The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-09
ASKS STATE AID
FOR new CROPS
Representative Crippen FavOrs
Special Session.
Would Provide Seed Wheat to
Needy Farmers.
MUST Save THEIR POPULATION
Legislator Says Many People
Are Moving Away.
Men Working AbrOad-Fami-
lies Stay at Home.
POPULAR MOVE FOR HODGES
Crippen Believes Western Kan
sas Would Rejoice.
Complains of Money to Eastern
Part of State.
Legislator Says Many People
Are Moving Away.
Men Working AbrOad-Fami-
lies Stay at Home.
POPULAR MOVE FOR HODGES
Crippen Believes Western Kan
sas Would Rejoice.
Complains of Money to Eastern
Part of State.

Unless a special session of the legiS-
lature is called to aid western Kansas
farmers and to provide free seed wheat,
many of the counties in the extreme
western section of the state Will lose
heavily in population because of the
1913 crop failure and the short crop
yields of the past several years. That
is the emphatic statement made today
by George P. Crippen of Quinter, state
representative from Cove county. Grip
pen declares that the future of west
enr Kansas depends on the action ta-
ken by the Democratic state admins
tration in providing aid for the western
farmers.
Recently Senator Harry Mcmillan, of
Ottawa county, urged a special session
of the legislature to aid western farm
ers. But Mc-dillan's suggestion hard
ly created a murmur. But now Crippen
comes to the town from the very heart
of the affected district and he tells a
story of privation and want that may
command some attention.
Leave Home to Find Work.
Men are leaving home in many of
the western counties, Crippen declares,
that they may earn a few dollars this
winter and provide for the actual
wants of their wives and children who
will stay on the western plains ana
look after the stock. Many families
have already removed from these
counties. says the Quinter man, and
conditions threaten to practically de-
populate some of the counties. Not
only have the counties suffered from
practically a complete crop failure this
year, but the dry weather of the
last three months has made Impossible
the raising of a crop of rough feed
for live stock.
'"There are a hundred men of my
acquaintance who have left their fam
lilies on the farms and gone to look
for work." said Crippen. 1.-The crops
We're a failure, there is no feed for
stock this winter, no seed wheat for
next year and but few of the farmers
have money with which to buy seed.
1t is a serious situation.
Crippen himself was among the men
who left home and sought work. The
legislative member is now working in
the Santa Fe shops in Topeka while
his family is staying in Cove county
There was nothing to do in Cove
county, said Crippen, land 1 did just
what hundreds of others are doing
sought work elsewhere"
Wants Special Session.
eff Governor Hodges would just cal
a special session of the legislature ts
furnish free seed wheat to the farmers
in western Kansas and to extend them
ent circumstances, it would be the
most popular thing he could do-sc
far as the people in western Kansas
are concerned, at least. The people
out there want a special session and I
think one should be called. Many OF
the members would gladly come to To-
peka for nothing and would donate
both their time and expenses in order
to help relieve the present situation.
Then Representative Crippen told the
of no
legislature constantly extends to east
ern Kansas. while the western half of
the state is compelled to share her own
burdens.
There is always plenty of money to
relieve any need in the eastern half
of the state,'' said Crippen, but away
out west it is different. Our people out
there are lost sight of and no one in the
eastern part of the state seems to think
of them. Now. there is an opportunity
to do some real good for western Kan
sas and l think Governor Hodges
should take an interest in our condi-
tons"
Fifteen Counties Affected.
There are about fifteen counties in
the western portion of the state which
are in need of assistance, according to
Representative Crippen, who recently
made a thorough canvass of the dis
trict affected by the wheat crop short
ages.
Thirteen western counties have al
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