The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-14
49,
WHAT KANSAS NEEDS.

We hear much of needed legislation.
1t is a faElacy of the times that all our
ills may he cured by the enactment of
laws. The pessimist weaves fabric of
new tangled statutes with which he
would cloth the millions. By simple
"be it enacted" he erects an inexhaust-
ible storehouse from which the people,
without effort, may draw daily rations
for an indefinite future. A veritable
garden of Eden-a FOOLS paradise, where
in our best energies are to be dwarfed by
inaction and our greatest ambitions fade
into day dreams of mental inertia.
The frequency of this modern
solon points the query, where was he
born and from whence his vagaries?
We suspect he was born tired, no matter
where, and his theories the product of
laziness. The difficulty is, they conflict
with our natural onstitution-nature's
immutable and irreversible laws, supply
and demand, reward for industry, econ
ony of time and money and holding the
outlay within the income are, in the ma
terial world, automatic principles which
cannot be broken by human laws.
Whether it is written Sin the sweat OF
thy face shalt thou eat bread, FOR not it is
truth old as the race, all efforts at
reform nave failed. all substitutes for
this simple condition have proved abor-
tive.
1t is function of our being to work.
Every fibre of physical nature was
created for action, every mental endow-
ment for physical use. The man or
woman who fails to improve them is
simply lazy, and all statutory labor-sav
ing expedients are simply a means of
Sinking the responsibilities of life.
What a field for industry in this great,
new west. Millions of acres of rich,
virgin soil, climatic conditions adapted
to almost any pursuit, convenience to
market and ample facilities for trans
porting our surplus and the alluring,
energizing influence of new civilixa-
lion make the opportunities for an in
dustIious man not found elsewhere
The prime need of Kansas is more peo-
pie and more money-not borrowed
money, but money in the hands of
thrifty settlers. Add so per cent. 10 our
population and the freight rate problem
will adjust itself. Tonnage is the ruling
factor in rate making. Pile up the
products and increase the business till
our present facilities are inadequate and
new roads will be built. This brings
competition, and competition reduces
rates. Unjust determinations have
greatly retarded the growth of
Kansas, but legal restraints are poor
at best and we must look elsewhere for
relief. Stow man or q corporation a
good thing and he will offer ats best
equivalent in money or service. 4 COM
mon aim and effort to the one purpose Of
bringing immigrants to Kansas would do
more TO advance material growth than
any possible law or laws. Who does not
knew of one or dozen plodding farm
ers in the older state who might gain
competence here with less effort than
is required there for bare sup
port? A conservative, truthful letter
might prove benefaction to him and
profitable to Kansas. There should be
no spreadeagie or highly colored stories.
Plain facts briefly told are what is
needed now. Unwarranted criticism
stands no show in a contest with truth.
Kansas either did or did not produce
20, 600. 600 bushels CT wheat and 140, 000,-
600 bushels of corn last year. Our
horses, cattle and hogs are on exhibition.
and can be seen by any one not affected
by the sirabismus Of prejudice. Our
poultry. dairy and horticultural pro-
ducts are in the great markets OF
the Atlantic seaboard and all interview
ing points. These facts refute the shot
wind" fake and the old grasshopper
chestnut. Every city, town and com.
munity should form a COMMITTEES of the
whole to advertise the merits Of Kansas
The incubus of bogus legislature
and an accidental governor will not
Icing adhere TO healthy growth. The