The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-06

men. who had come to Kansas to pick
I'D a fortune and not finding the fortune
waiting for them were quite ready TO be
convinced that someone or something
was TO blame The crafty leaders who
wanted money and votes. caring naught
for the ruin they wrought. soon persuad-
ed the brothers they were much abused
Young men Mrs. Lease told them TO
raise less corn and more H.. Jerry
Simpson told them they were nothing out
old farm horses: they had better quit
working and go to the circus Ben Clover
said they had better let the crops take
care of themselves while they sat behind
the barn and talked politics.
And the Popultst papers told them: the
t;llers of the soil and other working classes
were the only wealth producers and
ought to run the land and the wealth On,
IL was pitifuli The father being man
of some intelligence, meekiy tried TO
couuteract these ruinoJs influences. but
partial failure of crops the third year OF
their tenancy completed the work of de-
moralizat:on, and they decided to fol-
low the advice of the dssinterested heroes
who were befriending the ''down<rodden.
had a right to the luxuries- Luxury to
them meant exemption from work; lo.ter-
ing in town, dressed in loud clothes. riding
and racing over the country roads the i'll
cared for farm horses, or driving them
IN the carriage the weak father had
bought ION time" to political and other
gatherings. When the agent expostu-
lated with them they talked about capital
depressing labor. the greed OF the rfch
and all the f1imsy and dishonest argument
that had been put into their mouths
They had become so perverted in judg-
, ment and lost to a sence OF honorable
manhood they were not ashamed to class
themselves IN their youth. health and
strength with the poor and the aged widow
who had worked and saved in her youth
! that she might have a support in old age.
/ with the rich.
When the conscience Is weakened by as
senting to a lower level OF morals IL 10
easy TO continue the downward course.
The unhappy brothers. having accepted
Soctalstic and reputation theories. ma
turally tried to practice them In with
holding a part of the rent grain; and,
when accused of the theft and turned off
| the place, they boldly assumed the attf-
| tude Of the unujstly oppressed. claiming
| they had been driven TO the act by ne
cess.ty The poor old father and mother
loaded their few worldly goods and the
! younger children into a rickety wagon
and. with a broken-down team, Joined the
procession Of dilapidated humanity.
| moving strip-ward-
/ do not know what has become OF the
| young men. II they are not in the peni-
| Tertiary, they will. doubtless, cast their
| votes for the Demo-Pop silverite can
| didates next fall. If they had "get-up"
| enough to take them there they might
have been among those Texas steers.
at the st Louis convention. II would be
more reasonable, though, to lock for them
| on the side Of the man who shamefully
| boasts of planning to trick and deceive
| the Texas steers" who had at least the
redeeming qualities of honesty of pur-
porse and loyalty to the cause they had
| espoused.
This DER true tale. IN its essential fea-
| lures of ruined character and wrecked
/ lives can be duplicated in all parts OF the
/ county. Young voters are invited TO
/ give ii careful consideration LIS.