The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-09-04
WHAT Is THE MATTER WITH
KANSAS!

manner what Populist rule has done
for Kansas, and shows what it. will do
for Minnesota should the present
Popocratic combination standing on
the Chicago platform in any manner
happen to win:
''Today the Kansas department of
agriculture sent out a statement
which indicates that Kansas has
gained less than 1000 people in the
last year. There are about $4,000
families in the state, and there were
about 10, 900 babies born in Kansas, land
yet so many people have left the state
that the natural increase is cut down
to less that 1000 net. This has been
going on for eight years.
eff there had been a high brick
wall around the state eight years ago
and not soul had been admitted or
permitted to leave, Kansas would be
half a million souls better off than
she is today. And yet the nation has
increased in population. In ten years
100000 people shave been added to
the national pOpulation-yet instead
of gaining share of this-say 100000
Kansas has apparently been plague
spot, and in the very garden of the
world has lost population by the ten
thousands every year.
mot only has she lost population,
but she has lost wealth. Every
moneyed man in the state who could
get out without great loss has gone.
Every month in every community
sees some one who has little money
pick up and leave the state. This has
been going on for eight years. Money
is being drained out all the time. In
towns where ten years ago there were
three or four or half dozen money
lending concerns stimulating industry
by furnishing capital there is now
none or one or two that are looking
after the interest and principal al
ready outstanding.
mo one brings any money into
Kansas any more. What community
knows over one or two men who have
moved in with more than So, 900 in the
last three years? And what commu-
nifty cannot count half a score of men
l in that time who have left, taking ali
the money they could scrape to-
gether?
"Yet the nation has grown rich.
Other states have increased in popu-
lation and wealth-other neighboring
states. Missouri has gained nearly
100000, while Kansas has been losing
100000, Nebraska has gained in
wealth and population, while Kansas
has gone down hill. Colorado has
gained in every way, while Kansas
has lost in every way since 1888.
"What is the matter with Kanass?
"There is no substantial city in the
state. Every big town save one has
lost in population. Yet Kansas City,
Omaha, Lincoln, ST. Louis, Denver,
Colorado Springs, Sedalia, Des Moines,
the cities of the Dakotas, ST. Paul
and Minneapolis-al cities and towns
in the west have steadily grown,
"Take up the government blue
book and you will see that Kansas is
virtually off the map. Two or three
little scabby consular places in yellow
fever stricken communities that do
not aggregate $4,000 year is all the
recognition Kansas has. Nebraska
draws about 800, 900; little old North
Dakota draws $4,000; Oklahoma
doubles Kansas; Missouri leaves her a
Thousand miles behind; Colorado is
almost seven times greater than Kan
sas-the whole West is ahead of
Kansas.
"Take it by any standard you please,
Kansas is not in it.
$50 East and you hear them laugh
at Kansas; go West, and they sheer at
her; go South, and they 'cuss' her;
go North, and they have forgotten
her. Go into any crowd of intelligent
people gathered anywhere on the
globe and you will find the Kansas
man on the defensive. The news
paper columns and magazine pages,
once devoted to praise of the state, to
boastful facts and startling figures
concerning her resources, now are
filed with cartoons, gibes and PEI
ferian speeches. Kansas just naturally
isn't in the civilized world. She has
traded places with Arkansas and
Timbuctoo.
whats the matter with Kansas?
"We all know; yet here we are at it
again. We have an old moss-back
Jacksonian, who snorts and bowls be-
cause there is bathtub in the state
house we are running that old jay for
governor We have another shabby,
wild-eyed, rattle Drained fanatic who
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS