The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-27
80 rNaRATITupE.


from the height of the food to date
has been in the main for the relief and
welfare of Kansas City. Kas. and
Wyandotte county It comes with
mighty poor grace for these people to
express any sort of dissatisfaction. The
governor was in Kansas city, Mo, al
the time VIXEN the flood was at high
water mark He was also in Kansas
City, Kas.. afterward. He knew the
situation. He called the special session
specifically for Wyandotte county He
would not have called it except for
grave conditions there.
Representative citizens met him and
told him what they wanted. he saw
their argument was good and forthwith
proceeded to carry out their exact wish
es He asked no pledges from them.
They told him emphatically they did not
wish state aid merely legislation to
help themselves. They got exactly
what they wanted and everything they
wanted as expressed by their own peo-
ple
Senator Cubbison knows this is true
and there is no need for any subterfuges.
He should come out squarely and de-
fend the governor because the governor
did precisely what he and the others
asked him to do and not whit less.
The writer of this article was present
at the meeting and knows what he is
talking about. All three of the county
commissioners were present Senator
Cubbison was present, Judge Miller, ex-
congressman. was present the ex-aud-
itor of the county and more than a
dozen other prominent citizens.
If there was any Kansas City, Mo-,
man in the meeting, we do not know
who he was with the possible exception
of Mr. James. who represents the Ar
mours and who have great interests in
Kansas City, Kan, although their pack
ing house happens to be on the south
side of the river: their employees to the
number of thousand or more live on
the opposite side.
1t should be somewhat comforting to
the people of this state to realize that
the criticisms in the main appear to be
fostered by the Kansas City, Mo.
papers. These sheets have taken great
pains and gone over long circuits to
abuse the governor and the legislature.
from start to finish IN addition to liv-
ing in large part upon this state, Mis-
souri, would like to run our whole COM
monwealth, politically. commercially,
and morally. Our great success along
all these lines is due in a great meas
ure to the fact that we have so many
times ignored their gratuitOus advice
and failed to follow their example
When Missouri first purifes it's political
corruption we may listen to some of
their bowls about minor defects in our
body polite.
What the people down at the Kaw's
mouth need just now is to brace up
and work out their own salvation They
have done noble things in the way OF
helping their own distress. They should
simply keep up the good work. rely
upon themselves and not upon the state
Of Kansas The two Kansas Citys are
much better able than we in proportion
TO their flood losses, greater as they
We're than those of Topeka. This town
has the situation Well in hand
The State Journal disagrees with
many of the actions of cyrus Leland,
( but we see no sense in charging him
with what does not please the paper or
party which makes the charge and Civ
Ing him no credit for the good he does
The Leland bill which became a law at
J the special session is one of the best
measures that could have been enacted
by the Legislature. 1t gives counties
certain authority which they should
have had long ago and which viii en-
able them to meet fully just such en-
ergencies as those with which we have
lately been obliged to cope without
clearly defined powers. This law pro-
vides The board of county commits
sioners of each county shall have power
at any meeting. in case of great loss or
damage to life or property to assist in
burying the dead, caring for the wound
ed, rendering temporary aid to the dis
tressed. preventing disease and pestf-
lenee and cleaning up debris. and to issue
warrants of the county therefor"
What more do you want, Wyandotte
county? If you haven't enough money
to fully relieve the distress of your peo-
pie go ahead and issue county warrants
You now have the authority. Tax again
some of your prosperous packing indus
tries and great corporate interests and
help yourselves or admit your inca
pacity and lack of resources. The only
way you can keep your self respect,
which you ought to value. is to quit
complaining and keep up the good work
You have inaugurated in relieving your
unfortunate people.
Practically none of the people in the
flood stricken districts have lost their oc-
cupation. In fact. more work is open to
them now than ever. What most of
them lost has been their accumularions
What they have depended upon for their
daily needs is their days work and they
stiI have that and plenty of it.
What most of the distressed people
now need, instead of state aid or any
thing approaching it. is credit to re-
store their household goods and their
homes The merchants and business
men Of Topeka are extending this need
ed credit to all worthy sufferers Credit
where it was good before, is in the
main good now. This is especially
true Of the poor and proud Pride is
generally accompanied by self respect