Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-09-26

farmer pays more for the goods he buys than
Europeans pay, it be possible that the out
come will afford blissfu termination to the
people who feed the hungry and clothe the
naked?
If the great corporations levy tribute upon
the farmers in high freights and dear goods, to
pay dividends upon fictitious stock, have we
not more cause for quarrel than our illustrIous
forefathers of 1916? If it is true that the
great heads of corporations sway cabinets in
fueuce courts and shape legislation, it is also
true that we are ruled by the tyrant of greed
and spoliation. If it is true that American
railroads and factories are mortgaged to the
sum of six billion dollars, and partly to foreign
investors, it is also certain that portion of our
earnings will be seized, with which to meet the
obligations and wealth produced in America
will be ,dssipated in Europe.
In part, at least these allegations are denied,
and the friends Of the merger claim that COM
binatol lowers cost st production. If the
cost of production is essened, who reaps the
benefit?
In this day and age of greed, will the labor
ing people be permitted to retain more than
bare living? If some other man allots his
=, share without reference to his due or claims,
what will that share be? Plenty of room for
inquiry, and ignorance will not give correct
answers or solve grave problems.
There is much 10 be said in the way of ad-
vice and instruction. The farmer has no lack
of teachers. At farmers institute attended
last year, professor in our Agricultural Col
lege advised farmers to go no further into gov
ernmental affairs than good roads.
The newspapers of the dominant parties have
political fits when the farmer shows DISPOSE
tion to take hand in shaping legislation.
Strangely, the same papers never object to the
lobby of the corporations
want to know who rules seventy millions of
people who are reborn, and have no king.
should like to know why the antitrust law
has not been enforced; but no one seems to
know. Good roads are important, but the anti
trust law is of vastly more Importance.
If the corporations doing fair, square
business, it does not look reasonable that they
should need a lobby in Washington or in our
state legislatures
If the American manufacturer can sell his
products in Europe so cheaply, compared with
the home price, why does he insist upon tariff
protection?
If the American farmer can produce five
times as much wealth as he did fifty years ago,
why is 1t that his wealth does not increase five
times faster now than then?
If man can speculate in stocks and bonds,
manipulate prices, run corners, and, through
such effort, accumulate millions of wealth, why
should a man farm?
The man who tolls not has the most money.
If money is the acme of existence, why not
enter the field where the most money is grab
bed? Do the professors and politicians want
to keep us down to good roads for their benefit,
or ours?
AS you perceive, my position is negative. l
have fellow feeling. I have swallowed a
good many sugar-coated pills o. ignorance. l
antdote is harder to take the poison. My field
of thought stretches away out into the unknown
future, and embraces numberless unborn chill
dren.
1t would be all right to tell you to inform
Yourself on the habits of Insects that p1ey upon
pour crops and character of weeds that sap
| YOUR SOIL or the best methods of cu1tivating
your soil, but in this field, you have multi
tude of teachers, and they generally agreed.
| Ne have reached the facts. 1t is the other
Concluded on editorial page