The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-07
GOV. HOCH REPLIES.
Defends Kansas From Senator Hop
kinS SANDER.

Governor Hoch has given out
statement in answer to the hing OF
Senator Hopkins of Illinois. Hopkins
got real angry when it was reported
to him that Kansas Republicans had
adopted a guaranty deposit plank ana
said that Kansas was populated by
cranks, and that what Kansas did was
MT of any consequence. Governor
Hoch says:
81 notice that Senator Hopkins con-
temptuously referred to Kansas as a
state of cranks and this bank guar
anty proposition as the legitimate on
spring of such parentage. But Kan
sas is used to these javelins. FOR
third of a century every AMBITIOUS
archer with a poisoned arrow mas let
it fly at Kansas, and every 1aded Jester
has been rejuvenated at the expense
of the Sunfiower state. These Things
no longer irritate US; they only amuse
us for Kansas, always on the nrlhs
line, always engaged in some great
battle for human rights, has forged
forward until it is today the most Ell.
Iightened most progressive and most
progressive and most prosperous state
in this union.
kansas has more than 800 per
CAPITA in it's banks, and 1t would not
have known of the recent financial
furry had it not been for it's unequal
ed facilities of communication with
the financially depressed portions OF
the country More than one-Cnlru OF
the counties of this state have no prls-
oners in their jails and no paupers IN
their poor houVes. A poorhouse is
joke in Kansas.
"One-half of the counties of this
state sent no prisoners to the pen1-
Tertiary the past year, and one-naI
of the prisoners in our penitent1ary
never lived in KanEas long enough u
gain residence.
s"This state is first in wheat, first in
the combined value of corn ana
wheat. first in alfalfa, first in the ship
ment of fat cattle to market. 1t mas
the largest normal school ana t t
world. Kansas has always been
leader of thought and pioneer In re-
form, and no state can show wiser
code of laws than can this one. Such
people can afford to laugh at the
jeers of even so distinguished gen
tleman as Senator Hopkins.
but this depositors' guaranty
proposition will not down. 1t is
sound and wise proposition and Is
based upon two fundamental theories
which Senator Hopkins and others
would do well to seriously consider.
.'First-That the banking business IS
a uuasi-public business and is not
only a commercial necessity, but a
police necessity as Well; that money Is
property in it's most portable and dan
gerous form; that it is unsafe Tor the
Individual to keep this form of prop
erty on his person or in MS nome
that banks are therefore esSentlal TO
the security of life and property ana
that the banker is therefore an agent
of the government not only for COM
mercial purposes, but for ponce pur-
poses as well. Banks are not char
tered bv law and regulated by dis
tinct departments of governments
primarily in the interest of the banker.
| rNI, civ inf secondary
interests of the public.
..Second-That the man behind the
counter is as certainly a borrower as
is the man in front of the counter
That the demand for security for de-
nosits is no more unreasonable than is
the demand of the banker for security
for his loans The one is as much en-
titled to security as the oIher. thie
national government recognizes TINS
fact and deposits no currelNey IN a ma
tional bank until the deposit is amply
secured. e4-sE
"The state of Kansas deposits $1,000
600 in some 80 banks In this state, out
1t holds in the state treasury dollar Tor
dollar in municipal bonds for all these
denosits. Now why should the nation
and the state. which have the power OF
examining all these banks and OF
knowing their condition, power not
possessed by the individual, demand
this additional security for their de-
nosits and refuse to provide equal pro-
lection for the deposits of its citizens
Government is more for the weak than
for the strong and does it not seem
ridiculous for the government TO pro-
vide for it's own protection and re1use
to provide for the protection OF IT'S CIT
liens? Let Senator Hopkins W1thhold
his sneers long enough to answer these
questions.