The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-09-14
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM


publican state platform this year. Old
timers who have been checking the
matter find it difficult to point to !
platform where the real dirt farmer
had a greater influesce than he had
in the Republican Party Council
which met at Topeka, August %, and
framed a party platform which de-
clared for many things of vital con-
cern to the rural districts.
The platform was drafted by a
committee Of twenty-one, and was
headed by w. Y. Morgan, the Repub-
lican candidate for Governor. Six
of the members are actually engaged
in agriculture, while Congressman
Tincher is in the cattle business, sew
eral of the other platform builders
are interested in farms, and it is q
fact little known, yet one that ac-
counts for the understanding which
he has Of the problems of the farmer,
that w. Y Morgan, the Republican
candidate for Governor, has couple
Of farms, himself. And in these days
the man who can support two farms
has some little idea of the problems
Of the farm and the farmer.
But the real farmers who figured
in the making Of the Republican plat
form were Senator Bert Culp, of
Scottsville, one Of the biggest and
best farmers In northwest Kansas,
while to keep him company there was
Warren Culp, Of Mcpherson, a candi-
date for the legislature, active in the
Farmers Union and one of the most
successful farmers in Mcpherson
county. Eastern Kansas was repre-
sented by Frank Pomeroy, of Jack
on county, who is not only a real
farmer, but is an active leader in
Kansas Grange, and knows the needs
of the farmer as the Grange sees the
problem. Then there was Henry NJ.
Laing, Of Russell county, a member
of the State Board of Agriculture, a
member Of the legislature, and one
Of the best posted farmers in the
State. Along with him there was H.
G. Kyle, of Dickinson county, who
has been a farmer all his life, and
knows enough about it to make q
good living from the soil, while the
cattlemen were represented by w. G.
Miller, of Greensburg, who has been
active in the Kansas livestock indus
try for years, and who has been and
is now a successful operator.
With these men on the committee,
and with the backing which they had
from other members who knew some
thing of the problems that confront
the farmers and stockmen, it is easy
to understand how it is that the Re
publican platform takes a firm stand
in favor of legislation for the farmer.
Under the leadership of these men,
and with the entire committee, as
well as the party council itself in
complete harmony with the sugges-
tions of the farmer members the
Republican platform declared for an
amendment to the constitution that
would make it possible to do away
with the unfair assessment of farm
lands and homes; for a change that
would do away with the double taxa
tion on farm mortgages, a tax which
the farmer pays, and not the holder
of the mortgage; for limitation of
the power to issue tax exempt secur-
titles, in order that money so badly
needed, may be released for the devel-
opment of agriculture; for the bet
4 g,
system that will reduce State expend-
itures, and for legislation that will
give the people of each county the
right to say whether they want hard
surface roads, or no roads at all and
if they do want good roads to give
them the power to say what kind
they shall be, where they shall be
built, and to determine other similar
matters which are different problems
IN different counties.
Verify, the Kansas farmer has left
his trademark on the Republican
state platform and with a holdover
Senate which now contains many
farmers and the candidate for the
legislature coming mostly from the
rural districts, there is no question
of a Republican Governor and a Re
publican legislature, the farmer will
be able to put on the statute books
the things which will benefit agricul-
ture. And in that he will have the
help and support of the state, for the
average Kansan is smart enough to
know that the farmer is the backbone
of prosperity, and that the things
that benefit him, help every Jay
hawker.