The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-02
AN APPEAL FOR HELP
In Behalf of Sufferers In the Western
Part of Kansas

"A L. u n
In Behalf of Sufferers in the Western
Part OF Kansas.
To the People of Kansas:
The fact is patent that in those parts
of Kansas where there have been crop
failures for the past two years, there is
great suffering because of the lack OF
provisions and clothing. The wants OF
the destitute have induced them to make
known their condition to friends and &C
QuRintances in eastern states, and the
real situation has become SO magnifed
by the oft-repeated story that through
out those states the impression prevails
that many citizens of Kansas are on the
verge of starvation. and are praying for
death to relieve them from their misery.
Indeed. such is the statement in prom
inent eastern religious paper which
weekly devotes whole pages to the
is not nearly so bad as eastern people
make it appear. yet, "The poor always
ye have with you," and in western Kan
sas, as in probably every community on
earth, there is restitution, aggravated
there OF course, by two years of crop tall
ures.
Governor Morrill, has received so many
| appeals for and from the western coun-
ties of the state, that he has appointed a
matter, and TO collect aud distribute aid
to those who are in actual need with
view that no citizen in Kansas shall be
allowed to suffer for want of the neces-
saries of life, or for the small comforts
| which are essential to those in sickness
and distress. The governor has direct
ed that the surplus coal from the state
penitentiary be shipped as fast as it can
be mined to the stricken districts.
| ia
supplies the needed fuel. The commit
tee, whose names are signed to this ap-
peal, have correspondent with citizens of
those counties, and find that the failure
| of the crops left many settlers at the
opening of winter with empty granaries,
aud with no money to buy food, clothing
or coal
That many people in the stricken parts
of the state are greatly in need of cloth
ing and provisions is indisputable, but in
at least three-fourths of the counties in
Kansas there is an abundance from
which the sufferers may be helped, if
the charitably inclined people can only
! be reached
About the only way by which the real
| condition of the state as a whole can be
made known to those who have errone-
GUS opinions upon the subject is by the
state and its citizens promptly affording
the desired relief. If the public spirited
and liberal minded citizens of those
Kansas counties who are in fair or good
circumstances will at once take the mat
ter in hand and contribute their mite, the
wants of the needy in the less unfortun-
ate counties will be speedily relieved.
The committee. therefore, appeal to
the citizens of the eastern counties OF
the state, which have been more abund-
antly blessed with crops, to organize al
ence and collect provisions and clothing.
that they may be shipped direct to those
who are cold and hungry through nc
fault of their own They are citizens OF
Kansas; we must not allow them to suf-
fer; we are able to and we must take care
of them. We appeal to every church or
ganization and to every citizen.
Let the people of the several county
seats organize and appoint committee
to receive contributions of -four, corn
potatoes, bacon, clothing, etc, to be pu
together in car load lots The railroads
of the state have agreed to transport al
supplies free of charge. As soon as g
car load is collected, it would be advisa-
Bile for those in charge to notify this com
mittee, and obtain information as to what
districts are already provided for, and thus
more equitably distribute the supplies
Let no county, town or organization fai
, to respond. Hundreds of worthy people
are today suffering. Let every lover o.
, his state contribute something to THU
, worthy cause, and in the time of more
abundant harvests his generosity will no
be forgotten, but will return to him ont
+ hundred-fold.
SAMUEL T. HOWE,
THOMAS F. DoRAN,
JOHN MACDONALD,
Committee.
q All papers in eastern Kansas are
respectfully requested to reproduce thi