Shawnee Drum-Beat from Topeka, Kansas • 1

iti. 4 v- s' t.t, I State ITiit Society SHAWNEE DRUM-BEAT Successor -to -tlx RsaiiTim established lfWl, DhumUbat established XHt5. TOPEKA, KANSAS, SATURDAY, ARPIL 20, 1895. VOL. I.

NO 12 i i i It" buggies from Kansas City and the girls well, we have a profound admiration for them and their new spring bonnets. J- F. L. tlers occupied them years ago in good faith and built up beautiful homes. Speculators made claim to these valuable lands improved' by the labor of the settlers, under a title from the Indians who refused to occupy them.

Such is the foundation of this long continued case. The last legislature provided that the labor commissioners report shall not exceed 400 pages. It is a wonder it was not made less. Too much knowledge concerning labor matters is not deemed desirable by old school politicians. But, then, if the labor commissioner is an all round student of economic questions, and does his duty to labor, he can give the old bourbons a great many nuts to crack in 400 pages.

Facta are abundant and all that is needed is to make a wise use of them. Sheriff Burdge and the police went on a beer hunt Monday evening. They had a lively time with Mrs. Neisler on Smoky Row, who had no intention of giving up her beer. They however captured eighteen bottles and then compromised with the irate woman by returning one for her immediate use.

But the biggest haul was made at Dr. Tulles, 131 Kansas avenue. They next confiscated a five gallon keg of whisky at the drug store kept by Dr. Karr, on the corner of Fifth and Madison. Such activity, if persevered in, might convince even Gov- Morrill that a law can be enforced, if those who are sworn to do so will make the necessary effort.

The Municipal League discussed the Topeka water works on Wednesday evening. Mr. C. J. Evans read a valuable paper giving a history of the enterprise, that if space permitted we would be pleased to publish in full.

The capitalization of the company, bonds and stock, was given as over two and one-half millions of dollars, while the actual cost was less than $500,000. This is a fair sample of the kind of financiering which always characterizes the corporate ownership of public utilities. It is to bs hoped that the League will continue to probe these questions until the people awake to a realizing sense of the folly of giving away valuable franchises to private corporations. One hundred men reported to the new street commissioner for work last Monday morning. They expected that the election of Fellows would furnish employment for all.

Of course this was impossible, no matter what may have been promised in order to secure votes. Workingmen ought to learn that the only way they can help themselves to municipal employment is by moving for the most thorough system of municipal reform. Make the city government a business corporation for the benefit of all the people, instead of being merely the tool of the corporations, contractors and place hunters. Workingmen might use their franchise to help themselves, but they can never do so by voting party. mi INHERITED WEALTH.

BY JOSEPH P. PETRIE. CHAPTER III. Every friend of humanity recognizes the great fundamental doctrine of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. On this doc trine alone can honest reformers of every school of thought unite; and on this broad humanitarian basis the truly progressive spirits of the world must come together in thought and action, before we can reach that ideal condition of universal peace, harmony and prosperity based on liberty, equality and fraternity, which has been the dream of the good and the wise in all ages.

By this means alone can the Lords prayer be answered and those ideal conditions prevail upon the earth as the devout Christian believes that they prevail in Heaven. We, must answer that prayer, if it is ever to be answered at all, and to do this, we must unite the honest reformers of every school of progressive thought, in some comprehensive system of working that will not require any earnest thinker and worker to surrender his honest convictions. Among the earnest reformers of the world, in every age and in every clime, we find twe great schools of thought, the Individualistic and the Socialistic, the Egotist and the Collectivist. These are subdivided into numerous shadeB of opinion, merging into and interlacing with each other, but nevertheless identified more or less distinctly with one or the other of these great schools. We must assume that all are equally honest, and equally entitled to consideration in the grand movement for the upbuilding of our common humanity which in this, the closing decade of the Nineteenth century is permeating the hearts of the masses of mankind the world over as never before.

The work of human redemption requires the cordial and harmonious co-operation of the best minds in all these seemingly conflicting schools of reform thought, which agree in the absolute only on the one fundamental doctrine of Universal Brotherhood, with the moral obligations toward each other which' this doctrine implies. At first sight this seems to be a hopeless task to the casual observer, but when we take into consideration the fact that all of these schools of thought, are represented in the conduct of human affairs, as we now find it exemplified in the laws and usages of every civilized government on the globe, a close union of all true reformers of all schools, does not seem so difficult after all. Individualism and Socialism go hand in hand in governmental affairs everywhere, and more particularly is this true in the United States. Our postal system, our school system, public hospitals, alms houses and charitable institutions are purely socialistic. Corporations of every name and character are required to get a charter or permit from the state before they commence business, and therefore they are socialistic in their conception.

