The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-23
CALLS 'EM IDIOTS
EX-GOVERNOR oRKsBEE OF YER
NOM HITS KANSAS A CRACK.

He Referred Of Courss to the People Who
Pat Popuiism In the 6addIe-He Talks
About Vicious Legislation Antagonists
TO Capital, But Finds Himself Unable 70
Say What Legislation That is-Hs Re-
treats and Then Puts the Hts Of the
State ON the Extravagancs Of tho People
He Doesn't Understand Kansas.
Ex-Governor Ormsbee Of Vermont was
in the city a few hours yesterday en-
route TO Texas, and was chaperoned
about by Colonel Sam Amidon and other
friends.
The governor has large property inter-
ests here ard in other parts Of the state.
He would pe pleased if they had not been
81 large. for he invested when the boom
was at its height, and when values were
very stiff.
The Governor, like great many other
eastern people, does not thoroughly I'M
derstand Kansas ard its people. He
called them idiots when a reporter for
the Eagle asked him whether any favor
abe change lad manifested itself in the
| attitude of the eastern people towards
| this state. He not only called EN- i'd
| lots, but he looked exactly as if he meant
| il. He made some slight reference to the
word Iunatics also. OF course, he oEly
meant those who put the Popuiists In
power last fall. He stated that the peo-
pie of the east would never love Kan
sas as long as the good people OF this
state continued to enact the avs that
they have been enacting. Capita, ne
said, would never core to the state so
;org as such vicious legislation would
eon.inCs.
When asked what legislation he had IN
| mis- mind that was most diScouraglns
to capital, the old gentleman seemed 10
| be unable to mention any law, either
rot knowing any, or having forgotten
them. He seemed to be completely as
tonished and bewildered when he could
not remember any specific law in the
statute book of Kansas that is injurious
to legitimate, conservative investment IN
| this state under the rules OF sound busi-
| ness principles.
When Governor Ormsbee saw how easy
il is TO be mistaken about Kansas ne re-
treated somewhat and guessed that the
conditions developed in Kansas, after
all. are not so bad when one comes to
think of them. He thought that perhaps
| the man who lent during the boom con-
tribu;ed nearly as much 10 the lrnatlon
as the man who borrowed. and thought
| that if a conservative course mad been
| followed everything would be all right
He insisted, however, that the people
of Kansas are too extravagant, becausa
they wear silks. drive carriages and
| have pianos in their houses. The Gov
ernor does rot understand that there Is
a specia. culture peculiar to Kansas
which demands this style of living.
Vernon. people can be as easily led In
to the mistake that it Is extravaganza as
a Sioux Indian can be led into the mis-
take that the wearing Of trousers anc
the riding Of bicycles is an extravaganza
The Governor actually thinks that Il
would be proper for the people OF kansas
10 go without the incidentals OF an &C
complished and cultured life in order
that the pound of flesh should go TO shy
,ock. When he was informed that tn
salvation OF Karsas lies In the TACT ina
her credit is gone and that she now ma:
10 build I'D on her own resources N
looked far away and thought until NJ
thought that was a good idea.
Ex-Governor Or,nsbee is nice gentle
man and looks like very solid and cor
seryatiye business man. even though nj
soecuiations in Kansas were not pro1t
| able