The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-02-05
THE TWO FARMERS
Jerry and Funston Debate...SlmpsOn
Made Funston Come down on
the Price of Corn.
The Fusion Against the Peoples Party.
Jerry Called out the Second Time
and Gets the Best Of Funston.

. | $500 BoSh ohA VIC
Farmer" Funston locked horns in
last Wednesdays debate in the house
on the rules.
Mr.. Watson had referred to the corn
burned in Kansas because of no market
as direct outcome of the republican
tariff and Mr.. Funston asserted that
never an ear of Kansas corn had been
burned and that such stories were the
mere nursery tales of democracy and
intended to entertain the children of
the alliance. Corn is 55 cents per
bushel in Kansas right now," shouted
Mr.. Funston.
Mr. Simpson claimed the floor and
began reaching for Mr. Funston at once.
As he spoke he walked up to Mr.. Funs.
ton seat where he stood over him like
fate, while the balance of the house
crowded about him with laughter and
applause,
"The gentleman from Kansas knows
nothing of the price of corn" said Mr.. |
Simpson. at is 80 cents in Chicago
and less in Kansas instead of 55 cents
as he states. His ignorance speaks
we'll for the good sense of his farmer
constituents for sending him here.
There are not so many republi IAN rep
sentatives from Kansas as there used
to be When the representation was
solid republican, corn was very low.
There is II curious coincidence in con-
nection with this question. 1t is this,
that the number Of republican repre-
sentatives from Kansas have decreased,
the price of corn has gone up in Kan
sas. [Laughter.] Since the peoples
party there has begun to rule, the price,
not only of corn but nearly every
other product of the farm has advan-
ced; and l think it is well when the
great party that once stood for ;he
rights and liberties of the people has
degenerated into the hands and con.
troll Of men who know so little about
the necessities of the country us my dis
tinguished friend from Kansas. / come
here rep esenting one of the largest
districts of Kansas. Our interests have
been neglected in the house heretofore.
For thirty years past, | defy any gen
tleman on the right or on the left to
point to ole law that has been passed
in the interests of the farmers or la
borers of this country. am here as u
protest against the neglect of this large
mass Of people and | desire Il change
to put measures before this house that
this class of people wish to have
enacted into law. Therefore do not
want to delegate the power to COM
mittee on rules, who can put the gag
upon us"
Mr.. Funston then undertook to deny
that he had said that corn was selling
at 80 or So cents in Kansas, but ad-
mitted that he said 40 cents, but he
was corrected by many voices. Funs-
ton finally admitted that he should
have said 40 cents. Funston came
back at Simpson by accusing him that
he had surrendered himself TO the dem
ocratic party; he boast4d Of the mil.
lions of bushels of corn in Kapsas and
said that the people would pay their
debts in as good money as they bor-
rowed, gold, silver or paper, and said
''that whoever claims to represent my
state by saying that we are in favor Of
issuing an unlimited amount of fiat
money does not represent Kansas, etc.
Our Jerry, in response to the cries Of
"Sim pson, Simpson," again took the
floor and said:
GAS to Mr.. Funston's warning to me
against falling into the lap Of Deliah
of the democratic party, want to say
that it is quite unnecessary; there is no
danger. He had better reserve his
warnings for his own party, because as
matter of fact, as he knows. and rs
every intelligent man in Kansas knows,
the republican party did fall into the
lap of the democratic Delilah in Kan
sas during the last election. Laugh
ter They found themselves in sore
straits, and they had to unite with the
democratic party to secure themselves
against defeat in that state. Now in
regard to the prosperity of the state,
the gentleman says that Kansas has
been in the gripeS; chat is true, but
thank God and the peoples party,
Kansas is out of that condition now
We have got control Of the state, SO to
speak, and the prosperity Of the people
has improved and increased, dating
from the day when the alliance or peo-
ple's party got control
Now as far as the democratic party
is concerned, / will vote for the
measure that will relieve the condition
of these people. or furnish them with
means to relieve themselves and to pay
off this debt, but [ woul! not like TO
limit them to gold, there not beiig gold
enough in the United States to fill the
old rotten teeth, let alone enough to
pay this debt that hangs over the peo-
PIE; besides, we did not borrow gold;
but would pay creditors in money Ct
legal tender, representing the value OF
all the property Of the country" This
ended the controversy between Mr..
Simpson,and Mr.. Funston and 1t was
one Of unusual interest in the halls OF
congress.