Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-10-24
through the testimony of Mrs. MARI e.

through the testimony OF Mrs Mary e.
Lease and Mr.. n. nj. Hinshaw, two of
the populist trustees in charge of the
state charitable institutions, and
through the unanimous findings of the
committee, composed of republicans
and populists, that investigated the
condition of those institutions, that
they were in a deplorable condition
under populist rule; that the unfortu-
nate inmates were inhuman1y treated,
by being deprived of the proper guam
tity and quality of food and clothing
and by neglecting the sanitary condi-
tions surrounding them, whereby
much sickness and mortality unneces-
sarily resulted, and this, too, in the
face of the fact that more money per
capita was expended in their care and
main tenance than has been necessary
under the present republican officials,
under whose management the inmates
are better clothed and fed, at less ex-
pense, and the sanitary condition SO
improved that sickness and death have
been reduced to a minimum.
Under the wise supervision of Gov.
Morrill, a new system of accounts and
records has been devised for the man
agement of the institutions, whereby
a complete check is had upon every
purchase of supplies and the disposal
of the same. A complete accounting
is also had of all state property, these
conditions being rendered imperative
by a system of monthly reports, which
are closely scrutinized by the state ac-
countant, an officer of the governors
department.
Until 1890 Kansas occupied a proud
place among the American states.
Her progress in all material ways had
been remarkably great. Upon all
moral questions her people were in the
lead, and upon questions of public
economy her lawmakers and states
men were in line with the best thought
of the country. Her credit was equal
to that of any of her sister states.
As the result of these condi-
tions, immigration was large and
the influx of capital great. Heed
less of the future, her citizens
expended money lavishly. Expensive
municipal buildings were erected and
other improvements made, which, in
many instances, might have been dis
pensed with or made at much less cost.
Almost invaria bly, these buildings were
erected or improvements made by the
aid of borrowed money. In fact, con-
ditions were such to induce reckless
expenditures and the contraction of
debts, with but little thought of the
payment that must be made in the
future. The reaction from the wild
speculation then prevalent came as a
matter of course. as it always does in
such cases. The people, burdened
with debt, suffered also from crop fail
ures, which increased the weight of
the financial burdens they had as
sumed, and, seized with spirit of des-
peration. they sought to relieve them
selves by legislation. They listened
to the wild yet plausible vagaries
of political demagogues and elect
ed a populist administration to take
charge of state aft hrs. Men were put
in public positions who were either
void of ability integrity, and the re-
suit was an administration inefficient
and most reckless in expenditures.
Realizing the mistake they had made
the people two years ago restored to
power the repu blican party and elected
E. n. Morrill, governor. The result
has been that state affairs have been
put on a businesslike basis and admin
istered in an economical manner here
tofore unknown in the history of our
state. Over $500. 900 have been saved
to the people. The evidence is so over
whelming that it is to the interest of
every taxpayer of Kansas to perpetu-
ate the present state administration,
that every citizen should see that there
is no doubt of his reelection on the Sd
of Novemb
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