The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-02-21
oILMoRE'S SPEECH.


House bill No. 2222; an act to amend
an act amendatory of an act to vacate
certain streets and alleys in the city OF
Altoona; Mr.. Gilmore said:
MIR. SPEAKER: My distinguished as
sociates on this floor can testify that !
seldom wake the echoes of this beautiful
and we'll ventilated chamber, or appail
the ears of those noble men whose undls-
tinguishable portraits adorn its walls:
George Washington, or John A. Murrell
as the case may be Abraham: Lincoln
or Robert Kidd, whichever the picture
is intended to represent; all these heroes
selected from the history of the United
States or the Pirates own Book accord
ing to the fancy of the artist, can testify
to the fact.
1 am aware Mr.. Speaker, that great
measures await the action of this house;
measures worthy of the gifted beings
who constitute this assembly. There is
the act to change the name of Adam
Funkhouser to Adam Bromelsick the
act to declare the bed of Coon creek a
legal highway /; and an act to legalize the
illegal acts Of Jonathan Edwards IN un-
lawfully swelling the census returns in
Linn cOdnty; but MIR. speaker in tran
scepdept importance no measure excels
that which | now rise to advocate. Sell
dom does it fall to the lot Of humble
legislator to plead the cause OF SO merl-
torious an enactment.
But, Mr.. Speaker, necessary, beautiful
and appropriate as this bill il, the black
clouds of detraction and the forked light
ming of calumny have been hurled upon
its advocate. 1t has been asserted, sir,
that because live in Fredonia am OPP
posed to the interests of Altoona, and
would kill her, bury her, cast jimpson
weeds upon her tomb.
Sir, the author of that calumny is not
a man. He has no claim to walk upright
on two legs; he was conceived in sin and
brought forth in iniquity; and cast his
hell-begotten SANDER in mis- teeth.
| Sir, l stand the representative OF nc
faction or section. My heart takes in
the whole county-from Verdigris tc
Fall River, from Little Bear Mound te
Timber Hills. Iadvocate Wilson county
the whole county and nothing but the
county, and in the language of the poe
Fenlon-
while there's strength in the whisky,
Or snap in The jim,
NV heart will continue
To take it all ill.,
J, Leaving, Mr.. Speaker, my calumnl
ators to crawl into their holes ana Oil
from the sufocation of their own lou
breath, I will invoke the muse OF history
Mr.. Speaker, the town of Altoona IS al
. illustration of the fact that man propose
and God disposes; that man locates ant
the legislature vacates. Every town
like every individual, has its COLDER
: ACE. There was a time Mr.. Speaker
when even you were innocent. Thus
was with Altoona. The hardy pioneer
who first reached the Verdigris at tina
noint. driving back the Indians at tn
muzzie of pint flask, had high hope;
, "Here". said they, twill we build me
. tropolis. What do We lack? Is ther
not grass, wood, water, and an inexhau'
J table supply Of magnetism limestone
Doth not the merry catfish leap IN tn
E Yirdigris, and the paw-paw bloom in tn
woods, furnishing .healthful and abuno
ant food for man? Let us found a city.
Thew had found the place. Alas, tina
TODAY the city should not be found.
In time a saloon and newspaper OHIO
were established. Never did two gres
institutions work together more harmon
iously. The saloon supported the edlto
and the newspaper supported the saiool
Z In time a mill churned the waters OF tn
Verdigris, and store arose, where q IL
!, tie of everything, from a postage STAN
y to porous plaster, was sold. A blacl
!. smith commenced to maui iron and
u curse mules, and q shoemaker smote |,
IS knees from early morn till dewy ev
y Encouraged by the prospect, the ter
I piles of religion commenced to arise pro
pectively; the Baptists bought 10
the Methodists laid the foundation OF
$4,000 church the COngregationaiis
"a circulated subscription paper, and q
y. Mormons started polygamy shop in q
.. "out edge" of town.
I'll Mr.. Speaker, the sinews of commert
Oh the arteries of trade, were beautifully d
DO cussed. The citizens voted $4,000
&c the st. Augustine. Fl. Smith & Vance
lei YER railroad, $50, 600 to the Chanu:e, /
y sill & Fredonia railroad, 800, 900 to 7
10 HAYS City, Dodge City 4 City Of |
ut struction railroad (broad gauge), a
Ne $3.50, 900 to the Altoona & New Jeru
].