Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1898-10-22
SPURIOUS
ECONOMY.
An Unbiased Address to the Teachers,
Parents, School Officers, Voters and
Taxpayers of Trego County-By
One of Them.

1t is customary and it is just to hold
the party in power responsible for the
discharge of public affairs. 1t is fair
to give such party due credit for the
good it may accomplish and its Off
GERS must submit to reasonable in
spection and criticism Of their official
acts. This article is written with a
sincere desire to give credit where
credit is due and to be lenient in criti-
cism.
RESPONSIBILITY.
For two years the Populist party
has had complete control of all the
state offices. Its officers have been
charged with the execution of state
laws. 1t has had control of both
branches of the legislature-the body
which makes law. 1t has majority
on the bench of the supreme court
which interprets the law and defines
it's application. The Populist party
of Kansas is, therefore. reasonably
subject to public discussion as to it's
success or failure in providing wise,
just and equitable government for
ECONOMY AT LANSING.
The party in power is asking for a
continuation of its control of state
institutions and among other alleged
reasons for claiming and expecting
popular support it is urged that the
party has given us an economical ad-
ministration of the state penitentiary
near Leavenworth. 1t claims to have
saved more than S17 900 to the state
as compared with the preceding two
years. Admit it. for the moment.
How was it done? The institutions
chief-or only source of revenue is
the sale of coal which is mined by
convicts. This sum is then just that
much taken from the wages of the
honest miners of the state. As the
Populist party had previously declar-
ed against bringing convict labor into
with free labor it may be
with insincerity and with a
desire to make political capital at the
of the laboring man.
ASYLUM SCANDALS.
For some time stories of incompe-
tency, neglect and brutality at our
insane asyluns have been in circula-
tion. The public was loath to believe
them and state pride prevented our
citizens from admitting that such
condition could exist
within our borders. The administra-
tion press characterized these stories
rs the revengeful fabrlcations of dis
employees and the people at
arge hoped it was so. But now the |
open letter of DIR. &. III. Wetmore
confirms the truth of all |
of the Topeka asylum |
Ind was not discharged but yoluntar- |
ly resigned in sadness and disgust |
because the state authorities could |
lot, or would not, remedy these evils I
wen when he asked for changes and |
because, as an honorable, humane |
nan. he could no longer remain in d |
position of apparent responsibility |
His exposure of this disreputable con-
iition is given credence and wide cir
;ulation by the papers of neighboring t
;tates and the self-respecting people
If Kansas must repudiate the admin
stration which has made these things
possible and has brought disgrace
lpon their state.
STATE SALARIES.
The party in power has advocated
economy in salaries of public officers
,ut it has passed no law reducing the
alaries of the state officers or of the
legislators or of the judges, most of
rhom are members Of that party 1t
id reduce the pay of some servants