Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1890-09-25
BRAVE BARNETT.
He Enters the Congressional
Contest Only to be Unmerci-
fully Slaughtered-Thlnks
He Will be Elected.
Interview With Republican Congrsssional
Nominse-He Fsvors Speaker Reeds
Course, the Mckinley Bill and
Blaine's Reciprocity.
From the Vandalia Leader.

From the Vandalia Leader.
W. o. Barnett, who lives south
Of this city, is well-known to most
of our citizens. He is q farmer
and something of a local politician.
We met the old gentlemen the
other day, and of course exchanged
greetings, wished him big CAM
paign and a bigger Waterloo as q
grand finale.
Il suppose you are going to Con-
gress?" queried the loquacious
scribe.
81 believe 1 will," responded
Mr.. Barnett, shut I can't tell, you
know. 1 know you Democrats
stick to your men, and that makes
the matter uncertain"
''Do you intend to make can
vass with your opponent, Mr.. Nor
ton, and jointly stump the dis
trict?"
"No, no; I haven't the time.
You know I hold a position in the
Farmers and Laborers' Union,
and it's duties are such as take up
the greater portion of my time. l
have just received, without solici-
tation, a renewal of my commits.
sion as organizer for the Union,
and I shall continue in the work l
have been in, lecturing and organ
izing."
"Isn't that farmers organization
very strong in this district"
"Indeed it is, and also very
strong all over the country. This
Congressional race will test it and
then we can see whether there is
really anything in It or not. Should
some of the strong leaders of that
organization come out espousing
my cause it would make me very
strong. I understand that the res
olutions passed by the Lincoln
county Union some weeks ago, in
dorsing my opponents not the &C.
ton OF the county Union, but of q
few members who assumed to
speak for the county Union with
out any real authority SO to do. l
have large acquaintance in Lin
coin county and lots of friends
among her farmers. If the farm
ers would all stick together and
but then l know you Democrats.
"What do you think of Speaker
Reed and his course in the present
Congress2"
"Well, sir, I think Speaker
Reed is one of the grandest and
greatest men in the American Con-
gress to-day. His ruling in regard
to counting members not voting is
the correct one, and it will be fol.
lowed by his successors for an hun.
dred years or more. Members OF
Congress are public servants, and
when they act as obstructionists,
there should be some power to
manage them"
"But what of the Speakers
course wherein he recognizes his
favorites and party associates in
preference to others who are en-
titled to recognition by precedence
or priority?"
"Well, that is all right too.
Reed is no doubt a good judge of
human nature, and he can tell by
looking at a member whether he is
an obstructlonist or not. If he ls
an obstructionist he ought not to
be recognized. If he is acting in
good faith, and Speaker Reed has
reason to so believe, he will be
recognized, otherwise not; and it is
right, young man. The majority
should rule. Reed is certainly a
great man. See the magnificent
majority his district gave him the
other day"
"The Mckinley tariff bill, what
of that, Mr.. Barnett?"
"It is good measure; one of the
best that has been introduced into
Congress for years. You ought to
be in favor of that bill-it puts
more articles on the free list than
any other measure. In some re-
spects I do not like it. Take bind
ing twine for instance. They ought
to have put duty of two or three
cents more on it instead of putting
it on the free-llst, and l will tell
you why I think SO: The Missouri
river bottom is the greatest hemp
growing country in the world. If
the farmers living In that locality
would get protection against this
imported sisal-or whatever you
call it-they would go to raising
hemp and make millions out of it,
and sell binding twine cheaper than
it will be sold under the free i'm
portation act. I believe in the
principle ofprotection. We should
have tariff on articles the like OF
which We produce here, but on
articles the like of which we do not
or cannot produce there should be
no tariff. I don't favor protection