Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-04-01

and get into the platforms of their par
ties denunciations OF the corporations
to the disgrace of their parties.
The first party, whether republican,
populist, or democratic, which meets
in convention in this state and is hon.
| est, will carry the state. Whist L mean
by this is that instead OF denouncing
corporations they sh3ll thank them for
what they have done for the state
| I will not 90 into detailed account or
| what this is, for there is not sensible
man in the state but knows that except
for these corporations Kansas would
have been nearly wilderness. VINO
does not Nknow the generous acts IN
feeding the hungry and furnishing seed
to plant desolated counties that these
corporations have done.
Legislatures should concede that
corporations are entitled to the same
measure OF consideration and the
same measure Of protection that others
expect for themselves and their inter
ests. Has this been done? Has not
the legislation been in every respect
against corporations? They have been
hampered on every occasion. Laws
have been passed adding to their ex-
penses and cutting down their receipts;
jurors would always give verdicts
against them in favor of an individual
without any reason or right whatever.
This is notorious. The mass of people
want to do right, but they have been
led by leaders of all parties into denun-
Citations of the corporations till they
really believe that the courts and legis-
lature are in their pay. That this is
not so every man of common sense who
is posted on the matter knows. Look
at the law passed by the last session,
making it illegal to collect an excess Of
fare when paid on the train. There
would be as much sense and justice in
making law that man entering
theater should pay the usher instead OF
the man at the ticket office. That law
was passed last winter in the interests Of
thieving and stealing; not that the
conductors are thieves or would steal,
but when men are allowed to pay fare
on the cars there is no check whatever
on those taking the money. There was
no demand for such a law; it was an
outrage upon justice and upon right.
And such has been the character
of many of the laws that have been
passed.
would not be understood as believ-
ing that the corporations any more
than any other parties were above law.
I believe in control and That the present
mode of controlling them by railroad
commissioners is the best possible man.
ner than it can be done. Many repub-
licans in the legislature this year were
louder than the populists in their talk
against corporations. They thought they
could get ahead of the populists. This
was mistake and one that will operate
against our party. 1t is only ques-
ton of time when the people will see
through all such chicanery and there
will come time when the people will
not be led by the dishonest 10 per cent
who get into legislatures. 1t was enough
to make man weep to see and know,
as was known by many during the last
session, that few men belonging to
all parties met at the Throop house
to arrange plans to bleed the rail
roads. Bills were drawn up for no
other purpose than to bring money
into the pockets OF these men. These
things must be exposed, no matter who
it touches or where it touches. Leading
in Kansas in years that are
passed are responsible for the populist
party to-day in catering to the dema-
gogues and for the measures intended
to injure capital.