The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-08

prise. Allied to this exposition project
is the kindred one of a pernIanentsstate
fair. / have long believed that the
Estate should have such an Institution.
that it should be no cheap affair, that
1t should have permanent and beaufi-
full grounds; that its buildings should
be substantial and ornamental; and
that permanent. display of the states
resources, its minerals, it's grains, its
grasses. it's birds, it's animals, it's arts,
| its literature, its every resource and de-
velopment should be on permanent
| exhibition, for the inspection of stran-
/ gers and for the inspiration of it's own
people. If these two projects could be
combined, and 1 see no reason why
they couldn't or shouldn't, Kansas
could lead the procession in this mat
ter, as it has led it in so many other
respects, and 1 submit these thoughts
and suggestions to the, careful cOnsid-
Grafton of the enterprising and pro-
gressive people of the state, and espe-
cially to you, their representatives.
Bureau of Information.
A distinguished member of the pres
ent and last house of representatives,
Hon. w. Y. Morgan. is the author of
suggestion which l wish officially to in
dorse and recommend as eminently
worthy of favorable legislative consid-
Grafton. 1t is the proposition for the
creation of a bureau of information.
No field of investment offers the in
ducentents of safety and increasing
profit to a greater extent than does
Kansas. 1t is an empire in itself; more
than twice as large as England, three
times as large as Greece, five times as
large as Switzerland, and seven times
as large as Belgium; larger than all
the six New England states put togeth-
er. with New Jersey, Delaware, Mary
land and the District of Columbia
thrown in for good measure 1t is in
the very heart of the nation. A line
drawn east and west and north and
90
sectS in the center of Kansas. 1t is
choice slice of Gods best creation, 400
miles long, 200 miles wide, and, as
some one has said, 1000 miles deep,
and reaching to the skies. The On
nipotent Artist never painted fairer
skies than those which arch our prai-
ries, and the Oliver of all Good never
lowered a land with a richer inheritage
than He has lavished upon the Sun
flower state. Kansas is a state of SUI
perlatives. 1t is the greatest wheat
producing state in the Union. The ag-
gregate value of its corn and wheat
exceeds that of any other state. 1t is
the most distinctively American state
in the Union, its percentage of Amer
can-born citizens exceeding that of
any other state. 1t sends more fat cat
tie to market than any other state in
the Union. Its reservoirs of oil and
its supplies of natural gas challenge
comparison. Its coal, its zinc, it's lead,
its salt, its gypsum, its cement rock.
it's fire-clay, its other subterranean
wealth, and its consequent manufac-
turing progress and possibilities, are
the envy of other states. 1t has, 1 be-
reve, the most healthful climate in
the world. And yet, with all these re-
sources and possibilities, Kansas has
as yet only a population of a little more
than a million and half people. 1t is
capable of supporting a population of
ten millions. 1t is practically out of
debt. Its bank deposits are enormous
and its per capita wealth remarkable.
Its towns are growing rapidly and its
lands are constantly increasing in
value All these things distinguish 1t
as a desirable place in which to live
and fruitful field for investment.
A bureau of information. with a man
like F. d. Coburn, for instance. at its
head (without interfering with his
present duties), would be of great
value to the state. --.. A.. ---.,,-,- 4
The Race Problem.
We may theorize as much as we
please with reference to the race ques-
ton, but we are confronted with some
stubborn facts, and among these facts,
unaffected and unaccomplished by
law, brought about by the logic of
events and the nature of things, there
has been separation of the races, un-
consciously wrought, in social circles
in church worship, and to a large ex-
tent in educational realms. Though
our state institutions of higher learn
ing are open alike to the white and the
black. the fact remains that compare
lively few colored boys and girls avail
themselves of these educational oppor-
tuuities. OF the 1850 students enrolled
at the State university, only So are col
ored. At the State Agricultural col
1ege, out of 1,415 students, only 10 are
colored. At the three State Normal
schools. out of 2,464 students only 20
arc colored. What is true of these state
institutions is even more true of the
lrra ,fr1.,f 4<r1a xoI1C AIe 80 -.
At Baker university, at Baldwin, out of
1.012 students but is colored. At the
Southwest Kansas college, at Winfield,
out of 342 students none are colored.
At Paramount college, at Wichita, out
of 303 students none are colOred. At
Campbell college at Holton, out of
440 students none are eolored. At
Highland university. at Highland, out
of IA students none are colored. At
Ottawa university out of $50 students
versity. at Salina, out of LISP students
none are colored. At Bethany college,
at Lindsborg, out of 621 students. none
are colcred. At Washburn college, at
are colored. At the College of EN-
poria, out of 400 students none are
colored. IN a total student body of
HAS students attending these state
and UNCONVENTIONAL institutions. only
100 students are colored. This is a
very alarming statement, and 1t is in
tensified when we reflect that,
while only about one per cent of this
student body is colored. thirty per cent
of the inmates of the reformatory, and
thirty-seven per cent of the inmates of
the penitentiary are colored The race
problem, therefore, is largely an edu-
problem. 1t is apparent from
these figures that the colored young
people of the state are not availing
themselves of these higher educa tional
to any considerable extent.
The reason to all thoughtful people is
apparent. It is not the result of any
law. 1t is largely the result of an in
nate consciousness that the mingling
of the races in these schools is to eacn