davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

owned by Curtis g. Brainard OF Toledo. But
this shipwreck let him out He abandoned
the raging main of the lakes and located IN
windy Kansas. The result is he is now IA
nous rs the statesman of Medicine Lodge
and figures in current satire us the
'Sockess Cicero of the Sunfiower State"
But few popular errors should be corrected
at the start. Jerry is his real name and rot
q nickname. He is not at all an illiterate
man. but above the average of laboring men
in education. And finally, he not only wears
socks, but dresses like any other gentleman,
according to his means and the work he is
engaged in, and he is devotee Of the bicycle
and one of the most skillful wheelers in
Washington.
He was born in New Brunswick March 81,
1912. hut was taken by his parents to Oneida
county, New York, at the age OF g. AT Ia he
became a sailor on the lakes and renamed In
that work about twenty-throe years, except
ing tire time he served in the Twelfth Illinois
in fantry. In 1873 he reached Kansas and in
due time pitched his tent about SIX miles
from Medicine Lodge, IN Barber county,
where be has subsequently been engaged in
farming and stock raising.
His political experience has been truly
tempestuous-quite as stormy as his life on
the lakes. An original abolitionist so far as
q boy could be one he cast his first vote in
1864 for Abraham Lincoln. He adhered to
the republican party till the great financial
overturn of 1873, thence became green
backer, and In due course of evolution an al
nance anu people party l1an f1e ran IWice
for the legislature as an independent and
lost the election both times by very small
pluralities. In 1890 he received 32,6S3 votes
to 20, 1Sl for James Il. Hollowell, repu blican.
DIR. &. w. Macune.
Since the death of President Polk, the
man occupying the most important place in
the National Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union has been DR.. c. w. Macune. He is
chairman of the national executive board and
editor in-chiet of the National Economist,
the official organ of tho national alliance,
published at the national headquarters,
Washington, ID. G.. He is also at the head OF
the large alliance publishing house at the
same place.
DIR. Macune was born on Wisconsin farm
in 1851, and is of Scotch Irish descent. HIS
common school education, at Freeport, H.,
was supplemented by course of law study
and afterward of medicine. In 1887 he set
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03


killed at the battle of Corinth, he was made
colonel. Finally he was brevetted brigadier
general 'for gallantry on the held-to GATE
from March l3. lS63'
In 1866 he WAS elected district attorney OF
the Second judicial district OF Iowa, and in
1867 was appointed assessor OF internal
revenue for the Fifth district of the state, an
Office he held for six years He then edited
the Iowa Tribune of Des MONIES, and was
elected rs an independent republican to the
Fortv-sixth congress. Men of his way of
thinking, however, were even then organz-
ing ne!y party, and in 1850 he became the
greenbackers' candidate for president. EX-
Guiding doubtful and fusion tickets he re
ceived 301 40 votes He then resumed Drl-
vate life and professional duties for time,
but in lSSi-G was reelected to congress, us
aforesaid.
No man in the Fiftieth congress was better
informed on parliamentary rules, as he con-
clusivoy proved by holding the house in
deadlock for several days on a question re
gardng the Oklahoma reservation. Even
then he was regarded as sort OF stormy
petrol in politics, not a straightout democrat,
aud certainly not republican. In his first
campaign he scarcely had the backing OF any
party, and his nomination was, in the poll
tlcian's phrase, decidedly Irregular" yet
he made crossroads canvas among the
farmers and defeated one OF the bralnlest re-
publIcans in the state.
In 1854 the republican candidate, Captain
Frank +. Campbell, was national banker:
so the old green hackers rallied to General
Weaver, and III 1856 something else handi-
capped the republicans. Seeing him thus
victorious In a confesSedly republican dis
trict, the country began to look on General
Weaver as 4 mascot, but IN 1883 the repub-
licans succeeded In uniting on a strong man,
and remanded the general to private life and
peoples party politics.
Mrs. NJ. T.. Lease.
Kansas has n trio of whom all the world
has heard-Pctfer, Simpson and Lease. Per
haps this is rot very polite way OF stating
it, for the last named is lady, but as she is
as good politician as either of the others,
and far moro effective orator, let 1T stand.
She is of Irish birth and about 40 years old,
yet she was as obscure as any other farmers
wife, when she suddenly Dlazed forth and
astonished the country IN the campaign of
1890 Women do such things ia Kansas.
The parents of Mrs Mary r., Lease emf
grated to the United States when she was a
child and her father and two brothers gave
their lives for the cause of the union. One
brother died in Apdersonville prison. She
married quite young, has several children,
ana her home Is in Wichita, where her hus-
band is a druggist. When her children got
old enough not to need constant attention.
or, more correctly speaking, wnen the older
ones got able to take care of the younger, she
resumed the studies which her early mar
riage had stopped
From her experience she had concluded
that the life of the average wife and mother
is TOO narrow and therefore has a tendency
to beIttle the intellect. Deemng law the
best science to develop the intellect, she stu
died it long and earnestly and was admitted
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

