The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-19
IT'S DIFFERENT IN KANSAS.

IA . LAT IN M<2lN0iASs
There il pertinency to the suggestion
of Mayor Mitchell Of New York city
that in extending relief to the Belgians.
the American people should not forget
to give such aid as they can to the
worthy sufferers at home, the poverty
stricken and those who are infirm and
helpless in other ways. But it applies
with more particular force to the con-
ditions that exist in New York and
other large centers Of population than
it does to those which prevail in Kan
sas and this section Of the country.
generally.
Poverty there is in Kansas. 1t is
negligible. though. in comparison with
what it is in New York. for instance
The problem of caring for the poor
there is of tremendous proportions.
This is equally true of many of the big
cities. 1t is heaviest during the winter
season for obvious reasons. And the
indications are that it will be more
pressing this winter than usual The
business depression that has been on
tap for several months has been more
severe in the large cities. and especially
with those in the eastern part OF the
country. than it has been in any other
section. The army Of the unemployed
in these places has been recruited to
an abnormal strength. 1t is true that
the clouds on the business horizon are
beginning to scatter. But it isn't pos
sible that wave of prosperity will
Immediately flood the land to such an
extent that there will soon be work for
in nrnCnpTOnS
times. the big cities and the densely
populated sections have an immense
poverty problem to deal with in the
winter time. And it is also true that
the most serious effects of the Euro
pean war in this country. outside of the
blow it struck the cotton producers.
have been felt in New York and her
sister cities in the east. So the task of
caring for those who need help there
this winter will even be bigger than it
ever has been. And Mayor Mitchell is
doing no more than his duty in calling
attention to it, and at this time when
Americans generally are such willing
and munificent contributors to the sue
cor Of the utterly Frustrated Belgians
and other sufferers in Europe on whom
the war has laid such heavy hand.
In Kansas. however. the situation is
entirely different. Instead of being
hurt by the war, Kansas has been
helped by it. The war added a full
100000 to the profits of the Kansas
wheat farmers. 1t has increased the
prices of almost everything that Kan
sas has to sell. Because fortune and
hard work favored Kansas this year
with immense crops, the state and its
people are as prosperous as they ever
have been. The hard times that have
been present in other sections of the
country have scarcely been felt in Kan
sas. Indeed, it is not unduly optimistic
to assert that the aggregate wealth Of
Kansas is much larger today than at
any time in her history. Best of all,
this wealth is more evenly distributed
among the whole people than.-it is in
any other state in the union. orein any
other community in the world. The
very rich are few in Kansas. So are
the very poor. a-...ts
1t is for these reasons that Kansas
feels willing and able to do, perhaps, a
little more than her share for the relief
of the Belgians. But in SO doing there
need be no fear that she will neglect
any of her poverty problems at home.
The 100000 barrels Of flour and more as
well as other things that Kansas pro-
poses to send to Belgium are but a drop
in the present Kansas bucket. This is
not said in any spirit of boasting. 1t is
merely a statement of fact. And there
isn't a soul in Kansas who will go
hungry this winter because of this
great and good Kansas desire to share
what it has with those who need it,
even if. as in this case, they happen to
live across the seas, and speak another