Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-09-21

AUPthb uoAhAAs A1e"~ "As
posted IS to political programs In
Kansas know that there 10 g weIl-lAid
plan on the part Of some Of the Polit
ical leaders to commit the Republican
party In this state to q general cru
SADIE against the railroads. The con-
spiracy has the endorsement and sup
port OF number OF newspapers and
will be worked for all that 1t 10 worth
to increase calculations and promote
political ambitions.
1t may be very profitable scheme
for those interested in the directions
named, bat 1t Is campaign which
may be viewed with considerable
alarm by the businessmen, the farm
ers, the stock raisers and the people
whose fortunes during the next ten
years depend upon the development
and Improvement Of many portions
OF the state, which today are wholly
dependent for q future on railroad
enterprise and extension. While 1t
may be admitted that the railroad
rates Of Kansas. when compared with
older and more populous states, have
seemed to be excessive In some direc-
tions, on the other hand 1t cannot be
denied that the railroads have gener'
| ously shared their profits with the peo-
pie Of Kansas In extensions and i'm
provements into new fields, far in ad'
vance OF the demands OF profitable
| traffic. Many Of the best sections OF
Kansas today are thriving and pros
porous because the railroads built and
maintained miles Of roads which they
knew must for years Of necessity be
| suckers instead Of feeders. y
In 1890 Kansas attempted to cor
rect, through political agitation, the
evils Of imitation and its attending re-
action which have crept into the early
history OF all states. The result was
highly satisfactory to large number
OF demagogueS and few newspapers
but with what dire consequences to
the people and substantial business
interests and credit OF the state.
When the clouds had rolled by the
railroads were in the hands Of receiv-
ers, the farms we're the property OF
the mortgages, city property in many
instances would not bring enough
revenue to pay the taxes, money was
so scarce that some people forgot its
appearance, the credit Of the state
was destroyed and Kansas was the
laughing stock Of the nation. 1t took
Kansas fifteen years to recover from
the experience. II the political plans
now on foot can be successfully car
ried out the people of the state can
confidently look forward to ten
years more OF time in which they will
have opportunity to contemplate their
folly and to discover why 1t is impos-
sible for one generation to profit by
the experience Of another. The Cap
ital speaks glibly Of the effect Of rail-
road regulation in the early days Of
Iowa. 1t describes the rosy condi.
lions which existed after that state
had struggled through years of diff
Guilty and, by Its own great natural
resources, reached the place where
the traffic it gave to the railroads
made it profitable at the terms and
conditions imposed by the state ten
years earlier. 1t ignores entirely the
long period when all railroad i'm
provementS in Iowa absolutely ceased
and the hardship brought about BY
the Curtailment Of expenses necessary
to enable the railroads to do business
and live.
Iowa learned one very valuable les
son from that experience. It knew
how to properly estimate PoPulism
when 1t swept over the west In 1890
and 1892; it would have none Of 1t.
Iowa was the one agricultural state In
which Populism never could get q
foothold. II will be interesting to
see II Kansas has also proftsd BY lite
experience.