ed down to practice meiicine in Milan
county, Texas. HIS early life having been
passed on farm, he was entirely familiar
with the conditions which gave rise 10 the
farmers alliance: and after becoming a
member his services were soon in demand to
further the work of that organization in
Texas. He was first chairman of the state
executive board, then president of the state
alliance and later. president of the national
alliance, which position he held until 1889
For some years previous to the st. Louis
convention, DIR. Macune had given close
study to our financial system, out of which
thought he formulated report, which has
since become famous as 1.-The subtreasury
plan" the most vital feature OF which he
believes to be the provision for flexible
currency, conforming to the annual t1uctua-
tons in the money market caused by the
moving of the great crops, cotton, corn and
wheat.
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

brigadier general, and In 1866 and 1865 was
reelected to congress. Soon after the war
closed General Van Wyck and party of
colonists traversed Iowa i'll wagons and
made location Just west of the Missouri,
where Nebraska City now is. After closing
his fourth term New York congress-
man he located In Nebraska where he soon
became member OF the constitutional con-
vcnton and was for three terms a member
OF the stare senate.
1t was at the session OF 1881 that he was
elected United States senator TO succeed A.
S. Paddock, aud his career in that position
was stormy from the start He had been
elected partly because OF growing popular
feeling against railroads, and the more he
was thwarted the moro radical he sgrew,
till he parted company with his republican
associates, ana anti-railroadism, so 10 speak.
became his absorbing passion. He stood
quite alone in the senate, and attacked pow
erful corporations OF every kind
AS matters then were man might as well
have gone TO Mecca to preach against Mo-
hammedansm as to talk against corporations
In tho United States senate, or even in the
Nebraska Legislature. Some of his fellow
senators made it almost personal matter to
see that he was defeated and the argument
most vigorously used against him was that
he "could not be depended on to vote with
his party Add that ho favored reduc-
lion of tho tariff, and it will bo seen that he
could not be reelected. Hon. Algernon s.
Paddock regained the seat and MIR. Van
Wyck, now freed from party Obligations,
naturally became an alliance man and promi-
nent in the peoples party. He Is pos sessed
OF n moderate competence aud enjoys q
profitable law practice.
ii. L.. Loucks.
The vico president of the National Farmers
Alliance and Industrial Union, Mr. III. L.
Loucks. was born in 1916, in Ontario, Can
ada. He is n practical farmer and n college
graduate His earnest, kindly nature has
always impelled tim TO active participation
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

ones He calls himself and indecrat-that is
half democrat ana wholly Indcpendent-be-
lieves in the general principles OF the farm
tariff, no national banks and a system OF tax
alton which will check the present tendency
toward the concentration of wealth. He was
born nearNenia, o, February "a. 1854, of Scotch
parents, and was graduated from Oberlin
college in 1873, studied law awhile, but
changed his mind and took Il course at the
Western Theological seminary at Allegheny,
Pa, from which he was graduated in lSS2.
After three years in Utah he located at Ab-
erdeeu, S. D., in 1885,
On July 4, 1899, his hour struck, his star
arose, his good genius got on deck, or any
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

