Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-08-29
PRESS COMMENTS.
What's the Matter With Kansas. y
(Emporia (Kano Gazette.)

lure mas sent out Il statement when
indicates that Kansas has gained less
than 1000 people in the last year. There
were about 10000 babies born in Kan
sas, and yet so many people have left
the state that the natural increase Is
cut down to less than 1000 net. This
has been going on for eight years. If
there had been a high brick wall
around the state eight years ago, and
not soul mad been admitted or per-
mltted to leave, Kansas would be half
a million souls better off than she is
today. Not only has she lost popula-
ton, but she has lost wealth. Every
moneyed man in the state who could
get out without great loss has gone.
Money is being drained out all the
time.
What's the matter with Kansas?
Missouri has gained nearly two mil
lions while Kansas has been losing
half million. 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 Kansas?
There is no substantial @city in the
state. Take up the. Government Blue
Eook 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 q year is all the
recognition Kansas has. Nebraska
draws about 100000; little old North
Dakota draws $4,000; Oklahoma
doubles Kansas Missouri leaves her a
thousand miles behind; Colorado is al
most seven times greater than Kansas
the whole West is ahead of Kansas
The newspaper columns and magazine
pages, once devoted TO praise of the
state to boastful facts and startling
figures concerning her resources, now
are filled with cartoons. gibcs and
Fefferian 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, vet here we are at it
again. We have an old mossback Jack
sonian who snorts sand howls because
there is bathtub in the state house
we are running that old jay for GOV
cInor We have another shabby Wild
eyed, rattlc-brained fanatic who said
openly III a dozen speeches that the
rights of the user are paramount to the
rights of the owner; we are running
him for chief justice, 50 that capital
will come tumhling over itself to get
into the state. We have raked the ash
heap of human failures in the stateand
Rave found an old hoopskirt OF a man
who has failed as a business man. who
has failed as an editor. who has failed
as preacher. and wc are going To run
kim for congressman t-large, He will
help the looks of the Kansas delegation
in Washington. Then we have discov-
cred kid without law practice. ana
have decided to vote for him as attor-
rcy general. Then. for fear some hint
that the state had become respectable
might percolate through the civilized
portions Of the nation, we have decided
to send three or four harpies out
lecturng, telling the people that Kan
sas is raising he'll and letting corn 60
to weeds.
What's the matter with Kansas?
We need more men who are posted,
who can below about the crime Of -
who hate posterity and who think that
because a man believes in national
honor he is tool of Wall street
We have had a few Of them-Some $50
Dc0-but w want more. We need seV
cral thousand gibbering IDIOTS to scream
about the great red dragon Of I.om-
hard street. We do not need popula
ton. we don't need wealth, We don't
iced we'll dressed men on the streets
We don't need cities on these fertile
wed ont need cities on these fertile
.lains-you bet We don't. What we are
after is the money power. Because We
have become poorer and meaner than
q spawned, dstempercd mule we, the
people of Kansas, propose to kick. We
don't care To build up; we wish to tear
down.
That's the stuff Give the pros
porous man the dickens. Legislate the
thriftless into ease, Whack the stuffine
out of the creditors, and tell the debtors
Nho borrowed money five years ago
when the money in circulation was
more general than it is now that the
of the currency gives him
It right to repudiate. Whoop it up for
the ragged trousers; put the lazy
greasy tiZZle who cannot pay his debts,
on an altar and bow down and Worship
him. Let the state ideal be high.
What we need is not the respect of our
fellow men. but a chance to get some
thing for nothing.
Whats the matter with Kansas
under the shining sun. She is
losing wealth, population and stand
ing. She has got her statesman and