The advocate., 1894-04-04
HOME INDUSTRIES.
An Address by the Topeka Trade and La
Dor Assembly.


To the Public:
'"The poor you have always with you"
is tFuism that f1ourished with the birth
OF Christianity, and succeeding ages
have witnessed no amelioration Of the
then existing circumstances. The better
ments Of conditions have been the study
Of every generation, each at times grad
ually lessening the burdens Of the var
ious elements Of society, but with con-
slant lapses Of effort, which have appar-
emily retarded the good effects intended.
With none but the best intentions, and
looking to the highest interests OF all
classes, the Trades and Labor assembly
of Topeka desire to offer q few sugges-
tions to the producing and consuming
thinkers Of Topeka. Among the diversi
fed interests of the city it is difficult to
briefly select from the number those OF
a possible comparative value to producer
and consumer, but at venture the flour
and tobacco intereSts-both prominent
Topeka industries-are selected, the one
an indispensable necessity, the other, as
may seem best, necessity or luxury.
The -four industries Of Topeka are
conceded to be without q peer, not only
by it's home and interstate patronage,
but through the large demand which its
excellent qualities have created for it in
foreign lands. The manufacturers may
claim they have no just cause for diSsat-
isfaction; that their competition is le-
gitimate, and that they get their just
dues, yet is it to the credit Of the con-
sumner that for the saving Of paltry per
cent. he transfers his patronage to for
eign territOrv which produces no returns
to his city or to him? Would not the
money forwarded to other sources for
this one commodity, if spent for home
| productions, create demand for in
creased works, larger number Of work
men, and following the sequence to the
end increase Topeka's interests both nu-
merically and financially-all this, too,
with but triae of self sacrifice on the
part of the consumer?
Of the tobacco industry of this city it
is unnecessary to enlarge on the yearly
consumption Of home and foreign pro-
duction. 1t is but q short time since
that urgent appeals were sent broadcast
for a fund for the establishment Of
WOOIlcu OAOy1 WAlOA1 Ah OAO
entirety Of its employees will be but
drop in the bucket compared with the
number who might secure employment
in the single branch of cigar manufac.
turing were its interests properly looked
after. The factories of this city might,
with no monied assistance other than
their just patronage quickly increase
their working force over one hundred,
thus bringing to our midst workmen who
would contribute to the welfare of the
city by improving business in various
channels. Instead, how is it? The fac
tories now maintain struggling exist
ence, oftimes the proprietors, with re-
duced force, carrying on their operations
at a financial loss. And whose fault? Is
it the consumer, who, for q fancied
craving, prefers to contribute to the re-
gions of Topobolambo rather than to look
after the interests of his own household?
Or, is it the caterer who blindly selfish
Of all but his own interests, neglects to
push forward those Of his own city?
Some Of the latter may be care, ssly neg
ligent, while others are wilfully culpa-
BILE, but, to their shame be it said, some
absolutely refuse to deal in homemade
productions, although Of equal and Oft
times better quality than those in their
possession. And that, too, while solicit
ing the patronage of the very men whom
they so deliberately insult. What shall
be said of this class of citizens who so
anxiously desire the traffic which tends
to fill their Golfers, and ask their patrons
to kiss the hand that smites them.
Their interest in the prosperity Of the
city or state is coincident with that Of q
prominent Kansas avenue fruit mer-
chant, who short time since was asked
what he thought were the prospects OF
his fruit trade.