mental ouartermaster. Judge advocate OF a
military commission anddspot Quartermaster
at Nashville. During all this time he sent
home most OF his salary, and his wife in
vested it so judicious,v that they were in
good fix financially at she close OF the war.
He had also studied law in the intervals of
camp duty and prncticed at Clarksville,
Tenn, from 1866 TO 1870, when he removed
to Kansas
1t is an odd fact that he published n Tariff
Manual'' in 1885,, which the republicans
thought good enough to use as q text book,
though he is very moderate protectionist.
His article in The Forum on the general con-
dltion of farmers attracted great deal OF
attention, and his econ omic work entitled
1.-THE Way Out" published in 1890, has had
a wide circulation. He fatty declares that
when he was boy on his fathers l6O acre
farm In Pennsylvania, when almost every
thing was done by hand, the farmers were
really better OF than now. In short, he
claims that owing 10 bad politics the farmers
have lost the benefits of progress and iuvcn-
tiou, and so he advocates the measures pro-
posed by the alliance. he is also pro-
hibtionist in principle and consistent mem
mer of the church.
A very curious complication was developed.
Mr.. Tau oeneck certainly did resemble Carr,
alias Rogers, except that he was very much
taller, and 1t so happened that he had gone
to Dakota some time before Carr, alias Rog-
ers, was arrested, and returned after the
latter's release. He was nominated as an IN
dependent candidate, and then he penlten-
tlary story was started, and good judges
think this caused his election, as many OF his
old neighbors and friends got indignant on
his behalf. Suffice it to add that his inno-
cence was conclusivelv proved, and on the
l54th ballot the Independents in the legisla-
ture united with the democrats, and General
Palmer was made senator. Mr. Tauoeneck
is an alliance man from away back and en-
thusiastic for the peoples party.
Alonzo WardalI.
IT, in this composite nation of ours, there
be type distinctively American, then MIR.
Alonzo Waroall Is one of its clear-cut repre-
senta,ives Born in 1915. in Wisconsin log
cabin, before Wisconsin vas a, state, Mr..
Wardall has lived frontiersman' all his life.
Farm work at early morning and late night,
with country school sandwiched between
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

rs to the farmers alliance congressman,
"nether the liquor traffic, Wall street nor
the gates Of hell shall prevail against them "
and several of the ladies' LETT the hail. 1t
was scripture but tney were not used to IL
In such u connection.
She is not pretty, and neither is she bad
looking In build she is wnat a man would
be called "wiryn-that is, delicate looking,
but vigorous. Her voice is splendid and her
endurance is very great. She is Of course an
ardent advocate of the peoples party doc
triues, She may be styled the Miriam of the
exodus, the Joan of Arc of the opening war,
the stormy petrol of Kansas politics, or any
other tits that indicates daring devotion and
q certain divine fury.
Ignatius Donnclly.
1gnatius Donnelly may be portrayed as
lawyer or congressman, reformer, literary
man or politician, aud in each aud all these
roles he is the same brilliant ana erratc,
sometimes provoking aud always interesting
character HIS first battle royal was with
"the Washburacs,n aud it is scarcely
necessary to add that he was badly defeated.
His last, with the Pioneer Press of st. Paul,
was not less disastrous. In the meantime he
has tackled the biologists. the antiquarians
and believers in Shakespeare the bankers
and the railroads, has been occasionally sue
cessful, and has always furnished good
deal of fun.
Even his name is suggestive OF trouble,
for the DOnnellys OF Ireland were fighters
from away back, while ST. 1gnatius, rs all
readers of church history remember lived
at war with the party in power and died by
the toeth of wild beasts III a Roman amphi-
theater. 1t Is only n coincidence, but an odd
one, that the dispute about the gcnuineness
OF 1gnatius' epistles has been ten times hot
ter and forty times longer than that about
Shakespeare. This modern Ignatius was
born in Philadelphia November 3, 1881,
graduated from the high school thero,
studied law and was admitted to practice in
1853. He married in 1855 and located in St.
Paul in 1856 since which time his political
career has been varied and yet on tho whole
successful.
He began life as an ardent democrat, and
as such ran for the Legislature in Pennsyl-
Nanin but was Laloalcd. His first sMCCCss
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

steaded 1860 acres three ana half miles from
"the now thriving town OF Broken Bow" as
the local account puts It,
In January, 1899, he was appointed deputy
OF the county treasurer ard removed 10
Broken Bow, vas nominated as a farmers
man and elected to the Fifty-second con-
gress as aforesaid. His supporters proudly
announce that he spoke In every one of the
fifty-six counties Of his district, made friends
everywhere, and didnot purchase single
glass of liquor for hltnself or any one else.
He has long been an advocate in quiet
way of many of the reforms demanded by
the new party, assisted in organizing the
alliance ana has been an active and promi-
nent member OF it,s
Senator }. IL. Kyle.
Senator James Henderson Kyle of South
Dakota represents tno possibilities OF young
America. he is the Incarnation OF western
capacity for sudden change aud phenomenal
skill in seizing opportunities, A little over
two years ago he was as thoroughly obscure
as any young missionary in the west. In
February, 1891, the South Dakota legislature
sent him TO the United States senate for
six years, and better than all, perhaps, he Is
absolutely unpledged 10 any man or plat
form, and has free course to run and be
glorhed.
He has views, however, and very decided
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

