The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-07-05
THE WORLDS FAIR.
What Kansas has Contributed to the Big
ShoW-LessOns in Politics.

wealth occasionally endow hospitals,
build churches, establish libraries and
found schools and colleges with the
products Of others labor; but all will
admit that, dependent for support upon
gifts Of the rich alone, all OF these in
stitutions would have a precariOus ex-
igtence. Their main support comes
from the innumerable mites OF the
masses. Upon these mites rely all hos
pitfalls, churches, colleges and schools
that are maintained by voluntary con-
tributions. And this, too, notWithstand-
ing the noise with which the gifts, be-
quests and legsciSs Of drones are bruited
abroad, and the silence with which the
toilerS little by little make up far greater
sggregations. A tendency is, nowadays,
very apparent to filch from the pockets
Of the worker the dimes and quarters
that he can not well spare, to aid and
support some worthy enterprise, while
the idler sits back, holds the offices at
fat salary, gets the glory and Commends
the dear people for their loyal support.
There is not little Of this at the CO.
lumbian Exposition. Money must be got
to run the fair. There are none to give
great sums. But from the masses it may
be got piecemssl. So many concessions
are farmed out, like tax-gsthering in
France in the days Of the Louises, to the
one who can extort most. Many stands
are put up. All kinds Of souvenirs-
Columbian hRlf-dollRrS and medals, Iss-
bella rings and lockets, canes, umbrellas,
flowers, fans, handkerchiefs, pens, badges,
photos, German, Egyptian, Chinese
trinkets-Rll are offered for sale at big
prices; part Of the proceeds to 90 to the
exposition. Even the national govern
ment is in the scheme. Two souvenier
postsls are sold for five cents. The
worker must pay for the fair, as for
everything else. The idler pays for
nothing. He escapes even taxes. For,
having done nothing, he rightfully owns
nothing, however much property he may
hold in his name.
The good people who have such
horror Of psternslism must be painfully
shocked when they visit the Government
and Fisheries buildings and see what
dire inrosds this scourge is making into
the beloved competitive system. The
government, it would seem from the
exhibits, has left it's proper sphere, what
ever that may be, except to secure the
greatest good to the greatest number,
and instead, has gone into the fish rails
ing business, constructing hRtcheries,
dams, ponds and special cars. Why not
let individuals do thisY It displays
models Of quarantine hospitals, Of dams
for deepening rivers, Of lighthouses and
Of life-ssving apparatus. Last but not
least, there ia the postohice department.
Doubtless the infectious diseases should
be left for the physicians. The improve
ment Of rivers and hsrbors, the erection
Of lighthouses and the maintenance Of a
life-saving service should be left to the
navigators who are interested in them.
Like the sub-treasury scheme, these
subjects are 30 narrow and affect 80 few
people. Legislation concerning them is
class legislation. The postofice, too,
might be left to private corporations, as
the railroad, telegraph, telephone, street
.l..L-.. l.-lL. IL