Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-12-03
Burton Failed to Divide.


TOPEKA, Nov. H. A little sensation was
caused here, to-day, by the publication Of
story from Cy Leland's home, to the effect that
Leland sent ]. R. Burton to New York i'll 1894
to get funds from Marley and Platt to aid in the
election of Morrill,.
The story goes that Burton pot $40 ooo and
that, instead of giving it to Leland to be used
in the interest of the state ticket, he used it
himself to elect representatives favorable to his
candidacy for the United States senate. 1t was
this trick OH the part of Burton that finally de-
feated him. Leland, smarting under the trick
cry of Burton put up Lucien Baker, set all the
machinery i'll motion against Burton, and de-
feated him. 1t is also said that this is the
cause of Leland's unaccountabe influence over
Baker since that time.
At any rate, it is stated positively that Bur
ton uegled with the $40 GOO to his own advan-
tage, instead of giving it to Leland to help
Morrill,, Special to Kansas City Times.
A New YORK banker argues that the pros.
perity of the banks insures the prosperity of the
people and the government; and so the Bankers
association of that state asks for issue of
$500, ooo, 900 more of nteiest-be tring bonds OIL
which to base a further issue of bank notes
We are all apt to think the country is prosper
Gus when we are prosperous. A rush of sherif's
sales means prospe rity for the printer, Int hard
" for the people So when money is scarce
and commands high interest, times are pros
porous for the money-lo lner though fai other
wise to the men who have the interest to pay.
We are all too narrow and selfish and too apt
to get the notion that the world revolves around
us or our particular vocation. We need to
broaden out and recognize the fact that no last
ing or general prosperity can be based on I'M
Just conditions, and that whosoever gets prop
ertv or labor without returning all equivalent is
in essence a thief.-Star and Kausan.
No people ever do govern themselves until
they are fit for self-government. Even with
universal suffrage, unless the people know what
thev want and 60 ntelligently to work to Sc
cure it, they will be the prey OF cunning trick
sters and WHY schemers. Representative gov
eminent is an improvement Oil the monarchal
form; but people VINO remain satisfied with
representative government when they might be
lawmakers themselves are not yet ready to
rule. We still brve rulers though We choose
them at intervals. To call such government
as ours government by the people, or self-gov-
eminent, is very common error, but none the
less an error. The law-maker of to-day has no
responsibility to his constituents nor have they
any check OH him. True, they can turn him
down when his term expires, but tfey can cnly
do it by putting some one in his place who Will
be equally irresponsible. Until the whole rco-
pie can demand and secure a vote on any act
the legislature passes, they will not enjoy self
government. Just as soon as the people know
enough to govern themselves they will demand
and secure the right to govern themselves. AS
Henry George said, it is their own ignor: n e
that enslaves them. These are popular truths,
but they are indisputable. -S;ar and Kansan.