The sun., 1893-06-14
The State With a Golden Thumb.

| The Populist school OF political economy
has been hAyhere richer in great concep.
tions than in Kansas. The Sunilower State
Is the Attica. the Tuscany Of Populist litera-
ture and philosophy; and although there
| are profound Populist minds in Minnesota
and Iowa, and even in Oklahoma. the
thought-centre and power-station Of ALI
ance- -Populist thought is somewhere near
| the Kaw. An idea now in much favor
| with the Kansas school is that OF State
regulated flour mills. The Kansas econo-
mists have heard from the Hon. IaNATIUs
DoNNELLY. or some equal authority, that a
Flour Trust exists in minnesota or some
where else. Hence persons carrying on
the milling business are regarded as
public enemies In sense. Wheat flour
would seem to be an article which.
as the subject Of a trust. ought to be taken
care Of by the State. and In this direction
the Kansas school is proceeding. For the
present 1t contents itself with proposing
that the Legislature shall fix the rates for
milling. Already there are certain mills to
which the farmer can take his grain and
have it ground at a fixed rate. Every
mill will become a State-rate mill II the
economists have their way. The ultimate
result would be that private mills would
have to shut up shop. forced out OF the
business by the States interference. Then
the State would step In and engage in
the milling business. and all the taxable
property would have to contribute to make
up the States losses or to pay the charges
which would be made necessary by low
rates. Indeed. 1t seems clear that the
Populist farmers would insist upon free
mills. for they regard themselves as a
benevolent institution to be supported by
general contribution.
This process Of making the mills pub
lie property is substantially that which
the Kansas economists wish to apply to
railroads. Regulate" the charges SO that
bankruptcy must ensue. and IL necessary
build new roads at the expense Of the State
30 as to depreciate the value of corpora
tion-ridden" roads, and drive them out
OF business. OF course this process, II
successful. will be applied to every line of
business by which the Grangers think they
are Ill treated. or with which they have any
considerable amount Of dealings. The kind
OF government which these queer sticks
are trying to bring about is q government
In which a farmer greases his Government
made boots with Government-boiled grease,
while Government Inspector of Boots
stands on one side Of him and Govern
ment Inspector Of Grease on the other.
State or Government management and in
spection are not likely to be inexpensive
luxuries; and the Populist philosopher who
believes that the State or Government
doesn't do enough for the farmers might
find that 1t was doing far too much.
The Kansas economists are great wise
acres. but they haven't yet tussled with
the athletic truth that what's sauce for the
goose is sauce for the gander. II the State
fixes the price OF milling wheat. 1t must fix
the price Of wheat. and OF every other ar
ticle Of general consumption. The more
Kansas grows In population and develops
In industries. the more the producer will be
thrust to the wall by the consumer II the
State steps in to monkey with the law OF
supply and demand. Tho Kansas econo-
mists are trying to improve their condition
by setting up over their business and every
other business a State despotism, which
would be cumbrous. unintelligent. and op-
pressive. Cheap flour Is very good thing.
but the right to manage your own affairs
according to your own sweet will is q good
many million diameters better