Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-01-13
STANLEY'S MESSAGE.
New Governor of Kansas Writes of
the State IS Legislative Needs.
Does Not Favor Repeal of Prohibition
Advocates Giving New Railroad Law
Fair Test-Radical Reforms In
Handling Convlcts.

Ea< 1esL-kA0ic2i REFORMS In
Handling Convicts.
Topeka, Kan, Jan. 1O.-Gov. Stan
fey to-day delivered bis first message
to the senate and house of represen ta-
tives- It is as follows:
Kansas enters upon the twenty eighth year
OF its existence under most favorable auspices
The recent achievements of the nation are a
cause for general rejoicing, and the people OF
this state by voice and act have given generous
support to the administration and to its policy.
No state ever realized in it's exp rience the
sentiment contained in its motto more fully
than our own We are reaching the highlands
of prosperity, but we have surely COM up out
OF the lowlands of adversely. The period of
speculation from 1888 to 1888 caused the inflow
OF large sums OF foreign capital. which were
largely swallowed up or forced to leave the
state by the reaction and depression which fol-
lowed and as @ consequence were for the
first time in our history, compelled to rely up
on our own resources.
The voting Of bonds by the residents of cSun-
ties. townships and cities, the giving of large
donations to private enterprises and the mort
gaging Of private properly seemed more like a
passion than the exerciseoof reason; but for
the time being it Influenced the people, and
when the craze subsidized the Indebtedness Was
therein most cases-for money or benefits &C
tuallv received. and we all realized that there
was but one honest way to meet it. and that
was by payment where payment was possible
The condition which confronted the people of
ha0SaS In 1871 was QlSCOuEd0lnR. anu HOuiu
have deferred q people less courageous indus
trfous and frugal than our own; but wittDthe
readiness and Willingness which have always
characterized them they proceeded to the work
of dfscharging their indebtedness and building
up the waste places without the aid of outside
capital-no longer acknowledgements to the de-
velopmeat OF our natural resources. In q larger
degree than ever, engaged in the tillage of our
fields. the stocking of our pastures and the
working of our mines AS a result the herds
have been increasing the cribs and granaries
of the farmer well filled, labor is in great
demandJa ana finds ready reward, the states
man who piled politics trade is more in
evidence than in demand, and the wall Of
calamity has few auditors and no response
The report of the secretary of agriculture
shows that for the past year the value or our
farm products iI5l ,923 s23: live stock, 49,
227, $685. making total OF 1856, Isl. 1856 Agricul-
ture and stock raising being our great indu>-
tries. this showing is very f1attering We may
get a better idea OF this enormous value when
we consider that its equal distribution through
out the state would give more than $50 to every
person, or. estimating five mem berS to a FAM
fly. more than 5000 to every family in the state
But while farming and stock raising are our
great Industries, they are not our only
ones The reports of other industries
furnish, valuable information They show
that y,awe have the largest zinc min
ing camp in the world, and that coal. oil.
lead salt. clay, stone. gypsum and gas interests
have been making very satisfactory advances
The output OF lead and zinc ores in the Galena
value for the first Time in 1885. but during last
year the output was largely In excess OF 1000
COO Thes value OF the other products above
mentioned last year, approximately
q. $40. QUO To this add the value of the zinc
and lead products and we have more than
$1,000 COO as the value of the annual production
OF industries. nearly all Of which are Of recent
development state of such resources and
the wonderful possibilities they afford should
be our pride and it's further development our
greatest desire.
Our Public Institutions.
The condition of public institutions is
not entirely satisfactory. The management of
many of them has been characterized by too
much politics and too little bu >ineSS The
people OF the state. at large expense have
made provision for the care of those who be-
come public CHI lrges and nearly half of the
taxes being expended in making provision
for their comfort and support The care of
these persons is a trust too sacred to be neg
lected and the amount of money necessary
for their support too great to be placed
at the disposal of political freebooters-
Efficiency. rather than party service
should be the test of fitness for
appointed to responsible positions in connec-
ton with tho management of our charitable
and penal institutions, and drunkenness, vul-
garity and profanity should be bar TO such9
appointment and sufficient ground for dismiss
al made so by law It shall be one of the oo-o
jects OF my administration to secure for our
public institutions the highest degree of hon.
esty and capability in their management. ana
to give to the wards of the state such sympathy
and care as their unfortunate condition de-
mandS
Prison Reform.
The management of the penitentiary has for
years been o subject of much ference of
opinion. Two theories have had their advo-
Gates: One that the penitentiary should be
place for the punishment of criminals and that
its management should only have In view the
safe keeping of those sentenced to conf1ne-
ment at the minimum cost: the other. that the
reformation of the convicts should be the chief
object to be attained and while economy is an
important consideration, 1t Is not the primary
aim OF prison management We have been
proceeding largely upon the first theory, and
have looked upon the balance sheet at the end
OF each year as furnishing proof of the success
or failure OF the conduct OF this institution In
my Judgment the cost Of conducting our prisons
Is OF great but not of first Importance
The good Of the convetS, their contin-
ual betterment, and their ultimate reformation,
should be the principal aim OF the administra-
tion of our penal institutions Some sy >tem OF
promotion and change OF employment ending
In parole and discharge-all as D reward for
merit-coud be inaugurated, that would set
before the convict the possibility Of earning his
own promotion and Anal release and. from the
moment OF entering prison. furni n him an in
centive for obedience, faithfulness and atten-
tion to duty. desire TO win the favor and con-
adence Of those having him in charge and his
ultimate restoration to the ranks OF good citi-
Gems
The brand of disgrace should not always at
tach q person. convicted of crime, and the
state should be the first in affording N cans and
opportunities for the convict to regain at least
q measure OF theJconfdence which he has lost
Punishment is often necessary, but ALWAYS
harsh IAN eye for eye" was the doctrine
of the old dlspensation. but in these latter and
better DAYS the old things are passing away
The growth of this reform idea has resulted in
the establishment of our reformatories. reform
and Industrial schools and at these institutions
this idea has had sort of imperfect develop
ment. Here punishment should be minimized
and reformation reach its fullest development
Intelligent and humane persons should be put
in charge and given every opportunity to work
out the highest good of those entrusted TO their
care. aud ample facilities should be Afforded
for that purpose