The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-15
WANT LAW CHANGED.
Kansas Retail Merchants Want Ex-
emption Clause Modified.

The Retail Merchants. association of
Kansas has written the following open
letter to Governor Stubs:
W. r. Stubs, Governor, Topeka, Kan.
Dear Sir: The mercantile element
of Kansas is composed of merchants
doing business in all lines of trade,
some are Republicans, some are DEM
ocrats and some pay no special ale
glance to any political party but all
as class pay the greatest percentage
of taxes in their communities and are
strong factors in the matter of financ-
ing the government. The merchants
are the ones who contribute to all
public enterprises and who carry the
farmer until his crops are harvested;
they extend credit to the striking Ia
boring men of their communities dur
ing labor wars and make 1t possible
for these men to conduct their fight
against the oppression of capital, real
or fancied, and while they bear the
burdens of their brethren willingly or
from necessity, they do it at least un-
der penalty in many cases of being
publicly discredited should they re-
fuse.
It IS universally a recognized fact
that credit is the platform on which
the business of the world is conducted"
and is necessity to the rich and poor
alike and of much greater consequence
in the matter of mere existence to the
| latter. Credit being a necessity and
factor in the lives of our citizens, I
ask you should not the laws OF this
state be so amended as to protect
credit" instead of being framed as
| they are to protect dishonor and dis
credit? Is it not a fact that under the
present exemption laws of this state,
no head of a family need pay his debts
if he be a wage Garner without proper
| ty in excess of that covered by said
laws, unless he so desires, and that he
may own a home and be much better
| circumStanced than his creditors and
still be immune from paying his
debts? Is it not further true that no
better law can be enacted than a law
which will compel men to be honest
and self supporting? Is it not true that
| in states where a garnishment law ex-
| lists, it is a rare instance where a mer-
! chant avails himself of 1t to COM
pei a worthy honest debtor to pay his
debts? 1t is; because no merchant
worthy of the name would deem it
| good business to sue man who
although temporarily unfortunate,
evinced when able, disposition to
pay. Is 1t not true that year after
year the merchants of Kansas have
through their association and other
wise introduced bills in the legislature
which il passed would have assisted
them in protecting the credit Of that
class of citizens whose only asset is
their ability to labor, and is it not
true that the legislation sought for,
provided for 80 per cent of such Ia
borer's wages to be exempt from at
/ tachment and that in no event could
such q law work a hardship on an
| honest deserving citizen; Is it not
true that a man, who having been be-
friended through a merchant by the
extension of credit, should pay ten per
cent per month to the creditor of such
amount as he is capable of earning
ant 80 ~
$4,000 or $1,000 from 500 be a hard
ship? II so, is that man a useful citi.
zen who has not the brain and brawr
to pay for his own necessities and
should he be protected as against the
class on whom this government de
ponds for its support and mainten
ance?
Is it not further a fact that tn
labor committee representing uniol
labor (Which embraces less than L
per cent of all labor in this state) ha
always appeared before the judiciar
committee of the house and objects
to any change whatever in the Kansa
exemption laws and that said judiciar
committee has invariably been i'm
pressed with the great strength o
union labor. as a voting power, and 70
party reasons" reported such bill
unfavorably with the full knowledge
consent and approval of the reignin
governor, yourself included? Is 1t nc
true that the law is a good law whic
provides the greatest good for tn
: greatest number, and that the gres
power of your Office should be use
, especially during this progressive an
I"square deal" period to enact Law
favorable to and In protection of til
honest man regardless of the fact ths
such legislative action might cause
loss of votes? (You have, howeve
nothing to fear on that score). TT
honest union laborer doesn't object
a law that don't affect him and it
not he who instructs the 1egislatiy
committee of his union. That commit
tee plays to the grandstand and IS
: political factor in, of, by and to itse
and of small consequence In the ma