A number of persons, for instance, desire to construct a railroad and engage in the business of transporting persons and products between given points. On the ground that they are to render services to the public, by which the public will be benefited, they ask the public or the state, to grant them a charter or franchise. When this is done the state condemns the right of way, that is, it takes enough of the land belonging to in-dividuals, to serve for road bed, depots, yards and so forth, and transfers it to the chartered corporation on the presumption that the corporation is to be the servant of the people. Thus far the power exercised in favor of the railroad corporation iB purely socialistic, or in other words the power that belongs to society. When the road is built the company operates it in its own way for its own private gain, without any regard for the wishes of the people or the state which grants its franchise, It regards its privileges, granted by society, or the collectivity, as its vested rights and to the extent of its ability it invariably acts as if it was of right the master instead of the servant of the people.

The railroad corporation is therefore socialistic in its conception, but individualistic or anarchistic in its application. In other words, on pretence that it desires to become a servant of the people it secures the use of their power as a collectivity, a socialistic power, to start it in business and then as an individual it serves itself instead of the people who gave it being. The same thing is true of all other chartered corporations. It is the sovereign power of society which gives them the right to do business, on the presumption that they will render useful service to society. But this right being exercised solely for the private gain of the stockholders and usually an inside ring of the managers, this sovereign power of the people to grant privileges is used by its beneficiaries to compel the people to pay tribute to individuals.

Under the sovereign right of eminent domain private property may be taken for a public use, but by corporations, the property and privileges so taken, are diverted from the ubo of the publio and the benefits accrue to individuals, Bo, as it exists today, in our laws and usages, we have an admixture of individualism and socialism which would not be so particularly objectionable provided we had the wisdom to avail ourselves of that which was best in both schools of thought. On the contrary, however, our present system embraces Borne of the worst features of both socialism and anarchism, Where then are we to draw the line so as to secure that which is best in both of these seemingly conflicting schools of economic thought? The rights of the individual as well as the best interests of the community at large must be carefully guarded in that ideal condition which is the culmination of all our fondest hopes for the future. Both of the great schools of reform thought, the socialistic and the individualistic, must be guaranteed an equal opportunity to develop all that is good in either without clashing. To reach this ideal condition requires careful study, and a widespread intelligence among the people that can only be secured by a most thorough system of popular education such as suggested last week, The most ready means of establishing such an educational system that suggests itself is a graduated tax on inheritances- This right to take part of an inheritance in the shape of a tax for the benefit of the general public is not questioned, and the appropriation of all, for the benefit of all, is only the extention of this same right. And on this proposition we Inld that the two great schools of economic thought could the most readily unite.

The right of the individual to accumulate would not be questioned, but the right of the collectivity to secure an equal start in life for all would be equally secured. The individual would be free to compete for the possession of wealth, while collectivists would have ample opportunity and financial ability to co-operate and develop all that is best in collective action. None would be hampered by poverty, and forced to compete with each other for an opportunity to live. The barriers erected by exhorbitant wealth would be removed from the pathway of both the individualist and the socialist, and both would have an equal opportunity to demonstrate in practice the merits of their respective schools of thought, and this by simply recognizing the fact that the earth and all the fulness thereof, belongs to the living and not to the dead. More anon.

You will find in H. Alvey, Express 49, corner of Fifth and Kansas avenue, a reliable and prompt man. Give him your patronage. lioit Pocket Book. R.

F. Head lost a pocket book containing some valuable papers on Friday the 5th inst. It was lost between Oakland and Parkdale, The finder will please notify Mr. Head at 434 Liberty street. Mrs.

Jennie Henry, 916 Kansas avenue, is authorized to act as agent for this paper in Topeka, Subscribe for the Drum-Brat, $1. JUDE WHITE. The supreme decided that the income tax on rents and bonds was of the nature of a direct tax and therefore unconstitutional. Justice White in his able dissenting opinion regarding this contention, says' Accord- ing to the very words of the statute this tax is indirect. It is in no sense a tax on land as such.

It places no burden on real estate, if it is not rented, or if the rent is not collected, or if the owner occupies his land himself. It puts no direct burden under any circumstances for it allows the deduction from the income derived from land and all other sources of $4,000 as well as all expenses incurred in the transaction of business. The fallacy of the opinion, as I see it. lies in the assumption that the constitution forbids an indirect taxation of land by the federal government without apportionment among the states. It is only direct burdens that must be so apportioned, and the tax on incomes imposed by the statute now under consideration is, in its essence and by the very terms of the law, indirect in every regard.

