The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-25
One Party's Rule Just the Same
as Under AnOther's.
In Fact, the Biggest Liquida-
tiOn Has Taken Place
IN THE LAST s MONTHS
Party Politics Can't Affect Kan
sas Business Honesty.
HOwls of Eastern Money tenders
Changed to Songs of Praise.

Within a period of eight years, be-
ginning with 1890, the people of Kansas
have paid off $3.50, ,OOOO 600 of mortgage
Indebtedness.
In 1890 the government census gave
the total mortgage Indebtedness of the
state, in round numbers, at S240, 600. 600.
Since that time $40 100000 OF the amount
to the beginning Of the present year
the people had paid in cash to eastern
creditors $12O 600, 900. By January 1sts
1898, when the farmers shall have real
lied from the bountiful crops of this,
the red letter year for Kansas. they
will have reduced the mortgage debt
1000 900 more
There will remain of this obligation
only $4,000, 600 With the millions Of
money piled up in the banks of the
state and represented in the agricultu-
raj and live stock products now in
Slght, the liquidation of the last in
stallment of this hideOus Kansas night
mare will not be long delayed.
During the eight years beginning
with 1890 and ending with 1897, the far
mers of Kansas, who constitute 70 per
cent of the population, have produced
wheat, corn, cattle, hogs, sheep. live
stock products, and all other kinds OF
crops, to the value of nearly 81, 600 00O.-
0QO-mOre than enough to pay off the
national debt.
The impression prevails in the minds
of many people outside of Kansas that
the farmers of this state, during the
period named, abandoned their fields
and herds and devoted their time and
talents to the work of solving the
financial problems of the country. 1t
is true that the people of Kansas adopt
rare, original and picturesque plans for
conducting their political campaigns,
and it is also true that they do not
seek advice from other quarters as to
how they frame their platforms but
these little idiOsyncrasies which distin-
guish the Kansas people from those Of
other states Of the union do not war
rant the statement that they are dis
honest or imprOvident. A people who
have, through reVeTSeS and crop fall
ures, paid off a debt of $3.50 000, 900 in
eight years, deserve more httiHg ap-
pellation than that, OF 'repudiators.'
A review of the past eight years in
Kansas agricultural history is as in
tereSting as the result is marvellous. It
was in 1890 when Kansas introduced to
the world a new and unique brand OF
politics. Then it was that every man
who had a dollar invested in the state.
if he lived beyond it's borders began to
wonder if ne would ever get returns on
his investment. For several years there
after the credit of the state was alta low
ebb, capital withdrew and the banks
practically quit business. Finally the
tide turned, money sought investment
in lands, in cattle and the various busi-
ness enterprises necessary in the COM
merciaI world Early this year d revi-
val in all branches of business was felt
in every nook and corner of the state
In the very midst of the harvest when
the farmers were rewarded with 81
OOO. .O00 bushels of wheat. prices of all
farm commodities steadily advanced,
until today, prosperity, based upon the
millions represented in the products Of
the soil, in the herds upon the prairies
and in the OvercrOwded vaults of the
banks, is felt in every community
The state board of agriculture pub
fishes biennially report of the produc-
ton and market value of every product
including live stock-raised by the
farmers of Kansas. These reports are
based on information gathered by re-
liable and trustworthy men in every
neighborhood in the state. When the
twelve or fifteen hundred correspond
ents have furnished the data to the
board the secretary, with corps OF
assistants, carefully complies them ana
publishes the result. During the p years
of the life of this board, no one has
dared to challenge the truthfulness OF
its reports
During the year 1890. Kansas pro
duced S811 PA bushels of wheat It's
value was S23, 40, 54S. The yield of corn
was. 81. .O90, ,229 bushels, and its value
was S21 491, ,916. The oat crop that year e
Welded 29.175, ,582 bushels Its value
was S9174 400. The value OF live stock
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