the decision In the hands of three alliance
meu-Moore, Cockrell and Taubeneck. 1t
is scarcely necessary to add that there was
some very energetic labor to enlighten the
understanding of these three gentlemen,
who persisted in voting for A. j. Streeter.
In the hottest part of the conflict the story
was circulated and published in various
papers that II. E. Taubeneck was one Carr,
alias Rogers, who had been in the OHIO pen
itentiary for forgery aud had escaped by
curious fraud.
Mr. Taubeneck proved that he was born at
Terre Haute, Ind, in 1855: thai he was
reared on farm near Marshall, ILL.,, and had
never been east of Terre Haute before his
election, and incidentally that he was
bachelor IN good standing and had been en-
gagged all his life in farming and the lumber
business. Nevertheless certain politicians
of his county of Clarke sent his photograph
to Columbus, o.. aud got from officials OF
the prison a statement That it was wonder
fully like the escaped Rogers. Then there
was q first class row in the Illinois legisla-
ture; a committee was sent to tho Columbus
penitentiary and Mr.. Taubeneck went
with it.
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

called by Mr.. Loucks and Mr.. Wardall. This
convention untedated the Kansas peoples
party organization, and makes Dakota, rather
than the former state, the birthplace OF the
great organized political revolt against the
two old parties. which has been steadily
gaining strength since its inception
Mr. Loucks was the candidate for governor
OH the peoples party ticket in their hrst
state campaign, and made powerful can
vass He was the president of the National
Farmers alliance, or open alliance, which,
by the way. is the older organization, when
in its most hourishing condition, but resigned
his position, believing that the secret methods
OF the Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union
would prove more effective, and also that the
strength of the farmers OF the nation should
be concentrated in one national body.
MIR. Loucks is editor of the official paper
of the Dakota alliance Much of his work,
his speaking and writing, for several years
has been done under such distressing inva-
lidism as to render it heroic. Within the
last year he has suffered the amputation OF a
leg since which time his health has become
restored.
II. Il. Taubcncck.
or all the new men brought into sudden
prominence by the farmers alliance vote in
1890 not one occupied ut first so picturesque
and painful a position as Hon. Ii. f.. Taube-
neck of the Illinois state senate. The cleo
tlon Of a United States senator practically
depended on him al the very time he was
compelled to 90 TO a deal OF trouble to prove
he was not an escaped convict.
In the legislature lOl Democrats voted lou
times for General John NJ. Palmer, not
counting an exceptional ballot when demo-
crat traded with an alliance man. Simi-
larly 100 repu blicans voted for the re-
election of Charles B. t'arwell. This left
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

men were severely censured by other speak
ers, and MIR. Dounelly was at one time
thought TO be in danger OF expulsion. Dut n
humorous suggestion that the disputants
initiate the two secretaries (Thomas and
Stanton) and go out and take drink" re-
stored the house to good humor and the pro-
ceedings were dropped
He WAS pronounced "pDliticaly dead ana
went into literature. After various minor
works, among them an Essay on the Son
nets Of Shakespeare" he produced "Atlan-
tbs, the Autediluvuu World,h an attempt
TO show that an immense island continent
once extended from the West Indies almost
to Europe; that civilization originated there
and spread TO both the adjacent continents:
that this land sank aud that the Islands are
merely such parts of II as were too high to
be submerged. Antiquarians unanimously
looked on this book as mere intellectual
sport" like those works written ostensioly
20 prove that there was no such man as
Bonaparte. Cesar etc. Although convinced
in time that the author really meant II, they
declined to consider it seriously.
Next caDe his "Ragnarok,n In which he
attempts to prove that the clay, gravel, etc,
of tho drift resulted from the contact of u
comet or some wandering planet with the
earth. In the meantime he had engaged in
farming in the northern part of Minnesota,
and, according to his account, lost all ne put
into it, which prepared him for taking an
active part IN the farmers alliance move
ment. He has since secured a competency
by professional and literary labor ana lives
IN the enjoyment of rural life in mansion
overlooking the Mississippi at Munger,
MINI.
John ii. Powers.
]. II. Powers was born in st. Clair county,
Illinois, in 1881. A short time after his birth
his parents moved to La Sale county, Hi
nois, where young Powers received com
mon school education and later became a dis
trict choo teacher AT the breaking out of
the war he enlisted In the One Hundred and
Fourth Illinois infantry and fought through
out the conflict, returning to his home in La
Sale county when peace was declared. In
1873, with his family he settled In the south
ern part of Hall county, Nebraska where for
fourteen years he was engaged in the bust
ness of farming. At the end of that time Mr.
Powers removed to Hitchcock county, where
he hasssince lived and followed farming as a
profession.
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

