Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-02-12
STANDING UP FOR KANSAS.

Under the above caption the Topeka
State Journal comments Oh the follow
ing letter written to the american, pub
lished at Philadelphia, by John w.
Breldenthal, chairman of the populist
state central committee.
IL seems the American is protection
journal but has some sound ideas on e.
nance. In commencing the action OF
the American in its step taken in this
direction, Mr.. Breidenthal makes a
strong point when he says that the
present financial system works evil to
the eastern man holding western Sc
curitles as well as to the western far
mer and real estate owner. The letter
as it appeared under the Journals COM
meDt of the 4th is published below for
the reason that it abounds IN sound
ideas and practical craftsmanship:
ut has always appeared strange to
me that the people in the east who hold
western mortgages should persist in
pursuing policy which is each year
making it more difficult for the farmers
OF the west, who are indebted to them,
to pay the interest on their Obligations,
and if the present financial policy of
our government is continued, it is only
a question of time when the holders of
the mortgage will be compelled to
take the land In satisfaction of their
claim. This will result, not because
of the fact that these lands are not
worth more than the mortgage, but
from the fact that there is no
market price, owing TO the poverty of
those who are anxious to use these
lands for homes.
81 happen to know that great many
of the people in your section of the
country who hold western mortgages
are disposed to denOunce our western
people as repudiatOrs because OF their
inability to pay their indebtedness or
the interest thereon promptly, but if
these men could be brought to a real
iZation OF the fact that it is the policy
of our government on this money
question that should be assalled instead
OF the victims of that policy, and if
these people could be induced to favor
an American monetary system they
would do Infinitely more good for their
country than by denouncing the I'M
fortunate farmers of the west who have
been compelled to submit to burdens
Orno for than thhv ooD hoor. b,,rdon,
coming in the shape of interest charges,
which when measured by the price of
the products of the farm, have been
doubled during the last few years,
freight charges made necessary in Or
der to pay the interest on inflated in
debtedness of our transportation COM
panies and the watered stock of the
same, which have also practically been
doubled by reason of the decrease in
price of the products that they carry to
market; also through the beef combine,
which absolutely controls the price of
the beef cattle, and In addition to these,
through various other combinations
which lay tribute on everything pro-
duced by the farmer, and again on ev-
erythlng he is compelled to purchase.
Il 4
1.-The people of the west are not dis
posed to be exacting, on the contrary,
they are more disposed to bear the bur-
dens that have been heaped upon them.
They stand ready at all times to favor
any policy that will insure them the or
binary comforts of life as return for
long hours of toll. They are not asking
for or expecting the Injuries of life.
They have been denounced as calamity
howlers, repudiators, and cranks,
simply because theJ have entered a pro-
test against the further encoachments
of corporations upon their rights, and
the adoption of the British financial
policy. If you can succeed in convinc-
ing the people of the east that there are
wrongs to be righted, and that the peo-
pie of the west are entitled to some con-
sideration when framing the legisla-
tion OF our country, as we'll as the Brit
ish holders of our vast Indebtedness,
you will have done a service to the peo-
pie of this country of inestimable
value"