The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-28

Topeka Kan. oct. 2S 1902.
ITO the People Of Kansas:
..As the compaign is drawing to its
close 1 take this means of addressing a
deposited your ballots and recorded
your will in regard to the issues in
volved in this campaign.
Il have endeavored to conduct an
honora BILE and gentlemanly campaign.
| hope and believe it has met your 4ap-
proval. l have endeavored to treat my
political opponents fairly and honestly,
and have avoided all that which savored
of slander or personal abuse. I have
endeaVored to present, in Il plain, busi-
ness like way, the issues involved in
this campaign and to show their effect
on the people of this state, if approved
and adopted by them This text has
been rigidly adhered to.
1T is perhaps unnecessary for me to
call your attention to the methods
which have been adopted by the cor
porations and political bosses in their
eTorts to accomplish my defeat
Slander misrepresentation and personal
abuse has been. is being and no doubt
will continue to be reSorted to in an at
tempt to discredit me before the peo-
pie Believing that such attacks were
but a political scheme to divert me and
the attention of the people from the
real issues of the campaign, have paid
no attention to them. feeling that my
life and record constitute a complete
refutation of all such charges and an
entire vindication of my character
THE real purpose of all this personal
abuse, which is to accomplish my de-
feat by fair means or foul, should not
be lost sight of. And why resort to such
extremes? Because the corporations
and their tools know from my record
that they cannot handle, bribe or control
me; because 1 stand for the whole peo-
pie and not solely for them, and because
they know 1 will keep my pledges when
elected.
Briefly stated. the main issue in
volved in this election is. Shall the prop
erty CT the corporations be assessed and
taxed at the same rate and the same
ratio as is the property of the farmers,
the laborers and the home owners2 All
those who believe with us that this
should be done are urged to vote the
fusion state ticket. Those who are sat
isfied with the present system of taxa
ton, wherein the property of the cor
poratiOns is assessed al less than 10 per
cent. of its actual value, while all other
property is assessed al from so to so per
cent. of its actual value, are expected to
vote for the Republican state candi-
dates, who defend the present unequal
and unjust system of taxing railroad
and other corporate property, and who de-
clare they will not change it if elected.
We want Kansas people to derive the
same benefits from its corporations as
are enjoyed in New York. Indiana and
Missouri In doing this it will make
difference of about $40 each year for
each voter in the state, or about 81 7,000.
goo per year; or, where you now pay 800
taxes you will then pay $50 taxes. or
where you now pay so taxes you will
then pay IS taxes.
DO YOU ask how this can be accom-
plished? I answer. enforce the law hon
estly and equitably. Apply to corpora
tions and individuals alike the same sys-
tenn and the same rate of assessment
and taxation. This would increase the
taxes of the corporations in Kansas
about S7,000,00O annually and would re-
duce the taxes Of the individual tax
payer corresDondingly.
DO you ask why this has not been
done before2 In answer / charge the
bosses with never having enforced any
! law affecting corporations or any other
| law when political advantage or finan-
cial gain could be made by their non
enforcement. AS additional examples of
this charge I cite the following laws, not
one of which has been enforced:
The Farrelly antitrust law.
! The state gambling law.
| The prohibition law.
The Bush corporation law.
THE railroad law.
The laws protecting shippers Of grain
and live stock.
The old soldier law.
The laws protecting members Of or
ganized labor etc
! The Republican party never has en-
1 forced the laws affecting the corpora
tions and never will as long 1t is con-
I lTOlIeQ Dy men ike those VINO now man
age its affairs. Why2 Because they are
creatures of the corpora tions. They are
/ placed in power by corporations Cor
poration attorneys are the leaders and
bosses. The members of the party who
would do right by the people and wish
to deal fairly are powerless to act effec-
lively within it's ranks.
AS against the corporations, am for
the people. The corporations must be
made to do right The choice between
] good and evil hofnrp n
are involved. simply the question of
common honesty. Your vote will reduce
/ taxes, increase value of your property,
bring thousands of homeseekers to the
state, and make us rich as a people, or
you make our home people pay 81, 900 900
tax that ought to be paid yearly by the
rich nonresident stock and bondholder
to whom we are now paying interest on
six dollars for every dollar he has in
vested in railways and other public util-
tiles in Kansas.
In closing permit me to say again
I that the question is now up to you, as
tax payers and voters of Kansas. If
these issues meet with your approval. if
you want your taxes reduced one half,
if you want the laws enforced upon cor
poratons and individuals alike; if you
want honesty and economy in the man
agement of state affairs elect the fu-
sion state ticket next Tuesday and I
pledge You that these things will be
faithfully brought about.
After having made a thorough can
vass of the state, and judging from re-
ports received from private sources in
the various counties, l am confident
that the fusion state ticket will be elect
ed this year by a good majority. How
ever, our vote must be gotten out and a
fair count must be had and I want to
improve this opportunity to urge my
friends all over the state to be vigilant
and active on election day. Beware of
all tricks or schemes which may be at
tempted. Be generous but firm in up
holding our rights. The people want to
DO right and will vote with US this year.
Sincerely yours,
wv. H. CRADDOCK
j. M. Senter. chairman of the fusion
speakers bureau. has been looking up
the forecasts made by Republican man