The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-09

have been times during the earlier
history of this state that tried and
tested to the last extremity the hearts
and souls of men and women, and out
of the fire of those dark days emerged
the sturdy manhood and noble wom-
anhood that makes Kansas con-
spicuouS figure in the SiSterhood OF
states.
The poverty and hardships that in
those times were the common lot of all
have been almost forgotten in the later
years of prosperity and plenty. While
riches and poverty are not now un-
known, we deem it fortunate that the
vast majority of our citizens are Meth
er rich nor poor, but comfortable, In
dependent and content. Material pros
perity is necessary to civilized society,
but it is not by any means the biggest
nor the best asset in Kansas. The in
dependent character, the high ideals,
the sterling qualities of mind and
heart of the intelligent, earnest and
courageous pioneer people who have
dared to blaze the way in untried fields
and establish new standards and prin-
ciples of government that are neces-
sary to meet the needs of today, are
the priceless heritage of which unborn
Kansans will be most proud.
Special Privileges Stamped Out.
Special privilege under the laws or
under the protection of the state, has
been stamped out, and there is uni
versal sentiment among our people de-
manding the enactment of rigid, plain
ly written laws that will crush the iron
grip which has been fastened on the
commerce of the nation by monopolies
and trusts. A false and illegal indus
trial system has been established in
America, which robs the people of the
benefits of competition and compels
every man, woman and child to pay
tribute in excessive. extortionate
profits, which aggregate many hum
dreds of millions, and perhaps as
much as a billion dollars annually to
trusts, combinations and monopolies
the spirit of our federal constitution
and statutory laws.
Kansas pays her full share, accord
ing to population, of this extortion,
dollars of hard earned cash that goes
into the pockets of a small number of
men, who have formed gigantic COM
binations in restraint of trade.
am advised by one of the largest
and most reliable manufacturers in
the United States that he pays $36 a
ton for the same quality of iron used
in his business now that cost SIS a
ton ten years ago when the methods
of manufacturing iron were compare
lively crude and the cost of producing
1t was higher than under present, up
tO-date methods. .-.
Regardless of any stateme nts that
have been made or can be made by
methods or prices. the indisputable
fact stands plainly forth that by
crushing out competition, the steel
trust has been able to maintain ex-
tortionate prices for steel rails steel
and steel products, iron and its prod
ucts, while the cost Of production of
these goods has constantly been re-
duced.
Thus, the steel trust has not only
paid interest and dividends on hun
T., - zT--
and bonds that do not represent any
actual property but it has set aside,
in addition to interest and dividends,
millions of dollars each year Of sur
plus earnings.
The railroads hand two and. three
and sometimes four times as much
freight in one train. with one engine
and one crew, as they were able to
move a few years ago; but in the face
of this enormous reduction in the cost
of moving freight, the railroads are ac-
tually clamoring for higher rates.
The packing house trust, sugar
trust, Standard Oil trust. and other
monopolies too numerous to mention,
are, like the railroad and steel trust
constantly reducing their cost of pro-
duction and increasing their profits
through by-products utilized and man
ufactured from material that few
years ago was wasted But, like the
steel trust and the railroads, they, too,
have crushed out natural competition
and do not give the public proper
share in the benefits derived from the
reduced cost of production.
Stock watering, bond juggling and
thigh finance methods are the means
through which a majority of the COM
paratively small number of men who
are now in possession of these gigantic
industries and interests secured title
to the property. They did not have
the cash with which to buy nor the
property to exchange for the interests
which they now control.
Remedy to Control Trusts.
Simple mandatory laws enacted by
congress, providing a prison sentence
for every person, or persons, who or
ganize, operate or in any way partiei
DOES CURE BAD COLDS.