The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
COBURN IS WROTH
Makes Hot Reply to Eastern Ed
itOr.
Attempted to Show Prohibition
is Injuring the State.
CONTRASTS ARE MADE
Kansas Man Riddles Statements
Concerning Nebraska.
Shows That Sister State Is Be-
hind in Products.

Secretary Coburn of the state board
OF agriculture was formerly a chief
captain in the ranks of the temper
ance forces of the state. When his
attention was called recently to an
editorial in an eastern paper purport-
ing to show that Nebraska enjoyed a
greater era of prosperity with the
open saloon than Kansas does under
prohibition sway, the secretary waxed
wroth and referred to that editorial
as 'the bray of an ignorant ass" The
secretary then went on and relieved
his mind further on the subject in
the following open letter:
Referring to the editorial entitled
comparisons of Kansas with Neb-
raska, and suggesting that Kansas is
going to the devil because of a lack
of liquor, it but registers the not in
frequent bray of an ignorant ass or
affords a siphon for a knave's venom;
which, I do not know If it were not
for the possibility that some casual
reader, unacquainted with Kansas,
might thoughtlessly accept the state
ments as facts, I would deem the
matter too absurd to merit attention.
1t is merely another founder of the
anti prohibitionists, grasping at
straws by sympathizers with the
liquor interests to prolong their ne
farious business. Having no moral
grounds to stand upon an effort is
made to show that in Kansas where
prohibition prevails, there are but few
people and little prosperity.
As a matter of fact, Kansas never
had so many people or so much
money as now. Because Nebraska
grew more corn than Kansas in the
year 1908 it appears all clear to the
writer of the editorial that it was on
account of nti-prohibition in Neb-
raska. While the friends of liquor
claim great virtues for it, this is the
first instance I recall in which favor
ing seasons and productivity of the
sales of beer and whisky. 1t re-
quires a somewhat more imaginative
mind than L possess to comprehend
how the prosperity of the farms is in
separately linked with the liquor bust
ness, although in times of drouth in
Nebras ska the farmers might alleviate
their arid condition by irrigating with
beer.
Used Corn for Example.
These is no germ of truth in the con-
clusion drawn in the editorial. and like
most of those who strive to make
point against prohibition it's author
makes assertions that are not in keep
ing with the facts. AS an example of
this is cited his statement that Gin
1890, it (Kansas) produced 25.000.0OO
bushels (of corn) less (than Nebraska)."
The report of the United States depart
ment of agriculture for that year, on
page 297, gives Kansas yield of corn
as 55.2 69, 900, and Nebraska's as $780,
600 bushels. 1t is merely a coincidence,
of course, CD that the author. should
select as he did. the corn crop for
comparative purposes, and strange as
fl may appear corn happens to be the
one crop of Nebraska's about which
the state may with some propriety
boast. Since corn was chosen for COM
parison, and Nebraska'S eXcelHng in
this crop in 1908 was due to the absence
of prohibition the explanation should
be interesting as to why Kansas with
prohibition for nine years preceding
raised in 1889 upwards of a hundred mil
lion bushels more corn than Nebraska,
worth over SIS, 1000 900 more; or in 1888.
when the Kansas crop was greater than
Nebraska's by 100000 bushels, and
worth $1O,000,0OO more. or why the Kan
sas crop of 1896 was worth more by
6 million dollars? Was it due to pro-
hibition that Kansas. in 1899, yielded
over $4,000, 900 bushels more corn than
Nebraska; in 1900 over 5000 900 bushels
more, on 10000 acres less. and was it
due to lack of liquor that Kansas crop
of 1903 being 6 or million bushels
less, was worth over $13,OOO,OOO more.
Why Not Wheat?
As the editorial writer chose to ex-
DlOlL COIus lIlC 4llOSI IOlSQ pIOQuCI Ol
Nebraska's soil, suppose the Kansan
should inadvertently say that the eff
fects of prohibition should be gagged
by the production of wheat. Previous
to 1900 Nebraska never produced
enough wheat to come within the six
states leading in it's production. That
year her output, "a, sol 900 bushels, rank
ed fifth, while Kansas was first with
81, 4SS ,655 bushels. or more by 232 per
cent. Since, in five of the eight years
H.
has raised four crops each larger than
was ever produced by any other state,
while the best rank at any time at
tanned by Nebraska was fourth. In
these nine years Kansas has raised an
average of 80 Ia million bushels more
wheat annually than Nebraska, and the
aggregate was nearly so per cent great
er. Yet, the author of this "One OBJ
ject Lesson" says: THE wheat product
of both states is almost equal He
argues that because Nebraska has rails
ed more corn in a given year it is
traceable indirectly to Nebraska's hav-
ing unrestricted booze. and following
this line of reasoning. shall We attrib
ute Kansas superiority as a wheat
state, to prohibition?
Six damage suits against the M, K.
& T. railway have been appealed to the
supreme court and the papers all filed
on the same day. One of four cases
from Miami county is by w. E. Hayes,
who claims $3.50 for loss sustained by
cattle in transit.
w. T. Young of Cherokee county
wants damages for injury received in
a coal mine.
W. t. Cox & Son of Allen county
want damages on account of failure
of the railroad company to furnish
cars for shipments of corn they had
on hand.
William Schwartz of Miami county
wants damages on account of being
put off a freight train because he
would not sign a release from any
claim for injury that might result to
him on the trip from an accident.
Harry Nye, also of Miami county,
had the same experience as that re-
lated in the petition of Schwartz.
G. E. Leibengood of Miami county
asks for damages because of loss sus-
tanned by his cattle in transit.
c,;--- ro,o