The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-27
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH KAN.
SAS?
ET,o-ia, Kan. Gazette.

Eapo-i5, Kan. Gazette.
To-Day the Kansas department OF agri-
culture sent out i statement which lndi-
Gates tAa; Kansas has gained less than
400 people in the last year. There ara
about 1900 families IN the state. and
there were about la,0ea babies born il
Kansas, and yet 50 many people have lert
the state that the natural increase IS cut
down 20 less than 200 net. This has beea
going on for eight years.
II there had been a high brick wall
around the state eight years ago and not
soul had been admitted or permitted -
leave. Kansas would be half 4 million
souls better of than she IS today. And yet
the nation has Increased IN population.
In FIVE years 100000 people have been
added u the national population, yet 1n
stead OF gaining a share in this-S1y $4,000
Kansas has apparently been q plague
spot and in the very garden CT the world
has lost population BY the ten thousands
every year.
Not only has she los. population. but
she has lost wealth. Every moneyea man
in the state Who could get out without
great loss has gone. Every month in
every community sees 81 me 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 ;owns where ten years ago there were
three or four or half dozen money lend
ing concerns stimulating industry by far
niShing capital there is noyy none or one or
Two that are looking after the interest
and principal already outstanding.
No one brings any money into Kansas
any more. What community knows over
one or two men who have moved in with
more than $4,000 N the last three years.
And wha, community cannot count half
a score of men in that time who have lett.
taking all the mcaey they could scraHe to-
gethera
Yet the nation has grown rich. Other
states have increased in popUnton and
wealth-o,her neighAoring states. Missouri
has gained nsarly 2,0oo.oop while Kansas
has been losing half r million. Nebraska
has gained in wealth AMI population. while
Kansas has gone down hill. Colorado has
gained in every way. while Kansas has
lost in every way since 1SSS.
What is the matter with Kansas
There is no substantial city in the state.
Every big town save one has lost in popu-
latiou. Yet Kansas City, Omaha, I.incoin,
St Louis. Denver. Colorado Springs. Sc
dalia. Des Moines. the cities Of the Da-
kotas, ST Pau. and Ninneapols-all cities
and towns in the West have steadily
grown.
Take up the government blue book and
you VIII see that Kansas is virtually eff
the map. Two or three little s,abby con-
sllar places in yellow fever stricken COM
nlunities that do not aggregate $4,000 a
year is all the recognition Kansas has.
Nebraska draws about 100000; little old
North Dakota draws SO. 600; Oklahoma
doubles Kansas Missouri leaves her
thousand miles behind; Colorado is almost
seven times greater than kausas-the
whole West is ahead Of Kansas.
Take ii by any standard you please.
Kansas is not In Il.
Go East and you hear them laugh at
Kansas: so West and they sheer at her:
so South and they ''cuss' her: go North
and they have forgotten her. Go into any
crowd % intelligent people gathered any
where on the globe. and YOU will find the
Kansas men on the defensive. The news
paper columns and magazine pages. once
devoted 10 praise OF the state. 10 boastful
facts and startling figures concerning her
resources, now are fiHei with cartoons.
gibes and Pefferian speeches. Kansas just
naturally isn't in the civilized world. She
has traded places With Arkansaw and
Tfnhuctoo
What's the matter with Kansas?
We all know: yet here we are a. IL again.
We have an old mossback Jacksonian,
who snorts and howls because there is
bath tub in the Statehouse, we are run
ming that Old jay for governor. We have
fanatic who said openly in a dozen speeches
tina. the rights Of the user are paramount
~ the rights e the owner We are run
ming him for chief tusti-e so that apital
viii come tumbling over Itself 10 get into
the state. We have raked the ash heap
% human failure in the state. AMI have
found an old hoo9skirt OF a man who has
failed as a business man. aho has failed
IS an editor. who has failed as a preacher,
II
n1an-at-large. lie VIII help the looks Of
the Kansas delegation in Washing ton City.
Then We have discovered a XII without .
law prar;ice, and have decided 10 vote
for him "a attorney general. Then for
fear some hint tha. the state had become
respectable M ht perco.ate through the
civilized portions Of the na.ion, We have
decided % send three or four harpies oat
lseturing. telling the people that Kansas
- raising he'll an6 letting corn 20 70 weeds
oh this IS 2 state TO Be proud Of We
sre people w-ao can ho,a vi ogr heads.
What Ne need here "a less money. less
cao.1sl. fewer white shirts and brains.
fewer men with business JUDGMENT. AM
moro Of these fellows who boast that they
arc "fust ordinary Cd cloahoppers ~.
-aat taey know more IN minute about
france than John Sherman" We need
more nnen who - posted who can knf-
low about th- crime OF =, w1o hate pos
tart and who think thNt because a man
believes ina national honor that 10 is "A
tool 81 Val street. Ne have hal few -
then some isstea. bar we want more.
Ne need several tAoasan5 rshber.ng IDIOTS
20 Sc~eech about tuc Great Res Dragon
% Lombard street. Wc dent need yorsl-
latscn, we Goat Hea3 wealth we tl0n's
ned vii dressed men or tho streets. -
3oa', need Sta1ilirE in tho natiGr. ~
don't reed ties on these fer;iie Drairies.
yesl bet We don't. What we are after is
the Tnoaey poHer. Because we AAve be-
come poorer ami ornier ard ueaner than
. spawned. d5>serlpev@3 Ulule Ne. me peo-
pc Of kaGSltss propose 20 kick. We don't
care % bald Da. we wssa 80 tear aowu
s.r9srz aye fvo 5fsas OF government
SAL olr ,soa.e Bryan az CAlcsso. There
arr hose VITO believe that = YOU frs reg
.ssate 20 Hlaka the ve.s-Eo-sio prosperous