Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-12-21
Beware of the Subsidy Bill.

Chicago Tribune (Rep,)
Already there is much uneasiness manifest
among the people over the suggestion that war
taxes shall be continued in order that $o,ooo,-
600 year may be turned over to mine-owners
ship-builders and other rich men, for the most
part living in the East, while it has not as yet
been demonstrated that particle of benefit will
accrue to any agricultural interest, nor much,
if any, to the manufacturing interests of the
middle West 1t may be that some producers
on the seaboard will be enabled to transport
their commodities to foreign markets lower
rate than at present. This will not be the case
as to the West which is handicapped, so far as
the sale of manufactured products in foreign
markets is concerned, by its distance from the
seaboard and the cost of railroad transportation.
Nor has any sufficient reason been advanced
why the money of the people should be used to
subsidize particular private commercial inter-
ests. The word Subsidy" is odious to the
people. 1t is itself enough to damn any meas.
ure to which it is attached. That void has
killed more than one statesman. Senator POM
eroy of Kansas was known to his day as Sub
sldy POM A nickname of that kind, which
sticks and stings forever, may be attached to
some of the statesmen who propose to vote for
this ndefensible bill now before the senate.
That bill will slay more political regulations
in the West than any measure which has been
before congress since the salary-grab law in
1873. ~ GUST fro 4 ;LeI o. llfortable seats
in the national legislature number of gentle
men who feel secure now. They will not be
so secure under the new apportionments which
will be made in most Of the states next year.
There is narrow Republican margin in the
house at the best. 1t will be surprising if a
sufficient number of votes can be mustered in
that body to pass bill so indefensible in its
nature and so hateful to the common people
not hateful necessarily to the rich people who
have large bank accounts and who have money
invested in mines, steamship lines, and large
manufacturing enterprises, but altogether hate
full to the people who work with their hands or
are merely wel-to-do.
There was great outcry during the cam
paign against the attempt of Mr. Bryan to
make an appeal to class distinctions and to ex-
cite class animosities. The object of the pres
ent congress seems to be to rush through, under
whip and spur, in the expiring hours of con-
gress not fresh from the people and out of touch
with them, bill embodying class legislation
which will justify in some measure Mr. Bryan's
class appeal.
That appeal was not unsuccessful in the large
cities of the United States, 10th east and west.
1t was notably successful in Chicago. All the
advantages were on the side of the Republicans
so far as the great issues of the campaign were
concerned. Yet they were only able to carry
this city by the poor plurality of 7,6I9.
If there is a change in issues, the sound
money question disappearing from the scene
the gold Democrats going back to their natural
party afiiations--and the ''subsidy" issue has
to be confronted instead of the money issue,
there will not be a Republican plurality in Chi
cago in 1902, and fewer Republican representa-
tves will be elected from this part of the state
than were elected last month.