The Washington herald., 1916-02-10
Kansas and the Price.

Senator Thompson, Of Kansas, in recent
speech discussing preparedness and other topics
showed in a most graphic way the ability of Kan
sas to support Preparedness though he failed to
commit himself on the Willingness of "the most
prosperous people in the United States" to assist
in providing for "thc common defense, promote
the general welfare and secure the blessings Of
liberty to ourselves and our postcrity," as the
fathers expressed the purpose of the Constitution
The Senator asserted that Kansas has ssooo,ooo,-
the rate OF So5o,ooo,ooo from farm products and
live stock and $325ooo,ooo from manufactures every
year" He added: This great production would
enable the State alone to pay the entire appropria
tion for the army navy and coast dcfenses neces-
sary for the protection of our country from war
and still have plenty of money left for our people
Just so. Kansas could do the whole thing, but
will she do even onc-forty-eighth of the lob as
ono OF the sovereign States in the Union? Gov,
Capper says mo, and he says that he is SUD-
ported by the preachers, the school teachers the
farmers the working men, the editors and the bus
mess men Of Kansas. They feel that their $4,000
100000 of wealth and their 900 900 900 of annual
income is already protected by the 1900 miles be-
tween them and the sea coast and the East can
go hang for want Of the help OF Kansas
William Allen White once wrote that "reIef-
was stamped on the map of Kansas when frs,
created and that the trademark had never been
abandoned. That may be the reason why Senator
Thompson did not give promsory note oblipat-
ing Kansas to pay the whole bill for prepared
ness or any part of it,
1t is interesting to know that Kansas peonIe
have 81 ooo, 100000 income for the Commissioner
OF Internal Revenue able to collect only So.
900 income tax in the State last year. That was
less than one-tenth of per cent instead of
one per cent called for in the income tax law, T.
was not enough to support the military school
which Congress located at Leavenworth nor to
pay for the forage the cavalry troops stationed
in the State bought from the farmers nor to bu;ld
the military road they have, nor to paw for the
supplies bought from Kansas people to feed the
prisoners in the Federal pententary also located
at Leavenworth. The people OF Kansas paid about
one-fourth as much to support the national gov
ernment as did the District of Columbia, but Sena-
tor Thompson says Kansas could paw the whole
cost of preparedness and not feel it.
There is old saying that men should NH,
up or shut up but the expression appears to be
obsolete in Kansas. If Senator Thompson would
only make another speech telling us what Kansas
would do for preparedness it would be much more
to the point and would be more agreeable to the
President. No one begrudges Kansas her great
prosperity, but if the Kansas system OF revenue
production and expenditure is to govern prepared
ness, and payment of fair share of the national
expense, it is not desirable and even from the
Kansas point of view should not be allowed TO
spread very far toward the coast line where the
defense must be made to continue the prosperity
Of the Sunflower State