The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-03
JERRY THE SOCKLESS
First Typical Representative Of
the Farmers Alliance.
ns. Simpsons. -. C.. Or KANSAS.


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s-esErnz zrsa-zt1s N zke rejection that
II TIE Srsz zFzse n history tnz- Kansas
RS sssrzed c5zser tkza > Republican dele
~xs5on ard - he proceesas EIth the roll
ax wEs fnd rez- tsss bottom Ct the INST The
rszs- ard zzprsSsnding rz-re Of simpson
--ze-e-azh ssnY@0n, representative 81
ssse -eve1xh Kansas district. The
largest con gress5onal dist-ses IN TIE United
STATES NJ Simpson viii answer 20 his
nzzse IN the usual tone of congressional
ssoczs1sgn- aid In an easy ol5-hznded man
ner. entzresy ceTo5d Of emotion Or surprise,
ard hss feIzoE members VIII behold IN ham
a genuine tyre OF the border character,
man Of varied experience, whose career
furnishes 3 striking example Of the posi-
bsiitses Of car American life.
Jeremiah Simpson, or ..Jerry" simpson,
as he is best known IN Kansas, IS not quite
~ years 81 age. having been horn IN New
Brunswick in Aarrfg. 1st2 His early life
was spent in View York state, his parents
moving 20 Oneida county in Isss. Jerry
was obliged 10 do more than the average
amount Of work a. q boy. and soon be-
came discouraged and restless under the
restrictions Of home In disposition he
was RIVER ard adsenturer His youthful
inclination was 20 be either pirate or a
ssagedriver, ard when only IL wears old ne
gave ur, home for tie husks OF the psDdi-
gal. For FIVE years be worked as a sailor
on the great lakes during the nayigsbie
seasons. the winters being spent IN the
lumber regions Of Canada and Michigan
He encountered every sort of peril and
suffered every knows variety Of hardship,
finally styas1ding upon the inhospitabie
shores Of Chicago.
This was in 1SsI. Dramls we're beatirig.
hands were playing. flags were flying, and
The heavy air Of Chicago WAS lurid with
patriotism. The war was in progress, and
recruits were being enrolled Young
simpson had been both . sailor and a
IHmberu1an, and thought an ordinary var
could possess no greater ferrors, 50 be en-
enlisted in Company A, Twelfth Illinois
Infantry. His military service was not
extensive or conspicuous, as he contracted
disease IN the army and was mustered out
In 1851, having been soldier only three
months. Asfer recovering from his army
illness he returned 20 his old calling on the
waters, from which be had not been en-
firely weaned. He was an expert seaman.
strong and active, and his knowledge Of
the lakes made him a yaluaI8e nam 10 his
employers. AT the age OF = . had ad-
vanced 10 the position OF hrs. mate, and
was subsequently, IN command Of his yeS-
sci az captain. He continued as q mariner
until 1879, investing his savings IN a farm
in Porter county, Ind. In the winter of
1877 the vessel Of which he was in COM
mand. known as the James III. Rutter, was
wrecked near Ludington, on the east shore
of Lake Michigan. To the heroic conduct
rzfT a nj &ff INN xra fad ha
ing OF the crew from drowning and the YES
sci from total loss.
Hav.xg tired Of marine life he gathered
his effects about him and concluded TO ex-
plorc the mysteries of the soil. Selecting
Kansas for the experiment he removed to
Jackson county in ISIS, purchased farm
and remained there five years, at the end
OF which he became resident Of Barber
county, new locality of the state Just
thrown open 70 settlement at that time.
Here he pre-empfed loo acres under the
homestead law, and in addition thereto
purchased full section Of land four miles
from the town Of Medicine Lodge. He has
since that time been engaged in farming
and stock-raislng with Indifferent success
Owing to the impaired health OF his wife
he moved 10 Medicine Lodge a few years
ago and served term as city marshal,
making faithful and capable guardian Of
the peace and dignity Of the common
wealth. His lirst political attachment was
10 the Republican party and his first vote
was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1854.
Since 1s72 he has affiliated with the Green
back. Union Labor and Industrial parties
He attained 70 no particular prominence in
politics, but quietly attended to his bust
ness interests at Medicine Lodge and
waited patiently for an angel TO trouble the
political waters.
The angel. the trouble and Simpsons
opportunity all put in an appearance in
lsao, when the farmers Of Kansas deter
mined 10 break away from the great foiit-
zeal party which had ruled the state un-
inserrupsedly for thirty years. They were
clshearteued az the repeated failure OF
their crops and the ;neager return for their
labor, discouraged over the lack of effort
on the part Of their lawmakers 10 relieve
their depressed condition aud generally
dissatisfied with the existing order Of
things. They talked IL All over In their
meetings and resolved 20 make a change.
70 The Farmerz' Alliance wae formed
and fun state, cou1ty and school
oissrlct ticket was nominated. and
the men berS Of f84e subordinate alliances
throughout the state we're pledged in secret
nesting 70 as support. II was resolved also
that no nam should he nominated u no was
known aspirant for 4 position, and that
the bold, ifnpefsinent practice Of eandi-
dates announcing themselves aud seeking
votes FOR IA Office should be dis
purified To such as extent was this car
faeS that among the farmers Il "a a. regarded
- politically fatal for one Of their number
10 suggest ats own name for an Office the
Tgis being that the aiiianee would meet II,
solemn ccneiaYe, agree upon an individual
Tor the particular place 20 be filed and
tfasn cali for hls consent 10 have his name
placed bs'i9re the public for support The
rare spectacle for the Office seek sing the man
AID tearing hiin bodily from the pillow Was
witnessed ia u hundred instances in Kan
49, lazt year II never before. and dozens
81 ssais arI yeoIaen Of the soil dashed naatiiy
sbFoEgh a3g eagiIty-acre oornneld 10 es..ar,a
nun3fnatsoa - the supreme bench. or the
nsofe exasperating position Of road over
seer
Thus Il happened that the farmers Of the
Seventh kansas district concentrated on
Jerry simpson for congress, and the al
Iufenents u official life we're rendered him
ofs a silver platter. His nomination was
regarded a. A ioke by the Republicans bat
Jerry accepted and went to work He
visited the farmers az their homes At
tended their plenics and spoke 20 them in
their ioagerooms, winning sympathy and
votes day by day HIS opponent. Colonel
James X. Hailoweii, OF Wichita was one
of the most popular Republicans in the
state, Fne lawyer and polished speaker.
simpson, ia his speeches, would contrast
his condition with that of his opponent.
stating that after thirty years of hard
work = sailor and a farmer he was
unable "a appear before an audience. like
colonel Haliowcil, with silk stockings on,
or indeed with any stockings, except those
OF the natural but presented 10 him by his
mosher-then he would illustrate the point
hy displaying sockless foot. and i'm
metiiately the air would he filled
With shouts of apprOvai and an