, 1896-08-24
WHAT'S WRONG WITH KANSAS

tFrom the Emporia Gazette, Aug. Isl
Today the Kansas department Of ag-
riculture sen out a statement which
indicates that Kansas has gained less
than 1000 people in the last year.
There are about 125, 900 families in
the state. and there were about 1000
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 or
for eight years.
If there had been a high brick wall
around the state eight years ago and
not a soul had been admitted or per-
mitted to leave. Kansas would be a
half a million souls better off than she
is today. And yet the nation has in
creased in population. In five years
1000. 900 people have been added to
the natural population. yet instead OF
Kansas has apparently beer a plague
spoot. and in the very garden Of the
world has lost population by the ten
thousands every year.
Not only has she LOST population, but
she has lost wealth. Every moneyed
al in the state who could get out
without great loss has gone. Every
month in every community e some
n with a 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 towns
where 10 years ago there were three or
four or half a dozen money-lending
concerns stimulating industry by furn-
ishing capital there is now none or
one or two that are looking after the
interests and principal already out
standing.
No n brings my money into Kan
sas any more. What community knows
over n or two men who have moved
in with more than $1,000 in the last
three years. and what community can
not count half a score of men in that
time who have left, taking all the
money they could scrape together?
Yet the nation has grown rich. 9th
err states have increased in population
and wealth-other neighboring states.
Missouri has gained nearly two mil
lion, while Kansas has been losing half
A million. Nebraska has gained in
wealth and population while Kansas
has gone down hill. Colorado has gain
ed in every way. while Kansas has lost
in every way since 1888.
What is the matter with Kansas?
Taken by any standard you please,
state. Every big town save one has
lost in population. Yet Kansas City.
Omaha, Lincoln, St. Louis, Denver,
Colorado Springs. Sedalia, Des Moines.
the cities of the Dakotas, St. Paul and
Minneapolis-all cities and towns in
The west. have steadily grown.
Take up the government blue book
and you will see that Kansas is vir-
tually off the map. Two or three little
scabby consular places in yellow fever
stricken communities that do not ag-
gregate 100000 a year Is all the recog-
nision Kansas has. Nebraska draws
about sl0O. 900; little old North Dakota
draws $50, 1000; 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.
Tike is by any standard you please.
Kansas is not in it.
Go east and you hear them laugh at
Kansas. go west and they smear at her,
go north and they have forgotten her.
Go into the crowd Of intelligent peo-
pie gathered anywhere on the globe
and you will find the Kansas man on
the defensive. The newspaper columns
and the magazine pages, mce devoted
to praise Of the state. to boastful facts
and startling figures concerning her re-
sources. now are filled with cartoons,
gibes and Pefferian speeches. Kansas
just naturally isn't in the civilized
world. She has traded places with
Arkansas and Timbuctoo.
What's the matter with Kansas?
We all know: yet here we are at it
again. We have an old moss-back
J~acksonian. who shorts and bites be-
cause there Is a bath tub In the state
house; we are running that old jay for
governor. We have another shabby,