In my judgment the position here assumed is full of danger to our institutions. The august power lodged in this court of passing on the constitutionality of acts of congress has always been discreetly and carefully exercised. I believe this is the first case in our history where authority which has been conceded to congress by nearly one hundred years of acquiescence in all departments of the government and has been sanctioned by repeated adjudications of this court has been judicially denied. WANAMAKER ITlMS. Several farmers have commenced to plant corn.

The prospects for nearly all kinds of fruit looks promising. Wm. Fritz is closing out here preparatory to moving to New York state. Mr. and Mrs.

McCIanning, of Kansas City, came up Sunday to attend the funeral of their uncle. We had a good shower of rain Monday night, which was badly needed, as stock water was very scarce. The creek bed is as dry as the road. Small fish in the creek were about all killed last winter. Reverend Hitchcock, of Dover, will preach at Wanamaker every two weeks, in the evening, this place having been added to his charge.

We have heard many words of praise for his Easter Sunday sermon on the subject, The Resurrection. John Radford, of Topeka, addressed a good sized audience at Wanamaker school house last week on the subject of reform, which he handled very ably. Mr. Fentiman also gave a short lecture on Phrenology, and examined the heads of two young men. We think the professor could easily tell a mans politics by his bumps.

After an illness of more than a year, and six weeks of intense suffering, Patrick Devlin died near Wanamaker on April 13. Deceased was sixty-seven years of age, and came from Ireland to his adopted country about forty-five years ago. In 1849, like thousands of others, he crossed the great American desert, in search of wealth and employment, and went through many privations and hardships. He was a veteran of the late war, having served in the 25th regiment Missouri Engineers, and was in many of the great engagements, notably Pittsburg Landing, Vicksburg, At-tanta, etc. He leaves two daughters to mourn his loss.

Mr. Devlin lived an exemplary life, had many friends and no enemies. His death has made a deep and sad impression on the hearts of all in this community. He was buried in the cemetery west of Topeka on Easter Sunday. G.

G. Lee, the tinner, 827 Kansas avenue, will be pleased to receive your patronage. Call on him. Seel See, See Nicholson for coal, feed and water, junction of Kansas and Central avenues, North Topeka. Get your shoeing done at Kohl's 922 Kansas avenue, North Topeka, CITY AND COUNTY.

CITY ITEMS. Senator Martin is reported as saying that he will be elected to the senate in the winter of 1896. However, Theres many a slip. etc. The Kansas State Editorial Association will accept the invitation extended to Kansas editors to attend the Atlanta exposition next October.

Common decency demands the services of a police matron. The removal of Mrs. Thorpe is deservedly denounced by good citizens regardless of party. Soldier township will furnish a place for another redeemer, Max. Overton, justice of the peace has resigned, and it becomes the duty of Governor Morrill to fill the vacancy by appointment.

Sixteen drunks on one Sunday is the record made in Topeka, the only city in the state where the prohibitory law has a ghost of a show for enforcement. Whats the metter with the redeemers? The citizens of Shorey rejoice in free mail delivery, and have numbered their houses accordingly. This extension will not add to the expense of the postal service. It only imposes more work on the carriers. D.

I. Furbeck has purchased the Worcester flats, corner Eighth and Euclid avenue, Kansas City, Mo. The price named is $75,060. He starts in with twenty-one tenants. The rental furnishes a large profit on the investment.

A chief justice will be elected next fall. Who is the man the people want? No political machine can tell and it may be that the people will not insist upon their right to be heard. If so they are not likely to have their preferences represented. Judge David A. Martin, the newly appointed chief justice, Btated to a reporter that he would not remove to Topeka unless he was elected this fall.

This looks like taking the first opportunity to announce himself as a candidate for the position vacated by Judge Horton. The bibulously inclined, who had become thirsty during Lent, took advantage of Easter to get full and brought up before the police court on Monday-Just sixteen cases, mainly plain drunks, but some fighters, Five dollars was pr'ce usually charged by the court, for violating the law. Governor Morrill says that he will not ask an endorsement from the coming Republican League convention. This may be good policy, The en dorsement could not help him; besides he did not have places enough to go around, and the disappointed majority might denounce him. As well not risk it.

