Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1921-01-13
WHY IT WILL FAIL


win In Kansas. It cannot win per
manently anywhere because Its f.
nancial plans are economically un.
sound. The state cannot success.
fully carry on business as It pro.
poses. But besides that, other rea-
sons exist for making 1t impossible
that 1t shall even get much foothold
in this state.
In North Dakota was an entirely
different problem. That state, about
the size Of Kansas, has less than
100000 population; 90 per cent live
on farms-only about 10000 in
towns. The state capital has 5000
population, little larger than Abb
lene; Fargo, the largest city, is about
the size Of Hutchinson and Grand
Forks, the next largest town, Is
smaller than Salina. All the other
towns are from 500 to about 1000
population. The farming population
has large foreignbOrn element
which proved easily swayed in the
days when the idea was new and be-
fore the failures In management had
occurred. But that state woke up
and has after only two years repu-
dated the League and gone to work
to earn money to pay the burdens
saddled upon II without one single
advantage gained.
Kansas has more than a million
more people than North Dakota
nearly half the population lives in
towns. The town folks can't be
worked by any paid organizers to
put up money for the privilege Of
voting for candidates picked out by
some rank outsider. An organizer
who would come to Abilene trying to
get business men to put up $1S on
such wild dream as the League pro-
poses would get the merry ha-ha and
be told when the first train left for
Missouri. 1t may be that the League
will elect one or two Of the 1856
members Of the legislature some time
but that is about all.
Nothing can be done for two years
anyhow, for there is not election I'M
til November, 1922. It's plans
won't be possible without constitu-
tional amendment; that can't be
done for four years: The men that
put up $1S this year are simply sup
porting the organizers. The next
year another $18 will be called for
$38 for the privilege Of
allowing somebody else to tell them
how to vote.
Mighty few farmers are going to :
Join out OF the tOtal-too much good :.
sense among the Kansas farmers. .
Dickinson county has about 1000
votes; If Townley could boss the =
vote Of 1000, 1t would cut no ice D."
and he cant do that. We suspect :
Sere is a good deal Of lying about :
he membership, We have talked =
With members In this county-gen. n
rally they say they Joined because q
her neighbors asked them to and :,
o get rid Of the persistent young :,
men who are making easy money "
'etting members. Many of them =
ave dropped out. It was said that - =,
he county once had 275 members ''
ut that was probably exaggerated.
The Townley crew Of workers may
ather up 1000 members in Kansas IL
his winter-that Is $4,000 clean q,
honey, for they don't give anything =,
Or 1t, and a nice winters work. h,
ut with its rotten record Of finan. I'D
al disaster and charges of disloy-
lty 1t can no more take over the
overnment Of Kansas with its l.. -,
10000 population as It did the ru. o. o.
i North Dakota with ESQ, 900 than 20
can send message to Mars. It a.
ct the same condition in Minneso- 80
|, Wisconsin, Colorado and other -,
ates, all Of which have defeated Il. an
could fool the scattered, poorly r.,
formed farmers of North Dakota pu
zee. But 1t cannot even make n -,
art on ruling the state Of Kansas. w. ",
would not get a single member s 81,
IRE II not for the failure Of many ~,
inform themselves Of just what ~, y"
means and Of what cheap money. -.
abbng game Il IL for the Never -.
ofks who are living OF 1t, ~ pp'