The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-03
GROH CALLED DOWN
Blaine of Pratt Writes Him a
Hot Open Letter.
AGAINST HIS KNOCKING
Recalls the Fact That He Did
Same Thing Last Year.

David Blaine of Pratt has written an
open letter to T B. Gerox Of Topeka.
IN which he takes that gentleman 10 task
for knocking on the effort of Mr.. Blaine
TO secure suniciency Of harvest hands
to take care of the wheat crop. The let
ter is as follows.
Hon T. B. Gerow. Topeka. Kan.
Dear Sir: note an interview with YOU
published in the Topeka State Journal.
taxing exception 10 articles published In
several OF the eastern newspapers and
magazines, relating TO the story Of har-
NestinS IN Kansas. especially criticisine.
the amount OF nonresident help required
20 save the grain OF the Kansas farmer
III an ordinary season You say that the
arucle Is misleading and may be injurious
70 great many eastern laborers who
may De induced TO come 10 Kansas. be-
heNlng that on their arrival here they
VIII md plenty " work In cur harvest
nelds. You further state that through q
thorough knowledge OF the situation
Kansas will not require any non-resi-
dent assistance in harvest this season;
IN fact. that there viii be a surplus help
within the state.
Now you VIII remember that you criti-
year, when was reporting through the
public press taking in every paper. large
and small, published in the United States)
that Kansas needed 1900 men and 500
extra teams, OF more, TO assist in saving
the crop. that my statements were mis-
leading, preposterous and ludicrous in the
extreme, and that l was simply seeking
notoriety without thought of how much
injury ii would do to the public. That
vt-ar rlGr 81 a
the state TO do the work, and that you
were doing all you could TO counterfeit
my evil influence. You kept this up until
about the 10Th OF May. when I was com
PEELED TO make a visit to Topeka 10 con-
vince you and Governor Stanley that YOU
weSe wrong. and to ask you TO desist
making the statements to the public press
that We had no need Of additional help
in Kansas. AS the positions you and the
governor occupied were TO d certain ex-
tent controverting my efforts in getting
men and teams from other states 20
come to Kansas. However. when harvest
came on and the cry for men and teams
from all parts OF the wheat belt OF Kan
sas could not be satisfied, notwithstanding
the fact that all OF the public highways
leading from the states surrounding nan
sas were filed with hundreds OF men
and teams enroute TO the wheat belt and
upon hundreds Of men on their freight
trains, and as later reports showed. sew
eral thousand came IN who paid their
fare and was reckoned by you in your
report last winter under the heading of
the great work you had done for the Kan
sas farmer in supplying harvest hands
Yet there was not enough men and teams
to meet the requirements and in many
instances considerable grain was lost TO
= oo ", -.
harvested in season. As a comparison OF
how many men and teams were brought
into the state. this little county Of Pratt
has just issued it's official report. gath
cred by the assessors during the last
sixty days. which shows that IIS5 men
and 426 teams were used in this county
last harvest Crhis report also showing
that we Will require 1858 extra men and
$50 teams this season.. And as there are
more than twenty-five counties in this
state. it is reasonable to suppose on an
average that they used as many non
resident men and teams as we did, that
you viii see that my estimate OF 1900
men and 1900 teams which l raised to
D. 900 men and 5000 teams shortly before
the first OF June last season. was a con-
and low estimate. and that you
occupy the ludicrous position Of a man in
a position OF power and influence with
cut knowledge or executive ability 70
fiji the place. or sense enough to keep a
closed mouth and prevent the exposure
u your smallness- This is the reason
am steering clear OF the state labor bu-
-eau this season in my efforts 70 secure
help for NY patrons in their harvest
fields. You are attempting 20 run the bu-
reau solely IN the interest OF politics. as
avinced In your letter 10 me last year
stated that Governor Stanley was very /
anxious that all the wages that the farm 4
RS Of Kansas would pay 70 harvest hands /
should 60 10 the wagc-eaIners OF Kansas I
md that I should do nothing 20 bring /
help from other states Now IL has been /
aid that business and politics do not I
,iend we'll together. which is no doubt 4
rue II Il always turns out as the work /
4 your bureau.
Now as to the requirements % the CON- +
ng season. II viii be just as well for you 4
% remain silent until the needs are de- .
then you viii not have 70 f1ce
lny more mistakes The public are AL
eady reading the needs OF Kansas IN the I
,ast and are carefully watching the re-
,orts that are daily given 10 the public
4 the improved condition Of our wheat f
nd along about the first of June the /
-rop will be 50 far developed that nearly
m accurate estimate can be made. and
hose who are expecting 10 come % assist
- in harvesting wifi know whether their
ervfces will be needed or not Therefore
Ierrnit me 70 again admonish you % be
uiet Respectfully.
D. ". BLAINE.