Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-09-29
He Speaks to Twenty ThOus-
and People.
The Wrights and the Wrongs of the Work
Ing People Plainly Stated in Character
i.tic Language-TheM Money Question,
the Railroads and the Woman's
Suffrage Discussed.

described in q local paper as follows:
Upwards of two thousand people
gathered about the speakers stand
shouting for the commencement of the
speaking. Chief Marshal James O'Con-
mel called for order. and after briefly
outlining the principles of the council,
introduced Jerry Simpson of Kan
sas."
There were given three cheers and
and any number of tigers. Then just
as everything was settled down and ex-
pectancy was to be seen in every uD-
turned face, some person inquired as to
what was the matter with Jerry. This
was an opportunity not to be lost and
the speaker seized upon it,
IL am all right and have my socks
on" he said.
After the laughter which this remark
had subsidized. Mr.. Simpson proceeded
as follows: ''It gives me great pleasure
TO have an opportunity to speak before
the most progressive laboring people OF
the country. came TO Chicago thirty
years ago, and after having spent many
years here went TO Kansas, where /
have, as you know, come to the front
with the alliance. 1 have always had
an admiration for Chicago, and partic-
ularly for its laboring class, and so it is
pleasant for me to extend to you the
right hand OF fellowship on behalf of
the farmers OF the country.
1.-THE farmers, as class have always
been slow to move. but at last they are
ready to grasp hands with the laboring
men of the cities 10 secure the rights of
both. By our rights mean q part of
the great wealth we are producing. We
are in new age. The man who works
to produce the machinery needed on
farm is as much farmer as he who
holds the handles of a pillow.
We working men are producing
wealth beyond the dream OF avarice.
Every hour of the day we produce $685.
600 more wealth than is consumed. In
the face of that fact there arises one
very important question. Who gets
that wealth? Is IL the producer? No.
1t is the man who sits in his Office and
devises cunning schemes to rob the pro-
Queer of that which is his own.
"All of this will soon be changed. A
wonderful revolution is now going on.
The old parties are being broken up,
and with their destruction new era
will dawn upon this country. The in
telligent people will solve this problem,
and the producer will be given fair
proportion of his earnings. We do not
claim to have found a panacea that will
oil Ax,i h,,f xIyoh ni1r fQnQQ
toward the light.
II saw in the procession to-day the
bone and sinew OF the city.
was moved by the thought that in
this age the man who makes no de-
mand gets little. Then I appreciated
the force that was being brought out to
enforce your demands for your rights
The mere fact that you emphasize your
demands as you did to-day is the best
omen that bright era is at hand.
Nevertheless, we are suffering great
and awful wrongs now.
During the last thirty years $4,000
men haye gained control of one-half the
wealth of the country. Unless there is
a change the close of the present CEN
fury will find $50, 900 people in posses
sion of so per cent of the country's
wealth. III this Is permitted tnere VIII
follow the most terrific revolution ever
known.
''The earth is the creator of wealth.
1t has resources to MAINTAIN 100, 900
times its present population. Now,
then, land is a storehouse, labor is a
factor and capital is only an assistant.
Still few men have charge OF the coal
mines, and the people III my state are
forced to burn corn because they can
not afford to buy coal. Iron lands are
the same way. Now 1 propose to say to
the landowners that they can own the