The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-14
THE MISFORTUNE OF KANSAS.

A resident of Kansas has written and
printed pamphlet in which he sets forth
the misfortunes of that State. This resi-
dent calls himself tired man." THE Fall
of Ingalls, and what Happened appears
on the title page followed by these lines:
We have labored long and well,
Raising corn and raising hell,
But we cannot sell our hell,
And we ought to quit spell.
The writer says that in 1890 Kansas had
been through a four years boom and was
again down to bedrock, having gained and
lost 100000 population. In 1886 and 1887 the
Wheelers and kindred secret organizations
swept through the Southwest. At the same
time the Farmers Alliance and other far
mers' secret societies were organizing in
Kansas Socialism began to creep into the
State. In 1890 the condition was that of an
insane fervor. People went politically crazy
over night. The Farmers Alliance carried
the election in 1890 and dominated the Leg
islature and succeeding legislatures until
1899. Mr.. ingalls, was beaten for the Sem
ate and his downfall marked the real mis-
fortunes of Kansas. In 1890 the population
of the State was 1,427O96. The official GEN.
sus of the State in 1899 showed a popula-
ton of LAPS, 119. The number of children of
the school age, children enrolled in the
schools and the vote at the two periods in
dictate less population. The writer estab-
fishes the fact that the increase of popula-
ton In Kansas should be Is to each 1000
and should have been 1.7S22 43. in 1899, in
stead of LAS, 1l9-a loss of 357,14, by per-
sons leaving the State, to say nothing of
the loss of immigrants that naturally come
to new State like Kansas, making the
total loss of population $4,000.
The .'tired man" next considers the rea-
sons which led so many people to leave
Kansas. Since the reign of fusionism or
Populism in Kansas no man has gone
thither to invest money. There have been
no investments except in mortgages. War
has been officially welcomed to the State
except tramps. The Populists passed a
law TO confscate public utilities, and no.
body has gone to Kansas to invest in pub
lie utilities since 1890. The only thing that
has protected capital in Kansas is the
United States courts. Many of those who
went away were the best in the State. They
took values and money. The assessed valu-
alton of Kansas in 1890 was s34S, 459 943; in
1899 it was 1921, 165 530-a loss of 81, 100000 in
nine years. Instead of loss, there should
have been a gain of per cent a year,
which would have given a valuation of
$5O5, 267, 900 in 1899. Consequently, there was
loss of 1881 600 During these nine
years the value of the crops of Kansas
was $40 600; yet all that, except bread
and clothes, has gone, which shows that
the people who left are the well-to-do.
Populism, fusion. was beaten I'm 1898.
and the good results are seen; if it shall
be beaten in 1900 the State can be redeemed,
because then it will be possible to repeal
alien land laws. prohibition, confiscatory
laws and pass laws encouraging capital.
The ''tired man. declares that II Popu-
lism and Socialism cannot be beaten in
Kansas as political factors 1--WE might as
well bid goodbye to Kansas" Forty thou
sand Republican majority in Kansas this
year." the writer declares. Twill beat
100 900 bushels of wheat, 2O0,OO0,0OO BUSH
els of corn and 100000 steers