Arthur Capper: A True Kansas Statesman

For many people, Senator Arthur Capper is most notably known as an advocate for children with disabilities and founder of Capper Foundation. However, he also left his mark on several other industries as well, namely agriculture, media and publishing.

Before serving as Governor of Kansas and U.S. Senator, Capper’s first public office was as a member and chairman of the Board of Regents of the Kansas State Agricultural College which is now Kansas State University. His interest in agriculture extended into his time in politics serving as chair of the Senate’s agriculture and forestry committees. In 1922 he co-sponsored the Capper-Volstead Act exempting farm cooperatives from anti-trust laws, leading to a rush of agricultural co-ops. Capper was also instrumental in the establishment of the 4-H movement by starting clubs in Kansas such as “Pig Club” and “Garden Club” that loaned money to students to begin modest businesses. For his involvement, Capper was later inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame.

His business career in the media and publishing sector began after high school in 1884 when he moved from Garnett, KS to Topeka, to work as an editor and political correspondent for the Topeka Daily Capital. After a brief move out-of-state to New York and Washington D.C., Capper returned to Topeka, and by 1911 was owner and publisher of the newspaper that is now The Topeka Capital-Journal. At the time, it was considered “one of the best and brightest dailies in the West.” In 1927, WIBW (one of the first radio stations in the state) was added to his media empire. Before his death in 1951, Capper Publishing was the largest publishing house west of the Mississippi with weekly, daily, and five state farm newspapers and two national magazines. The Capper Weekly, now known as the Capper’s Farmer, remains in circulation and is owned by Ogden Publications, along with Capper Insurance. Pairing his media influence with causes close to him gave Senator Capper a strong and influential voice for disability rights and farmers’ issues on a national level.

Senator Capper’s living legacy is Capper Foundation where infants, children, teens, and adults as well as their families from 16 counties and 46 cities across Kansas receive the individualized care and therapies needed to fulfill their hopes and dreams.