The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-20
Special Effort to Bring New
Settlers Urged.
ENCOURAGE CAPITAL TO COME
Public Policy of Construction
Rather Than Destruction.
Everyone VIII Be Helped by
Growth of Wealth.

Hutchinson, Kan, Nov. 20.-Accord-
ing to w. L. A. Johnston, ex-labor COM
missioner of Kansas, in speaking this
morning before the Kansas Agricultural
and Industrial congress, there is a great
opportunity in this state for industrial
development.
Three steps which. he says, should be
taken to further industrial pursuits IN
Kansas are the formation of depart
ment of publicity and immigration, the
pushing of a campaign of information
and knowledge of Kansas resources and
opportunities and the cultivation Of
loval and enlightened public opintc1 IN
behalf of Kansas factory investments.
1.-The first census of Kansas In 1883,
while still a territory, gives the total
value of manufactured products at $4'-
357. .OOO" said the speaker. Twenty
years later, in 1879, the total value OF
products had increased to $20,3O4,OO
Twenty years later, in 1888, the Vaiue
of products for the manufacturing in
dustries was $154 ,O99, 900. From 1899 the
increase in value of the manufactured
products has grown by leaps ana
bounds, as will be seen by the nVe-
years period reports, as shown by the
totals. For 1904, it had increased to
$19S, ,245, 900, and in 1909 the value OF
manufactured products was 1925, 5,1O4, 900.
During the latter year, 3,435 manufac-
turing establishments gave employment
to 54,649 persons, and paid salaries ana
wages amounting to $33 ,255,O0O.
Shows Wonderful Growth.
1.-THE Kansas Bureau of Labor and
Industry in it's annual reports of the
manufacturing industry, as total,
show reasonable increase in the cap
ital invested, number of wage earners,
wages paid and value of the products
year by year, but with a constantly de-
creasing number of establishments,
which would indicate that the large fac
tories are growing larger, and the
smaller factories are growing fewer In
number.
LAS we roll these morsels of great
progress under our tongues with upc-
ton, let us stop long enough to get tho
secret of these wonderful increases in
the value of manufactured products in
Kansas. This is the secret: The meat
packing and flour and grist mill In
dustries are responsible for this growth.
These two industries alone contribute
72 per cent. of the total value of manu-
factured products. We now begin to
see ourselves as a manufacturing state
as we really are, and while we are
proud, and justly so, of our packing
houses and flour and grist mills indus
try, representing a total value of the
annual products of 1924, ,074 $50 for the
536 industries engaged in these two
branches, we are confronted with the
startling fact that the remaining $500
factories, have only a total value of
products for the year of S91, ,O29 ,120, or
only 30 per cent of the total.
Believes i'm Advertising
Il am a firm believer in advertising
and from my experience as Commits
sioner of Labor L note that there is
much good accomplished through the
chapter devoted to the manufacturing
industries in the annual report of that
bureau, but the appropriations, and
scope of law are limited in the amount
of work that may be done in the In
terest of factory development, or fac
tory extension.
provide for department of publicity
and immigration, with a sufficient ap-
preparation to provide for quarterly
bulletins showing the progress, output
of products, and opportunities of the
factory development in all different
lines of industry in the state. This
should also include a review of unde-
veloped natural resources, and indus
trial opportunities in the various 10
calities of the state together With the
need for a proper distribution of "a
rious kinds of labor.
such a bulletin should present in
dUstrially the vital things of current
public interest to the manufacturer,
the business man, the merchant, the
farmer, and laborer. Such a depart
ment would naturally have the CO.
operation of all concerned. You may
ask why should the state conduct
such a department in Ihe interest Of
the manufacturing industry. For the
same reason that the state lends its
aid in the developing fairly, and equit-
ably of its great resources, and agri-
cultural opportunities.
What has been done for agricul-
ture may be done for the manufactur-
ing industries, and every taxpayer
will profit more than it costs by such
development. 1t goes without saying
that the railroads. and other large, and
small interests, that will profit by
=, aIrr 4
way possible, both in railway rates,
and transportation, and in service. .
Policy OF Construction.
Another suggestion occurs, that il
We are to encourage the investment OF
tries in Kansas which means a larger
employment of labor, and increased
market for our resources. and increase
in our assessed valuation. and general
prosperity for our state, we must be-
speak for such invested capital a
kindly attitude, and a fair cooperation
on behalf of the people of our state.
While under the old regime of the
past there may have been need for re-
strictive, or correctional agencies in
the matter of the regulation of invest
ed capital, and in fact such necessity
still exists, yet such regulation should
be approached in the spirit of fairness,
and helpfulness, rather than in the
spirit of resentment or viciousness-
Our public policy should be one Of
construction rather than destruction,
one of intelligent cooperation rather
the people of Kansas are to develop
h nd