The Washington herald., 1922-02-23
GLOOM BANlSHED
FROM KANSAS BY
BETTER MARKETS
Outcry Against Tax Bur.
dens and Party in Pow
er Being Silenced.

KANSAS CITY, Kans., Feb. "a
Ever since tho bottom dropped out
of the market for farm products,
Kansas has been an area of unre
lieved gloom. From this State have
emanated walls of distress. clamor
against existing conditions, do
nunciation of the party in power
and schemes to legislate the return
of prosperity.
But barring a setback in the
movement or a crop failure, the ele-
ment of discomfort may be expected
to disappear as an important factor
in the political situation.
| While the prospective winter
wheat yield has been greatly re-
duced by the drought. there has
been an encouraging rise in the
price of almost every product of the
farm. except cattle. Sixty days ago
wheat was selling for 95 cents a
bushel. Now the lower grades
bring s1.25, the higher $1.35 to s1.45.
Corn was 20, now 55 cents. Hogs
were :, now 10 cents a pound. Sheen
selling then for cents now bring
IA cents. oats have gone up to 81
cents, barley to 55 and rye to %
cents.
Farmers Agnin Prospering.
At these prices the farmers, par
ticularly those raising hogs and
sheep. are beginning to make
money again, one is told almost ev-
erywhere in Kansas. One reEult
noted is the loss of interest by tn,
farmers in the devices for maintain
ing prices which had been adopted
| when they were feeling most des-
perate. An example is the woor
pool. When wool was low the
sheepmen formed pool to holo
wool for higher price. When the
price OF wool rose to a paying level
the pool went to pieces, every par
ticipant going 1t alone again.
The political effect of this i'm
rfcvement in economic conditions is
expected to be a lessening of the
volume of discomfort which has
manifested Stself conspicuousIy in
the outcry against increased taxes
throughout the State. In every To-
cality tax leagues have been formed
to protest against the boost in tax
alton and demand a sharp curtail- :
ment In the expense of State and
local government.
Consultations Demanded.
The consolidation and abolition of
State boards, commissions and other
agencies are being widely demanded
as we'll as paved highways. So far
the protest has not been aimed at the
Federal government, except in so far
as opposition has been expressed to
appropriations by Congress for good
roads. conditioned upon an equiva-
lent appropriation by the States.
The administration of Gov. Henry
Hen. Progressive Republican, has
borne the brunt of the attack by
the tax leagues whose activities
promise a lively fight over the cleo.
ion of State officers this year. GOV.
Allen has intimated that he NAV be
I candidate for a third term and ten
OF twelve aspirants for the Re-
publican nomination are already in
the running, most of them assailing
he Allen administration on various
grounds, but chiefly the taxation is
sue. -...
Gov. Allen has won a national rem
ton as the author OF the Kansas
labor court idea. which has operat-
ed to prevent strikes and settle Ia
eor disputes. II he becomes q can
didate for reelection. it will be to
seek vindication of his administra-
tion. particularly on the tax issue.
His defenders already are on the
stump. demonstrating that II Is not
SO much the increase of the cost o.
State government as 1t Is the local
improvements. voted by the farmers
themselves, which has caused the
tax boosts.
May Run for Senate.
Whether the governor seeks re-
election. IT is expected that he will
be candidate for, the Republican
nomination for United States Sena-
tor. two years hence, against Sena-
tor Curtis. a1.