The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-19
JERRY'S WAYS AND WORDS.
Mr. Simpson Wears Socks, and He Doesn't t
Care Who Knows 1t.

the "S0cklesS Statesmann from Kansas
created sensation this afternoon
among the Maryland farmers now in
convention at the State House when
he interrupted the proceedings to deny
the statement that he did not wear
half hose. The explanation was pre-
cipitated by a reporter, who, during
the recess, called at tie Maryland Ho-
tel, where Mr.. Simpson was stopping,
and sent him a note in which be re-
quested the farmer Congressman to
affirm OF deny the report regarding his
footwear. The note wound up: Do
you wear socks ?"
After waiting some time for the ans
Wer, the reporter went back to the Con-
vention which had just been called to
order, and soon Mr.. Simpson, hatless
and with his overcoat over his arm,
rushed into the hall and demanded i'm
mediate recognition. He then handed
to the secretary the note left for him at
the hotel. There was quiet smile Oh
every farmers face when the secretary
finished reading it, and all eyes were
turned expectantly on Mr. Simpson.
Tossing his coat to one side, he faced
the convention and spoke as follows:
"Mr. President:-This letter refers to
! myself, and I wished it read to this
audience, and then to make personal
explanation. 1t has been alleged that
at certain time in Kansas had said
that the poverty of the farmers was so
great that they could not afford to wear
! socks, and that 1 was living example.
So far as 1 am concerned, ,sthere is no
truth in the story. The statement
originated from the brain of a Republi-
can editor in Kansas. My constituents
know all about me, and 1 took no occa-
sion to deny the yarn. 'Tis true that
owing to the high tariff some of the
farmers could not afford to wear socks,
and we were inss.the same position as
was Napoleon during the time be at
tempted to cross the frontier to attack
the Austrian army. He was without
arms, and when asked where he
thought be could get them said: "Take
them from the Austrians.' The man
who was against me was a representa-
tive Of the silk-stocking aristocracy.
better known as Prince Hal. At the
time of the election I told my people
that 1 expected to get the other fellows
socks, and not only did I get them, but
got his shoes as well.
II want to say that I do now wear
socks, and I put them on after
the defeat OF ingalls,, which believe
was the beginning of an era that mark
ed the time when the humblest people
can wear socks and the peopls who sus-
tain the Government, some of whom
are my constituents, should wear the
best. l deem it necessary to explain to
the people of Maryland the much vex.
ed question of socks. Just now I am
unable to determine which has given
me greater reputation, my feet or my
head"
This speech was greeted with tu-
multuous applause, after which the
business Of the convention went on as
before.
In his formal address to the farmers
Mr.. Simpson said:
"We farmers find ourselves with fine
lands at the end of years poorer and
poorer, and we wanted to do something
to better ourselves, and We have under
taken to elect men to carry out our views
on money and transportation" He
then read from Senator Ingalls, speech
in the Senate to prove the increase of
wealth, and asserted that this wealth
goes out of the hands of those who
created it,! :"Much of this comes," he
added, las John J. ingalls, says, from
vicious legislation. We have some
propositions to cure it. Reforms in
transportation We want. There are
l5O, 900 miles Of rails. 1t cost s., 600, ,00O,-
900 to buy them, and the stock is valued
at s6,00O,O00,0O0. So the people have to
pay 1 per cent. on Watered stock. Van
derbilt, by the railroad system, made
$l2O, ,000, 600 in p years. Adam, had be
lived to this day, and received one dol
lal day for his life, would only have
| received S2,O0O,OO0. We want the Gov
ernment to own enough railroads to
make competition to prevent this.
In conversation with Mr.. Wanna
maker yesterday, 1 understood that the
telegraph and railroad companies are
forming a combination against the
Government. They want to force the
Government to its knees. The railroads
must become part of the system as the
postal and the school systems. Every
body now wants all Office. Everybody
t1ocks to the city, but under a change
of conditions things will be different.
This is the work for the statesmen of
the future. This struggle of the peo-
pie has been going on for ages-first,
the army, then they took they took the
church; now they use the law to per
petuate the wrong.
The tariff laws are one of the ele-
ments of slavery. l am encouraged by
! this one article-wool: and discouraged
by a number of others; and protection
gives no benefit. Protection is as great
fraud as was African slavery. Great
syndicates own the iron, coal and lum-
Der of the country, and they control
thp,DriceS and work If tO make them