The dam ordinance requires the dam company to give a 620,000 bond that they will fuanish the city with 600. horse power within eighteen months, for which the city will pay $24,000 every year. The company will own the dam and the people will pay them for doing so. Not a bad thing for the owners of the franchise. In the Wait investigation last week one witness testified that all the members of the state board of charities swore except Mr.

Householder. The chief objection to Mr. Wait seems to have been that he was a cripple. How this could render him incapable of forming an intelligent opinion upon any question that came before the board is a mystery. The new bank commissioner C- S.

Jobes brought suit in the district of Harper county against George H. Young for $10,000 damages for calling him a thief. Young filed an answer and Jobes withdrew the suit. In his answer Mr. Young denied that he used the language attributed to him, but said that the facts justified the use of such language.

Morrills appointees do not seem to give unqualified satisfaction to the redeemers. The final hearing of the Black Bob Indian land cases has been continued April 23. These lands are situated in Johnson county. They were abandoned by the Indians, and white set MENOKEN ITEMS. Splendid rain Monday.

The farmers are now beginning to plant corn. S. N. Harper shipped his fat steers Monday night. J.

F. Goodwin received a car load of tiling this week to tile some of his land which is too wet during the wet Beason. The entertainment given at Pleasant Ridge church Friday night, April 12, was well attended, there being hardly standing room. Great preparations had been made and the exercises were well rendered. Fine music was rendered by the Neiswander orchestra, of district 49, assisted by C.

S. Ward and Walter Coleman. The proceeds, which was $24, will be used in purchasing a library for the Sunday school. Thursday was the last day of school in district 10, and the neighbors brought in baskets filled with good things to eat and every one enjoyed a fine dinner, after which the pupils entertained the visitors with a very fine program. The exercises were held in Pleasant Ridge church, and showed very caieful training on the part of the teacher and scholars.

Addresses were made by Messrs. C. H. Custen-border, John Frey and the directors of the school. 1ECUMSEII ITEMS.

No weddings for this week. Thurston Stinson commenced planting corn Monday. Mr. Adams set his hooks in the river Monday evening. We expect, of course, he caught a cat.

Wm. Lampkin, the old colored man who has been sick nearly all winter, is able to be about again. He is planting potatoes on the Wells place again this season. W. P.

Randall, of Lawrence, at tended prayer meeting at the Baptist church Sunday evening, and left for Topeka Monday morning, where he goes to visit his son. James Yance, of Kansas City, is up for a tew days on business. Mr. reports that because of combinations in coal he had to quit business, the large dealers charging him fifteen cents more per ton than they were selling it for at retail. VALENCIA ITEMS.

Peach, apple and plum trees are in bloom in this section and promise a good crop. Mr. W. M. Lytle has just completed setting out a fifty five acre orchard, containing 2,200 fine trees.

Scarlet fever having broken out in school district No. 67 at Valencia, the school, church and other society meetings are suspended for a time. Farming operations are active and spring work is as early as usual. Not much wheat or rye has been sown yet, but wbat little wheat is in is doing well. On Monday morning a slight rain and bail storm of a few minutes duration passed over here, with indications of more rain in the near future, which is needed here.

The patrons of District No. 103 celebrated Arbor Day by planting a number of fine trees, grading the school grounds and sowing grass. The pupils and their parents enjoyed a basket dinner and had a very pleasant time. John Radford and J. Fenti-man of the Brum-Beat force, took pait in the entertainment.

Mr. Radford gave some recitations and J. Fentiman an illustrated talk on the human face. Special Notice. All persons who send us one dollar for one years subscription to the Drum Beat will receive the Coming Nation for one year, two all-round reform papers for the cost of one.

Wanted to Rent. A dairy farm of eighty acres or one quarter. Reasonable distance from the city. Enquire at this office. WILLARD ITEMS.

Rev. J. D. Hitchcock preaches every alternate Sunday at West Union. Stock is now between hay and grass and are beginning to turn up their nose at dry feed, and look wistfully over the fence at the green and tender blade.

N. E. Gibson, our hospitable host is again at his old Btand in Willard, and is ready to fit you out with a square meal and good lodging for a small consideration. Our friend Joe Stevens fills his appointments punctually at Elmont, and between the Drum-Beat and Mail the expectant publio will be kept duly posted with regard to it. Old bachelors, as a rule are quite unsophisticated and stand any amount of correction without losing their equanimity.

Presto. Our allusion in the Drum-Beat to a Mother Hubbard should be modified so as to read a comfortable gown. We are sure to feel better after this correction. The time of the singing of birds has come, the voice of the turtle is heard in the land, the violets are in bloom, the boys have received a shipment of i.