Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-09-24
SIMPSON AT CHICAGO.
He Speaks to Twenty Thous-
and People.
The Weights and the Wrongs OF the Work
ing People Plainly stated In Character
istic Language The Money Question,
the Railroads and the Woman's
Suffrage Discussed.

The Honorable Jerry Simpson spoke
recently in Chicago and the occasion is
described in 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 we're 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 up
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 il.
81 am all right and have my socks
on, he said.
After the laughter whicn this remark
had subsidized. Mr.. Simpson proceeded
as follows: ''Et 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 10 the front
! with the alliance. | have always had
an admiration for Chicago, and partic-
ularly for its laboring class, and so it is
! pleasant for me 70 extend TO you the
right hand OF fellowship on behalf Of
the farmers OF the country.
"rhe farmers as a 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 part Of
the great wealth we are producing. We
are in new age. The man who works
to produce tho machinery needed on a
farm is as much farmer as he who
holds the handles of pillow.
We working men are producing
wealth beyond the dream OF ayarice.
Every hour OF the day we produce S25.-
900 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.
II is the man who sits in his Office and
devises cunning schemes TO rob the pro-
ducer 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 mp,
and with their destruction a new era
will dawn upon this country. The in
telligent people will solve this problem.
and the producer will be given a fair
proportion of his earnings. We do not
claim to have found panaeea that will
cure all evils, but we have set our faces
toward the light.
VI 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 | appreciated
the force that was being brought out tc
enforce your demands for your rights,
The mere fact that you emphasize youi
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 5000
men have gained control OF one-haf the
wealth OF the country. Unless there is
II change the close Of the present cen
tury will find 250,0C0 people in posses
sion OF 50 per cent OF the country's
follow the most terrific revolution ever
known.
"'Ihe earth is the creator of wealth. /
II has resources to MAINTAIN 100. 00O
times its present population. Now. !
then, land is a storehouse, labor is q
factor, and capital is only an assistant |
Still few men have charge OF the coal
mines, and the people ih my state are
forced to burn corn because they can
not afford TO buy coal. Iron lands are
the same way Now | propose TO say to /
the landowners that they can own the
land, but they must pay back to the /
people a fair rental in the shape of
tax. Then they will let 20, and you
workingmen can go into the mines and I
bring out the coal that you desire tc
use.
Another great, grinding, grasping !
monopoly is the railroad. The railroad
has been known TO charge one-half the
farmers crop for hauling the other hall
to market. That monopoly the gov
ernment must throttle. The carrying
of passengers and freight is a govern
mental function.
"Then there is the national bank
monopoly A few years ago coon skins,
horses, cows and Goldfish were legal
tender Because such stuff had com
modify value il was thought 10 be in
dispensable as cash. Now lmmagine o
dude going TO church with n Goldfish in
his pocket for the contribution plate. h
There is as much sen3e in that as there
is in demanding that only hard money
be issued. However. il we are TO have
hard money, gold aud silver, let us have
enough OF it, As for me, am in favor
of the government issuing paper money
directly TO the people at low rate ol
interest If the money lenders can not
compete, let them put their cash into
legitimate business.
'Some years ago some feudal barons
built their castles so As 10 command the
roads most travelled. Then they made
all who passed by pay heavy tribute.
That was the origin OF the present tar
itf system. The barons are to-day en-.
trenched behind their castlewalls as IN
the old times, and they are robbing you
just as successfully, though with more
as they did the travellers. Our
object is to dislodge them, and to ac.
compish this result we must elect men
to congress who will see that our in
terests are provided.
The speaker then paid attention to
lit ltitEfdpulC SAsttiuss WHICH ht
classed as monopolies, and briefly re-
ferred to a number OF kindred sub
jects. He closed his speech with a
tribute to the women.
"a mans right to vote is a wOman's
right he said. ''I hope to live to see
the day when every woman in the coun-
try may express her opinion at the
polls. Now. while speaking Of women,
| wish to call your attention to an action
Of the managers OF the Columbian eX-
position They have appointed a board
Of lady managers There ism a woman
on that boart. 1t is shane. I would
not give a woman for ali the ladies that
ever wore silk socks. II the new party
does not recognize the women | will
leave il and form anoiher.n
At the close Of his speech which was
interrupted many times by cheers, Mr..
Simpson seized his hat and overcoat
and made a haSty retreat He took the
; o'clock train for Clay Center, Kan
sas
old party papers are devoting lots of