People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-10-21
ESDV'S Economy.

ESpy's Economy.
Republicans do not have the nerve
to claim the reduction of county ex-
penditures all to Mr., Espy's credit,
out they show symptoms of having a
desire OF that sort. 1t may be welltO
show the sort of economy Espy prac-
ticeS There is scarcely an unfortu-
nate poor family in the district who
does not dread to approach him for
aid. Many of them are driven almost
to the point Of starvation before they
will make bold to ask him for aid.
One or two instances will serve to
show.
Last winter during the severe
weather it was very difficult
for day lab0rers to procure
work and many of them suffered
for the actual neceSSarieS Of life. One
very sad case came under our obServa-
tiOn. +. NJ. Jordan now living in the
Fourth ward and a resident of Wei.
llngtOn for a number of years has a
family consisting OF wife and two
children. Jordan suffers great deal
on account Of an abSceSs and a portion
of the time is unable to do any work
but when able is a good worker, as
many of his neighbOrs will testify for
whom he has worked. His wife does
washing and any other kind of work
she can get to do. Last winter dur
ing the severe weather the family be-
came hard pressed for something to
eat and application was made TO Mr..
ESpy for some -four and meat but
with Sneer aud insult they were
told to rustic for their flour and
meat. Being without meat or bread
to eat, carpet was taken from the
floor and sold to a second hand dealer
for $500. When the provisions pur-
chased with this small sum we're gone
another effort was made to get help
from Espy but with no better success
than at first and the last feather bed
and finally the quilts needed to keep
the family warm were taken t. the
second hand dealer and sold az a sac
rifce to secure meat and bread for the
family to eat. One day during the
winter the seven year old boy while at
school commenced to cry and when
asked by the teacher what was the
trouble he answered that he was sick.
1t developed after ward that the boy
was crying because he was hungry.
A good Republican old soldier came
in the other day day to relate another
instance of Espy's "cussedness" as he
termed il. His comrade, J. NJ. Kel-
ley, who died last fall, was sick many
months with consumption. he had a |
wife and five children depending upon |
him for Sustenance. After Espy had !
given them aid few times he went to |
the house and proposed that he
Kelley be sent to the Soldiers Home,
the children put out to work and let |
the "cld woman rustic for herself"
Kelley refused to agree to a PROPOSE. |
tion to thus separate and destroy his
family, and grieved much about it. |
The Thought OF it haunted him on his
death bed, and the poor man died |
worrying about it. Mr.. Keley's !
widow, who has jus, got up from an |
eight weeks spell Of sickness, caused |
by overwOrk, confirms this story and |
says she would almost work herself to |
death rather than ask Espy to assist
her. Sue elves now Oh North Walnut
street and has fortunately received a |
pension quite recently.
Mr.. Espy lives in his palatial home
and knows nothing of the SufferiDgs
of the poor. He could at least treat |
them kindly, but he does not. He
courts record for economy at the
expense of the deserving poor, at the
same time compromises a claim Of |
sl7OO against an outgoing county Of