Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-02-21

QeJected MOOD anu, recognizing lne
situation from his present point OF view,
resolve upon the only dignified course
ces. Lead put in the right place will
quiet these tax producers.
1--WE can get money to build warships
to float around the world and fire sa-
lutes and to pay big pensions to the al
ready rich, but when it comes to doing
something practical for the benefit Of
the masses we are as the Chinaman
says: Alec times busted
THE canalzation of the Trinity
river at cost Of 81 ,OS0 900 would save
to the producers of Texas about $3.50
per bale on their cotton freights, but
our representatives won't demand it,
either because it will scare eastern
democrats or won't appear economical
If Texas is safely democratic, what is
the use of giving them any relief? If
we canalize the Trinity river it will
save the producers several millions
every year, but it will make the hold
ers of railroad stocks and bonds in the
east mad, and they won't put up any
democratic campaign fund. Instead Of
canalizing the Trinity river they will
build warship at cost of 100000
and call her Texas and let Texas girls
baptize her, and this won't hurt or Of
fend the railroads and will quiet the
mud sillers,' who will vote ticket, al
though ship won't float. This is the
game the democratic and republican
leaders give the people, and then tell
us that this is the government of the
people, by the people, and for the peo-
ple-but which people?
1--WE can build 81 ,000,0 900 park in the
middle of the Potomac river for the
official class to play hide and seek in,
but we cannot get any tax money to ia
cilitate the commerce of the state. Oh,
yes, this is governm ut of the people,
but it is the people controlling the
democratic and republican rings. There
is not representative in congress from
Texas but feels all he needs to do is talk
tariff and silver and cuss republicans
and ridicule populists to get a nomina-
ton by convention and then be
elected. AS long as it is this way Texas
will be in the soup.
''In return for all the racket we have
raised at the forks of the creek the
state administration has given us a
railroad commission without power to
act; higher taxes and more officials
Even the national government and
monarchles limit the amount Of fees
an officer can pocket, but this peoples
democratic administration fixes no
limit, and when the people talk about
reforming this abuse, the leaders begin
to talk tariff or silver or hunt some
popular individual to put into office.
In many counties the excess of fees over
50, 500 per annum to each officer would
put the roads in good order, but the
Texas democracy is afraid toreform this
system, for fear it will lose ward organ
izers or voters,so authorized an increase
of taxes. In Kentucky the leaders
thought that fool democrats could be
depended on to vote the ticket forever
Now where are they? What has hap
pened in Kentucky will happen in
Texas, for the people are politically
weary. They feel like killing snakes
at home instead of in South America.
The next democratic primaries in Texas
will be SHINY attended, for thousands
of democrats, without changing their
principles, believe that the party can
never be depended on for reform, and
know that it is political impossibility
to reorganize political party in power,
with the political patronage and cleo
ton machinery in it's hands. Demo-
cratic votes beat the party in Kentucky
and will defeat it in Texas.
"There are enough democrats and
republicans in Texas who hold Texas
prosperity and genuine reform Of more
worth than party fealty, to defeat with
their votes any ticket put up, and for
the good of the state without yielding
any convictions. They can flock to-
gether one day and argue with each
other the noxt. Populists could not
give us anything worse than the official
fee system and the ornamental railroad
commission in state politics; and in ma
tional politics no more extravaganza
and Generalization and unequal taxa
ton than the last democratic and re-
publican congresses. In congress they
could demand in behalf of the people
fair treatment in a tariff bill or an ap
preparation bill. They could be earn
est, IL not eloquent; honest, If not pol
ished, and preach and vote against the
autocratic tendencies of democratic and
republican congressman. They might