Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-08-02
GARNETr, KANSAS, AUGUST 2, 1901.

the government warehouse scheme of the Farm
ers' Alliance was in the interest of the farmers
exclusively, and it was not perceived, or was
lost sight of, that agriculture is the base of all
prosperity. In consequence of the drouth, the
city people are worse off than the country peo.
pie. It is vain regret that both country and
city people are in hole, all because they had
not the common horse sense to lay by for a
"rainy day"
repeat the thought of former article, that
if our civilization is to continue to advance,
emergencies must Ie provided for through the
local storage of surplus farm products.
1t is true that "man docs not live by bread
alone, but it is just as true that he cannot live
without bread; and bread, being the first great
essential, is of the greatest importance.
1t is being demonstrated all over the world
to day, and was demonstrated yesterday, that
civilization withers and slowly perishes where
the mass of working people ale il-fed, poorly
boused and scantiIy clothed. A drouth or crop
failure, unprovided for, is setback to civiliz-
alton.
With the exception of few men who have
corn in store, every farmer of my acquaintance
will lose more money this year than he gained
in the four years of Mckinley soap-bubble
prosperity, and the more he has, the greater
the loss, proportioned to investment.
The very poor cannot be further reduced,
financially. 1t is the man of moderate means,
or who is just able to live comfortably, who is
so greatly injured; and the tendency is to swell
the ranks of the class who are at the bottom.
If the number of very poor people were de-
creasng, then we would have prosperity. If
the reverse is true, we have adversely.
The drouth has shown conclusivey that men
of fair means could EASILY be .oppled over into
bankruptcy, and, eventually, into want and
starvation.
1t is very poor sort of building that rocks
in every wind, and that is just what happens
to the American people. The winds of drouths
CT financial panics rock us to the foundation.
The storage of surplus III the years of plenti-
full crops can only be accomplished through
cooperation.
The civilized hog is holding corn for 81 per
bushel. Next year, if there is an abundant
crop, corn will BE- down-maybe to twenty
cents. Farmers have run SO far behind this
wear that necessity will force them to sell.
Freights will be up little to pay dividends on
railway water. The steel trust has food of
water, and farm implements and hardware will
necessarily advance, SO as to keep the water at
high tide. Oil, sugar and all other kindred
concerns will continue to bore down into the
vitals Of civilization, forcing the flow to gush-
lug stream of the water that is dried up, dead
sure, in "the lake that burns with fire and
birthstone, !" or that could be dried at tine Amer
ican ballot.box.
still stand by the Eternal Providence, but
from the Mckinley providence, Lord deliver us!
The rains that the Lord sends causes us to
shout and sing for joy. The water of the Nc
Kinley providence is liquid fire to the. vitals of
civilization, and increases the thirst it presumed
to quench. The Eternal Providence has sent,
and always will yend, abundant rains for mans
needs, if used inlelgently aud for the benefit
of the masses. The water of fhe Mckinley
providence is as one-sided as Hades, and just
about as desirable for the people who earn their
living by honest toll.
Up with God and the farmer, and down with
Mckinley and the trusts!