The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-11

The subscription paper thus interdict-
ed was circulated at the request of res
4 ldent kansans, at a mass meeting held
in this city several days ago. It was
also resolved to appoint some one to
present the needs of the sufferers il
each of the departments and large bu-
! reaus of the government. This action
was taken in accordance with the re-
/ quest of governor of the state and up
/ to date about 5000 has been subscribed.
Assistant Secretary Ryan of the in
terror department is treasurer OF the
fund
Governor Bailey, Cyrus Leland and
some others think that Z. F. Ware has
injured Kansas by his reported order
refusing to allow a subscription for the
Kansas flood sufferers to be taken in the
pension bureau at Washington, saying
that Kansas can care for its own suf-
ferers.
A committee consisting of Charles K.
Holiday. John Waters and ". I Miller
called on Governor Bailey today and
asked him to make some public state
ment in REPUTATION of Mr.. Wares declar-
alton.
Il don't know yet just what viii
do said the governor after the COM
mittee left. but I feel very much like
issuing a statement of that kind. /
4 have been through this Kaw valley and
/ the desolation wrought by the flood just
4 between here and Kansas City is some
y
have been washed out and a great
amount of valuable farming land has
/ been made worthless by washouts and
sand heaps. People have had their
homes destroyed and all their posses
sions washed away. The amount which
we could raise in Kansas alone would
not go very far towards relieving this
/ distress, and I do think we should ac-
cept all the help from outside the state
that is offered for these poor people.
This is not a personal matter, except
with the people who are suffering, and
we who escaped certainly ought not TO
say that the poor people who lost their
all shall not receive aid except what
comes from inside the state"
Mr. Leland is severe in his criticism
of Mr. Wares position. He says there
are thousands and thousands of peoplc
who have lost stock, crops and furniturS
and whose homes have been badly
damaged and the relief fund furnished
by Kansas alone will not go far to-
wards helping them.
On the other hand there are people
who will say in private that Mr.. Ware
is right, but they viii not say so pub
licly. Others believe that the proper
procedure would be to call a special ses~
sion Of the Legislature and have the
state appropriate sufficient funds for
the relief of the sufferers.
So far as this paper is concerned, we
do not think Mr.. Ware should be cen
SufGu IOI his dCLlDH- There IL 10 QOuDL
that he felt that with such a paper be-
ing circulated in a bureau at the head
of which is a Kansan that many who
could not afford it would feel obligated
to subscribe.
The State Journal differs from the
public expressions of a great majority
of the people in this city in regard to
the solicitation of outside aid. We know
that we are in the minority. We also
know that a great many of the wisest
men in the city and state favor the
solicitation Of aid from the outside. So
far as we are concerned we do not ap-
prove of that course. This is merely the
humble individual opinion Of this one
paper. It IS not set up as infallible. We
simply and firmly believe that Topeka
and Kansas are able to take care Of her
sufferers. That is all there is to it. The
fact that a great majority Of the people
express different view must be taken
into account by the generous people who
have so kindly come to the aid of the
flood sufferers
We believe that the great city of To-
peka with all its wealth and that the
splendid state of Kansas with its banks
bursting with money and with its wheac
and other crops promising most
abunant harvest, with the possible OK
ception of corn. are fully able to care
for the sufferers in the flooded districts
We know that the individual sub
scriptions have been small. That very
few people of this town have given to
the extent that they feel it and until
they do give to that extent they are
entitled to very little credit in connec-
ton with the financial aid they are Civ
ing their unfortunate fellow citizens.
We do not lose sight of the fact that
4 among the individual subscribers there
are hundreds who are giving aid to in
dividual sufferers and are giving it
without proclaiming it to the public 1t
is also recognized that a great many
individual subscribers have given
through clubs and societies.
We do not believe in the general So
licitation of aid outside of that which
should come from the fraternal orders.
I Topeka is rich enough to help the frac-
tional part of her territory that was
submerged. Kansas is rich enough to
help the comparatively small portion of
her rich domain which suffered
The only thing in the way seems to
be the loosening of a few purse strings
and the cutting of some red tape If
the money cannot be raised in any other
manner by the thirty odd thousand un-
touched in Topeka and the million and
a half in this commonwealth, in Heav-
ems name let the governor call the leg
islature quick and appropriate or Dor
row the money.
If a session of the legislature is not
advisable. there are certainly a suffi-
cient number of men of means in the
state to raise thes money with a pledge
from the executive council that they
win be reimbursed at the next regular
session of the Legislature
Topeka and Kansas have the money.
Get it out
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR