Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-06-18
Republican Endorsement.

The Topeka Mail and Breeze has this to say
about the stock-yards controversy, IN which the
Populst plan is endorsed:
We have read with considerable interest the
Developments in the Kansas City stock-yards
case. The stock-yards people may know their
business, but it seems to us, in the light OF the
testimony, that the smart thing would have
been to submit to the law In that case, they
might have passed as martyrs to unreasonable
and oppressive legislation. AS 1t is now, ev-
erybody who has read the testimony will be-
ieve the law hasn't cut the charges any too
much, and maybe not enough. Sifted out and
boiled down, the facts in the stock-yards case
seem to be about these: The stock yards COM
panv started with capital stock OF 100000,
and, without drawing dollar from the outside,
now has stock of over 100000, which
still pays very fair dividend. From the pro-
ceeds of this original investment the company
is able to issue half-million in good paying
stock to Mr. Armour without embarrassing the
company or stopping dividends. Nothing III
the way of business venture has equalled the
career of the stock-yards company, so tar as
we know, except that related by the late Will
liam Nye where Wyoming cowboy started III
business with one Texas steer and branding
iron, and by carefully saving the increase, IN a
few wears had FIVE thousand head. Out iii
Kansas, we like water, but still recognize the
fact that it is possible to get too much OF
good thing. We are in favor of thrift in busi-
ness, but when an institution which makes the
bulk of its money off Kansas stock-men keeps
the directors busy issuing new stock Ill order to
keep the per cent. Of dividends down to reas-
enable figure, there would seem to be ground
for kick 1t is evid-nt enough, from this
testimony, that the shipper has been robbed
with thorouehness and regularity that chal-
lenyes degree of admiration. Still, it occurs
to us that the stock-yards company will even
tuallv get the worst of it. man may admire
the nealness and skill of the hghwayman who
no dis him up, goes through him and takes
What yer valuables and cash he happens to
have on Isis person, but at the same tm' 1t
makes him hot at the highwavinan, and, sooner
or laier, the highwayman is driven out OF busi-
ness. AS long as individual is robbed with
ont knowing if, he makes no trouble; or, II he
!, robbed, but doesn't know just when or how,
he nav not make much fuss about it; but
when a nan is robbed knows who robbed him,
and lust when and how it was done, there is
trouble.
We do not know that the present stock-yards
law will stand 1t may not, but every man IN
Kansas who has cow or steer or hog to SELL
which is shipped to Kansas City, knows now
that. TO some exlent lie has been robbed by
the exhorbitant charges of the Kansas City
stock-vards. If this law won't stop the hold
ND, a law will be figured out that WILL
THE Standard Oil Company declared divi-
dend of 20 per cent. for the first three months
of this year. This company imports its tin
free. while other tin must pay heavy duty to
support a mythical tin industry in this country.
Reader, do you think the silver question is the
only issue before the people!