Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-12-03
A Letter From Mr.. Turner.
Agra, KAN, Nov. %, 1896


EDITOR HERALD:-I beg leave to
make few remarks through your
paper on the situation, I highly ap-
preclste the honor conferred on me OF
representing this county in the next
legislature and am ready for advice
or information from any regardless OF
party, race or color in regard to meas
ures or laws calculated to benefit our
county and state, and solicit views
and IDEAS from those who have sug-
gestions to offer. Especially to those
of my political faith / desire to know
your choice for U. s. senator. AS for
myself believe the most needed leg
islation is beyond the jurisdiction OF
the state. Lack of circulating med
ium throughout the nation is the
cause Of the depression. Confidence,
monometallism, and tariff will now be
tried as the proper remedies, if effec-
tive we will gladly accept of them If
not there is another remedy awaiting
backed by patriotic hearts and hands
However one thing in the line OF state
legislation much needed ls the enact
ment of a bill giving to the people a
uniform system of text books for the
common school either furnished by
the state or under the contract system
and also one that will, under the local
option plan increase the road tax and
encourage the erection of dams by
substituting grades for bridges on
small streams and suitable draws,
As to resubmssion, in the absence Of
suitable petitions, 1 would consider
myself without authority to work for
a change. We may by Legislation re-
duce freight and passenger rates, but
1t is hard to make them effective
against combined corporate power.
The more strict the law the more
lronclad becomes the combination for
arrsying themselves against their pat
rons 1t certainly looks out of pro-
portion for the farmers OF Phillips
county to- sell corn for. 10 to IL cents
pei bushel and the railroad company
to get about s cents for hauling it to
Kansas City. When we accomplish
government ownership of railroads
we will then be in position to ef-
fectively legislate freight rates. Like
wise with interest Where individ'
uals or corporations own and control
money it is hard t" pass laws com.
polling them to loan 1t at a lesser
rate of interest than they see fit. The
only effective method ls to increase
the supply of money by Legislative
action, as there Is no money Other
than is created by law: Gold AND
silver IN a crude state are minerals
and not until they are stamped witt
the fiat of the government do they
become money. In one sense fai
hog is money, but he would be bulky
change to pass back and forth ovel
the cash counter and the cashier't
life would be a trying one. Its hare
to buy cheap hogs when the supply ii
scarce and 1t is hard to obtain cheaE
interests when banks are failing al
over the country for the want Of cash
1t is an easy matter to remove thu
surface of a wart but repeated irrita
tions may convert it into an agrivatinG
cancer. The best method is to g
after the root of the evil, likewise al
things that are to be regulated b!
law. Let US be up to the demands o
the age in which we live. Reason
from cause to effect, utilize natura
elements for the upbuildiDg Of hu
manity and prosperity,
Your obedient servant,
~ TT TrpNPD