Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-10-29

PETER AND BURTON.
The Two Meet In Joint Debate at Topeka
The Tariff and Financial Matters Dis
cussed.
TOPEKA. Kan, Oct 20.-The first Of
the series of joint debates between
Senator PETER, the peoples party
champion, and J. B. Burton. the repub-
ican orator, took place here last night
The crowd which filed the Grand
opera house was about evenly divided
politically. According to the arrange
ments each party had a chairman.
James A. Troutman representing the
republicans, and w. 81. Bennington
the peoples party. An hour and half
was given to each speaker. Burton
opening with an hours talk. being fol-
lowed by PETER, who spoke one hour
and a half, and closing with q thirty.
minute speech
In his opening speech, Burton said:
last summer there was organized in
this country a secret political party.
Its hotbed was in Kansas and it had
small gains in the older settled coun-
try. In Georgia it was considered an
adjunct of the democratic party. The
cause which led to this organization
was hard times. It is claimed that the
volume of currency had been contract
ed since the war until there was not
enough money in circulation to do the
business of the country. This we deny.
There is more money to-day in circula-
ton than there has been at any time
in the history of the country, and every
dollar is worth 100 cents, not only in
America but in every country in the
world"
"No party" the speaker went on,
has such a history as this, but the re-
publican party. Do I deny that the
times have been hard? 1 do not, but
they have not been as hard as they say.
Pardon me, but more lying has been
done about this than any other thing
ever up in American politics"
The speaker then dwelt upon the i'm
provements made in this country in
fifteen years prior to 1885, and said that
the people had no money to do it on,
but depended entirely on their credit.
Not only did people come to this coun-
try, but capital came and urged itself
upon this country. The old adage had
proved true: HE that makest haste to
get rich falleth into a SNARE
Burton then spoke of the leaders of
the party. When Jerry Simpson was
elected to congress he was street COM
missioner and city marshal of Medicine
Lodge at $40 a month. He (Burton)
looked these people over; he looked for
George Washington, he looked in
vain for one who had at least proved a
financial success for himself
Burton then propounded three ques-
tions and asked PETER to answer them
in his talk: care you in favor of tariff
for revenue only or a tariff for protec-
ton? Are you in favor of government
ownership of railroads? Are you in
you in favor of the Otis plan?'
Chairman Bennington introduced
Senator PETER by saying: 'Our senator,
DGeorge Washington of to-day"
Senator PETER opened: s'The peo-
pies party is not a secret political or
ganization-there is nothing secret
about it It was organized in the very
center of population am aware that
it had no distinguished orators or states
men and have been glad since that
there was not politician in all that
great company. 1t is not secret polit-
ical movement Our creed has been
published to the world. and every one
of us who mounts a platform is called
calamity howler.' It is alleged that
there is more money now than there
ever was. Now of course deny that"
The speaker then for half an hour
read from the reports of the secretary
of the treasury to prove his statement,
showing that there was now 81, 900, OOO.
900 in circulation or about SIG per cap
ita, while there was more money in
circulation at the close of the war than
now. The circulation was being de-
creased at the rate of $50. 00O 900 year
and the banks increased at the rate of
159 year. The railroads in Kansas
were in debt eight times as much as
they were worth.
Am 1 in favor of the sub-treasury
plan?' the speaker went on. What
does it matter whether 1 am or not? l
am in favor of the principle underlying
the plan. Am in favor of a tariff for
revenue only or for protection? Yes, l
am in favor of tariff for revenue and
for protection.
Mr.. PETER then handed Burton a
copy of PETERS tariff manual, saying:
Here is my doctrine, why, am bet
ter republican to-day than you. We
want to change things in this country
SO the farmer will have as good show
as anybody. We agree as to the condi-
ton of the country. Now show us
plan to relieve us; when Wall street
wants money they call on the secretary
of the treasury and get it When we
want money we are told to work for it
We will change it around"
Burton then closed his speech and
the debate. He said: II am the au.
thor of the first bill ever formed to
prohibit a combine and make it
penalty. and that bill was passed by
the Kansas legislature.
The speaker then asked PETER if he
would change any of his statements,
and turning to the audience said: HE
will not say one word of hope for Kan
sas, but damn her wherever he goes"
Death Not Due to . Spiders Bite.
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