The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-14

tended the meeting. They took free
swing at the campaign of the state
defense organization and declared that
Comanche county bankers and bust
ness men would meet local demands
without accepting a dollar from the
state organization. Nearly 10000
bushels of seed wheat are needed in
this county, it is asserted. But not
ono bushel will be accepted from the
defense council. Local men will fur
nish seed wheat at low rate Of in
terest rather tlran on the crop share
plan as proposed by the state orgsni-
j. p. Caudill, representative from
Comanche county. presided at the
meeting and was bitter in his criti-
cism of the motives of the state coun-
Gil. J. C. Taylor, mayor of Protec-
ton, was secretary of the indignation
meeting.
Patriotism with these men has be-
come high class play and a game of
gouge under the guise of patriotism"
said Caudill in his criticism of the mo-
tiveS of the defense council. These
man manifest their immeasurable
patriotism by proclaiming from the
house tops that we are putting up our
gold to help the wheat raisers from
purely patriotic motives'-yet they
propose the worst robbery that ever
disgraced the name of patriotism.
They seem to imagine that because
they are furnished the filthy lucre al
rate of interest that robs you men
by secret fraud instead of despoiling
our foes by real patriotic forces, that
they possess patriotism par excellence
and that the Lord must be proud of
them"
The severe attack which Represen-
tative Caudill made on the policies of
the defense council, does not mean that
the farmers of the county will not en-
ter into the spirit of the 200 million
bushel wheat campaign. They pro-
pose to utilize every available acre of
wheat land in keeping the Comanche
county record high. They propose to
cooperate with the state and nation
in every patriotic move to win the war.
But they balk at the plan to divide
their crops with the men who furnish
the seed. Many Comanche coIir ty
renters pay one-third rental to land
owners and are confronted with the
proposition for one-fifth to one-forrth
of the 1918 crop to men who furnish
seed wheat.
Resolutions Adopted.
Resolutions adopted at the Co
manche county meeting follow:
Resolved, That we denounce the I'M
patriotic motives of those who. thru the
Kansas state council of defense, are eX-
acting from the unfortunate wheat-raiser
of our state one-fifth of his crop in return
for supplying him with seed at a time
when the wheat-raiser is unable to buy
ana must nave assistance from those more
fortunate. To exact such high rate of in
terest-double treble the amount of the
principle-in time of peace would merely
be usury. To do at this time, under
the guise of patriotism and with the sane
ton of our state council, is dislOyal. If 1t
is the mission of the state council of de-
Tense to promote and sanction graft, we
demand their dismissal.
We pledge our loyalty and cooperation
to our state and nation in this time of
need. We will put forth our best efforts
to increase the production of all crops,
especially in the statewide drive for 200
million bushels of wheat for Kansas next
year, but we demand the same from others
and the elimination of all graft from our
public affairs at this time We will not
bow at the feet of the kaiser, nor submit
ourselves to the money barons of the state
of Kansas.