The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-02
KANSAS AS AN OBJECT ESsoN
One of Its State Papers INDUCES in
Vigorous Talk.
EmDoria Gazette.

To-day the Kansas Department of Agri-
culture sent out a statement which indi-
Gates that Kansas has gained less than
2,e0o people in the last year. There are
about 125,o00 families in the State, and there
were about 10, 900 babies born in Kansas,
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.
around the State eight years ago and not
a soul had been admitted or permitted TO
leave, Kansas would be half a. million souls
better off than she is to-day. And yet the
Nation has increased in population. In five
years O,9o0,00O have been added to the ma
tional population-yet instead of gaining a
share of this-say 800, 000-Kansas has APP
parently been 2 plague spot, and in the
very garden of the world has lost popula-
ton by the ten thousands every year.
Not only has she lost population, but she
has lost wealth. Every moneyed man in
loss has gone. Every month in every COM
munity sees some one who has a little
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 a dozen money-lending con-
Germs stimulating industry by furnishing
capital there is now none or one or two
looking after the interest or principal al
ready 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 $1,000 in the last three years?
And what community cannot count half a
score OF men III ina Tune VINO nave leJt.
taking all the money they could scrape
together?
Yet the Nation has grown rich. Other
States have increased in population and
wealth-other neighboring States. Missouri
has gained nearly 1000, 900, while Kansas
has been losing 10000. Nebraska has gain
ed in wealth and population while Kansas
has gone down hill. Colorado has gained in
every way, while Kansas has lost in every
way since 1883.
What Is the matter with Kansas?
There is no substantial city in the State.
Every big town save c one has 1sd lost IN popn,
St. Louis. Denver, Colorado Springs. Sc
daia, Des Moines,- the cities OF the Da-
kotas. st. Paul and Minneapolis-all cities
and towns in the West have steadily
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 m
ties that do not aggregate &c., 900 a year is
all the recognition Kansas has. Nebraska
draws about 500, 000; little old North Da-
hota draws $4,000; Oklahoma doubles Kan
sas; Missouri leaves her a thousand miles
behind: Colorado is almost seven times
greater than Kansas-the whole West is
ahead of Kansas.
Take it by any standard you please, Kan
SaS is not in IL.
Go east, and you hear them laugh at
go south, and they 'cuss" her; go north,
and they have forgotten her. Go into any
crowd OF Intelligent people gathered any
Kansas man on the defensive. The news
paper columns and magazine pages. once
devoted to praise of the State. TO b~oastful
facts and startling figures concerning her
resources, now are filled with cartoons,
gibes and Pefferian speeches. Kansas just
naturally isn't in the civilized world. She
has traded places with Arkansaw and Tim
buctoo.
What's the matter with Kansas?
We all know. yet here we are at it again.
We have an old moSsback Jacksonian who
snorts and howls because there is a bath
tub in the S~tatehouse; we are running that
old jay for Governor. We have another
shabby, wild-eyed, rattle-brained fanatic
who has said openly in a dozen speeches
that the rights of the user are paramount
ming him for chief justice. so that capital
will come tumbling over itself TO get into
the State. We have raked the ash heap of
human failure in the state and have found
an old hoopskirt of a man who has failed
as Il business man. who has failed as an
editor. who has failed as a preacher, and
we are going TO run him for Congressman
at large. He Will help the looks of the
Kansas delegation in Washington. Then
we have discovered a kid without a law
practice and have decided to vote for him
as Acknowledgement Then for fear some
hint that the State had become respectable
might percoiate through the civilized por-
lions of the nations we have decided to
send three or four harpies out lecturing.
telling the people that Kansas is raising
hell and letting corn go to weeds.
Oh, this Is a state TO be proud of We
are 81 people who can hold up our heads.
What we need here is less money. less cap
men with business judgment ard more of
these fellows who boast that they are
Just ordinary old clodhoppeTs. but that
they know more in u minute about finance
who are posted who can below about
the crime of Il, who hate prosperity. and
who think that because "A man bel 1es in
national honor that he is a tool u Wall