-"
was in being elected
lieutenant governor
Of Minnesota. He
was reelected in 1861,
and having become u
pronounced repuoli-
can on war and slav-
cry issues, was elect
ed TO the Thirty
eighth, Thirtv-ninth
and Fortieth con-
crosses. His verbal
set-to with a follow.
member in 1868 wa
one of the con ngrcs
sional scandals of the
time. Roth ppntla-
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03
John II. Powers.
In the antl.monopoy movement OF ISL

hA VIZ aAhNh AtASA'Sl
Mr.. Powers figured
only as n local chief,
but when the
farmers alliance in
Nebraska was or
ganized Mr.. Powers
came to the front as
one of its most
trusted leaders. He
drafted much of the
constitution of the
party us 1t now eX-
lists, and for four
years has been pres
idept Of the state or
ganlzation, last year
occupying the posi-
tion OF national pres
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

to the bar. She is
still a mem Der of the
Wichita bar, but her
eloquence is nov
eXerted in u much
wider field. Many
enthusiastic admir-
ers say she Is the
smartest woman in
America, while as
many critics say that
her style is painfu fully
masculine aud yitu-
peratiye, ana her
expressions Of ven
geance unwomanly.
She was a great fac
tor in defeating Sen
ator ingalls,, aud his
comment is highly
rellshed by her op.
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

ruin OF a republic; III has DESTROYED all free
governments where IL has prevailed, and ut
present rates will soon destroy this; there
fore the farmers and other laborers must act
together ana devise a fiscal ana industrial
system which Will reverse the present
process.
Tho applause was great and in a few days
the orator was the most talked about man in
that section. At the next election he was
chosen state senator. The legislature had
deadlock Just like that in Illinois. Whether
any "arrangemcnt' was made AS charged
need not be discussed here. Suffice it that
the democrats in South Dakota gave way
anu joined in electing n third party man,
and the third party man in the Illinois leg
islature joined in electing General Palmer,
democrat.
To call it surprise would be too mild
term. majority of the politicians of his
state did not even know him by sight. His
colleague for the next four years Senator
Pettigrew. and the man whose place he
takes, Senator Moody, had seen him but
once before he entered congress, and then
but for a few minutes. He Is quite uncon-
ventional out fell in readily with the ways
of the senate. And finally he Is six feet high
and well muscled, Congregationalist
preacher and an advocate of prohibition and
woman suffrage.
j. B. Weaver.
"Who can be found to beat Weavern
This was the long standing conundrum for
the republicans of the Sixth Iowa district
and at the first they did not solve it for
themselves The democrats did it for them
by nominating another man. After this
however, General Weaver came again, and
only the flood of 1883 enabled the republi-
cans to elect Hon. John +. Lacey of Oska-
loosa.
General Weave.'s success is due to his ma
tive abilities, his brilliant army record, the
popular confidence IN his integrity, TO his
winning manners and to q great extent, II
must be admitted, to the weakness of his
opponents. He was born in Dayton, o.,
June II, 1888, was graduated at the law
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03

other metaphor you
care 20 use. The peo-
pie had gathered to q
big Fourth Of July
cele bration. the oca-
tor of the day failed
to arrive and the
managers asked the
preacher who bad in
voked the divine
blessing on the exer-
cises TO say n few
words. He spoke just
half an hour aud cap
tured the audience.
His theme was briefly
this: The coucentra-
tipn ~ ,rnnlfh ic thp
Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-03
Thomns Il. Watson.

. Congressman Thomas E. Watson OF Thomp-
son, Ca, is likely to be the vice presideu'
tial nominee, whoever is named for the first
place. He is 56 years Of age, native OF
Georgia and has been a schoolteacher, law
yer, farmer and politician. He was mem
Der of the Georgia legislature in 1882 aud a
democratic elector ia 1855. lie was elected
10 congress as a democrat.