Barton County democrat., 1915-02-12
NEWS FROM HEADQUARTERS

Stale Institutions which have been
so amply taken care of The last
few years will be compelled 10
suffer for the next Two years for
the want of ample appropriations
to maintain them. During The
campaign the Republicans charg-
ed the Democrats with being ex-
travagant, and they now find they
were not. During The campaign
the Republicans promised 10 re-
duce the appropriations and up
on this promise probably receiv-
ed several thousand votes, but
they now realize they cannot re-
duce the appropriations, and in
order to win next time must make
a showing 10 the people whom
they deceived. The only way to
do this in order to keep up the
false promises is TO cripple the
charitable institutions. If they
persist in their present policy il
is more than likely that some of
the charitable institutions will
have to close down during the
next two years, or the county can
be made to take care of the in
sane and epileptic. II is unfor-
tunate that these conditions exist
and that Kansas has such small
politicians in charge of its af-
fairs.
One of the most amusing things
that has recently happened is the
Live Stock Commissioner. During
the campaign Capper proclaimed
loud and long that he was against
the "SpoiIs System" Hardly had
he been inauguraled governor be-
fore he forgot his campaign prom
iSeS and Immediately begun plan
ming to gel rid of Democratic Of
ficeS. In the campaign he con-
tended that any officer who had
made good should not be remov-
ed for political purposes, however
he seems to only apply this to the
Republicans. When he announc-
ed the appointment of Mr.. Mercer
to be State Live Stock Commits
SiOner, he stated that Mr.. Riddle
! had been an efficient officer and
had done excellent work during
his term, and especially did he
commend him in his work in deal
ing with the foot and mouth di-
SeaSe, yet he removed Mr.. Riddle,
whom he says was an efficient
officer, in order TO make room for
one of his political supporters.
During the Hodges administra-
tion, Capper publications COM
planned bitterly that the Demo-
Gratis were discriminating against
careful observer admits that the
old soldiers at Fort Dodge were
given better provisions and were
better cared for than during any
previous administration. Hardly
had the Republicans been return
ed to power when they begun to
plan whereby, for political rea-
sons, they could fool the people
into believing they were econom-
ical.
The Board of Managers, who
are Democrats, asked for ample
appropriations to place the Fort
Dodge home and the Mother Bick-
erdyke home in first class condi-
ton. In order to do this it was
necessary, of course, to ask for
an increase in the appropriations
for these institutions, but since
the election the thoughtfuIneSS
for the Old Soldiers has diSap-
peared and they now intend to
cut down the appropriations for
these institutions, thereby Grip
pling the Old Soldiers Home and
making it impossible for them TO
be cared for in the manner in
which they should be cared for.
Reading the Capper publica-
tionS the reader would hardly
know that there was a Kansas
state senate. The Kansas state
senate is not playing politics.
with one or two exceptions, both
the Republican and Democrat
members are trying to do the best
they can for the slate, not word
of cOmmendatiOn is given them,
because it would never do to COM
lpliment Democratic senate with
the good work ii is doing, there
fore the senate is ignored, yet they
expect a Democratic senate and
the Republican members of the
senate who are working with them
to line up with the administration.