry
ing for food. As she ground she
seasoned this food with her tears
wondering if God did really care for
the sparrow.
"There had not been a morsel of
food of any other kind in her home
for two weeks. and she did not have
a cent of money with which to pur-
chase any more. The county could
not care for her and her children, as
her neighbors were as bad off as
herself,
''In Seward county at least two
dozen families were found who were
-, r IL