Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-25
JERRY SIMPSONS DANGER.
| His Old Friends In Kansas Think Hes Put
| ting on Too Much Style.

His Old Friends In Kansas Think He's Put
ting on Too Much Style.
TOPEKA, KANs., May A.-[SpectdI 1-The
light to prevent the reelection OF Jerry
Simpson to Congress opened this week and
1t will be the most interesting political con-
test that has ever been waged in Kansas.
OF course, it will be the aim OF the Repub-
lfcans to defeat the entire Alliance Con-
gressional ticket, but the fight will be d.
rected principally against Jerry Simpson
He Is regarded by Republicans as the smart
est member Of the Alliance delegation In
Congress, and they fear that his reelection
would do great deal toward strengthening
the new party not only In Kansas but In all
the agricultural States OF the West. His
defeat 1t Is belieyed, would do more to
break up the Third Party in Kansas than
anything else that could happen.
SIMPSON knows very we'll that a big
fight Is on his hands, and he knows also that
the fate OF the Peoples Party in this State
depends to great extent upon the result in
his district. Considerable correspondence
has passed between Simpson and the mana
gers of the Peoples Party in the last two
weeks, in which Simpson was given to
understand that he must enter the cam
paign at the earliest moment.
A letter has just been received by him, In
which he promises to be here not later than
August !, and from that time until Novem-
ber he will give his entire time to the
fight. His district includes 26 counties, and
with but ono exception Is the largest Con-
gressional district in the United States. His
plan Is to devote almost a week to each
county and to make q school house cam
paign.
SIMPSON is one of the best political
speakers the State has ever known. His forte
is a stump speech. His canvass two years
ago In the Seventh district was in many
respects the most remarkable ever con-
Quoted in Kansas. 1t is impossible for
Simpson to make clear, logical argument
on any question, but when placed before an
audience OF farmers and workfngmen, Of
which his constituency is largely comprised,
he makes speech that almost carries them
of their feet. Simpson knows his power in
this respect, and the fact that he is arrang-
ing to make a school house campaign shows
that he proposes to win his way back 60
Congress with his clever stump speeches
and funny stories.
The Republicans will endeavor to place
Simpson on the defensive. He will first be
required to answer for his position on the
tariff question:. His speech declaring for
lated by the thousand in Simpsons district,
and he will be vigorously attacked on that
line. great many of the farmers of Kansas,
Democrats as well as Republicans, are
strongly opposed to free trade, and the Re-
publicans believe that Simpson has greatly
injured his chances for reelection in coming
out as an advocate of free trade pure and
simple. He is being criticised also for his
conduct in Washington in the last year. A
few of his farmer constituents have been to
the National Capital and came back with the
story that Simpson is putting on airs"
Comanche county farmer reported at
meeting of the Farmers Alliance in his
he saw Simpson wearing kid gloves, carry
ing dudes walking stick and fixed up in O
tailor-made suit of clothes. He declared
very emphatically that as a farmer Con-
gresham and man who pretended to be a
representative of the farmers Simpson was
putting on too much style. Neither are they
pleased with Jerry's bicycle riding. A great
many farmers think that man who devotes
a good share of his time to bicycle is not
good for anything else. The story has been
circulated in several counties in Simpsons
district that on one or two occasions. when
important appropriation bills were before
the House. Simpson was having fun with his
bicycle, and failed to be present when the
vote was taken.
ANOTHER charge against Simpson is that
option dealing in grain. The farmers have
q notion that option dealing lowers the
price of grain, and any measure which has
for its object the prohibition of that busi-
ness meets with their Endorsement. Simp-
son was at the start in favor of the anti
option bill, but recently he declared against
it, and the story was circulated among
the farmers that the board of trade lobby"
in Washington gosnround Simpson and in
fenced him to change front. Simpson will |
have his free trade speech, his bicycle rid
ing, his stylish dress, his flop on the anti. |
option bill and number OF other things to /
explain when he returns to Kansas.
The Peoples party managers claim that |
when Simpson gets before the people he |
will stir them up as he did two years ago, |
and that he will win the fight by 5000 ma. |
jority. The Republicans propose to get the |
start OF Simpson. and already have speakers |
In his district. They will send their strong |
est men to that section Of the State, and, as |
soon as the National Republican Committee |
Is reorganized, will ask that men OF national |
reputation be sent to their assistance.
THE Republicans will meet at Kinyman
On June Is to nominate candidate against |
simpson. 1t is quite possible that Senator
Chester 1. Long, one of the ablcst young Re-
publicans of the Southwest, will receive the
nomination. He lives in Medicine Lodge
simpsons homeland though but 29 years
IF age is regarded as one of the best cam
Daigners in the State He has been pitteG
against Simpson in numerous local political
came out victorious. The Republicans be-
ieve he can make canvass that will de eat
simpson.