Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-03-28
THE ALLIANCE LEADERS.
INTERESTING INTERVIEWS WITH THE
NEW SENATOR AND REPRESENTA-
TIvEs AT WASHINGTON.
what They Have to Say.

Kansas Is the hornet In the national
bonnet. Not content with furnishing
the row which generated Douglas and
Lincoln, not content with furnishing
John Brown and his arsenal full Of
pixies, not content with furnishing
ingalls, and his phosphorescent rhetoric
and fiery tongue, It has now furnished
PETER and John Davis and Jerry Simp-
son and their farmer allies and their
revolutionary theories. Kansas will
certainly be our salvation yet, or else
the other thing.
Icalled on Judge PETER yesterday.
He Is not handsome. A little over six
feet tall; somewhat lank and ungraceful;
keen kindly gray eye-two OF them,
In fact; sloping forehead; a light
brown thatch Of hair and dark brown
beard that hangs down about the but
tons OF his vest concealing the place
where his necktie ought to be, and look
ing as II 1t might belong to some other
man; plain gray business suit, bearing
jauntily upon the lapel pair Of gold
eyeglasses-the only visible sign Of
opulence-this is PETER.
He Is cordial in his manner, but not
at first. No, not at first
rs this Senator Peffer?" I inquired
after had seen summoned up to his
room and was rapidly making the above
inventory as he rose to receive me.
ut is," he said in cold, cold voice,
like Kansas blizzard blowing down
the waste pipe on the northeast corner
Of the Office OF the Kansas Farmer, and
he frowned down darkly on me and
spitefully clasped the chair in front OF
him with both hands he added in bleak
tones: What is it,"
II would like to talk to you about
the situation,"I answered, trying to
smile.
Commercially or otherwise" he
asked with severe reflection.
Commercially" replied as calmly
as could. Il am paid for my letters
mo; mean commercial between you
and me-" he explained.
II suppose So" answered, vaguely
and obviously. 'How much do you
charger" And tried to estimate how
much my newspaper would allow me to
pay him.
He looked mad for a moment and
then his long, coffee colored beard
quivered with merriment, as he said:
II mean, do you expect am going to
pay you anything to interview me?"
'NO," l remarked, catching my
breath once more and joyously finging
my whole weight on my other leg.
"What on earth put such an idea into
your head?"
well, there have been half q dozen
fellows here Offering to write me up for
money!" he exclaimed; "they must be
crazy to think ] want any such noto-
riety as that"
When he was completely treasured,
Senator PETER was cordial; he talked
freely and with the continuity OF cul-
ture. He offered me seat and took
one himself.
His entire family is in Kansas, but
later in the season he will bring hither
Mrs. PETER and one son. He has five
grown sons and three daughters and
they are all supporting themselves
working at their trades.
asked Senator PETER what he and
the new members from Kansas were
up to.
'"various things, he said; ~ am go
ing to New England this summer to
study the conditions OF success in the
wooden factories there to see II the in
dustry cannot be planted In Kansas.
We raise wool enough; why should we
not raise blankets and clothing?"
You are reported to have still other
purposes" l suggested.
1--WE shall meet in Cincinnati in May
to see about organizing for the next
campaign. After confer
eDce with the Knights Of Labor and
with other farmers organizations we
shall probably have candidate in the
field for the presidency. Who? We do
not know. The movement is growing
We in Kansas have shown |
what can be done. Our party Is only
year old, but we drew 5000 from the |
35, 700 from the democrats |
and 5000 from the union labor party |
and swept the state"
"As to your political PLATFORM"
GThere are four subjects which we
think include the whole of the politics |
finance, transportation, labor and
land. AS to what results should be
sought, we agree; as to the methods OF
arriving at them we are somewhat at
variance so far.
LAS TO finance, We are agreed that
the national banks must 60 and that
the people must get their money in
cheaper way and get II direct from the
These banks have for
whole generation now obtained their
money from the government at l per
cent and loaned It at or 6 or Z or 8 per |
cent. We believe that the farmers can
dispense with these expensive go-be- |
tweens and get their money direct from
the government at per cent. The de-
tails OF the method are yet to be de-