People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19


forts in his behalf, is unrivaled in its
line. But it's easy to be merry when
one has cleared 100000 on a single
deaL"-Chicago Herald, July %.
The gentleman referred to in the lines
quoted above and the open letter he
wrote has direct bearing on the ques-
ton OF grain gamblingor options" To
better understanding by our readers it
will be proper to state few facts re-
garding the gentleman and make some
quotations from his letter referred to
that we may weigh the elements of the
cities that are fighting the anti-option
law. He says, MY business training
has been that Of a merchant" Con-
tinuing in personal strain he explains
how as buyer of goods and always seek
ing the cheapest market he developed
the habit of bearing down values, never
being satisfied with a trade when
made but holding the impression
that better bargain might
have been secured. This, he explains
decided his line Of action when leaving
the calling Of merchant to enter that
of option dealer" placing him on the
bear side of the market or gaming
table. Mr.. Partridge had what could
be termed ''plunder" store on State
street known as the Boston store" and
his stock was replenished from bank
rupt and job lots from everywhere and
anywhere.
In the category of trade he filled the
same position in merchandising as does
the hyena in the economy of nature by
skulkipg the plains to gather dead
bodies wherever misfortune or death
overtakes them. The position Of this
gentleman and the hyena are both
legitimate as long as the business
honor Of man is so low as to permit
conditions of trade to breed bankruptcy
and gambling, and the ignorance of the
brute so low as to make his self-preser-
walton impossible.
In unfolding his line of reasoning for
taking the depressing side of the mar
ket he says: Financial and CONNER
cial misfortunes and accidents are per-
petually occurring to shake confidence
and disturb values, and besides the cost
of carrying the property to be taken
into consideration" This line of rea-
soning is true to the existing condition
of facts. To change these existing con-
ditions is just what the peoples party
is trying to do A financial misfort-
une" can be one where an enterprising,
energetic business man borrows half of
his capital, and that half being timid (?)
capital, which timidity consists in fear
ing it may not get in interest all the
man makes in its use, may be called in
at time when bankruptcy must follow.
National banking and interest bearing
money, instead of a profit or loss sharing
medium of exchange or measure OF
values are well calculated to breed the
financial misfortunes" Mr.. p. profted
with so often in his buying. So far in
his letter is exhibited only the "shrewdH
man Of hygienic tendencies, and all his
positions so far, are from his stand.
point, well taken. But not so for the
balance of his letter He having de,
veloped into CONSPICUOUS success" as q
grain Spectator, from the natural apti
tude of his mind and merchant (?) train
ing, and being DESTROYS Of conditions
continuing that would afford further
scope for developing genius in the
speculative line explains his opposition
to the anti-option law and the sarcasm
to Hatch, Washburn ct al.
He terms the attempt at passing this
law as 'illegitimate and unwarrantable
interference with trade methods"
1t is not likely that the gentleman
would sign an open letter claiming that
laws against specializing" in money
with cards or playing Of keno and like
games of chance were "illegitimate and
unwarrantable interference with
methods of gaining money; but to the
man who has to buy bread and meat
from his day labor, the price of which
food is fixed by speculative methods,
the gambler in grain and the gambler
in money are standing upon the same
moral and business level and equally
unfit for citizenship. The 100000 Won
by Mr.. P. was lost by some one or more
companions in the game, and while few
if any spectators know or noticed any
thing about contemplated anti-option
bill, he deliberately and falsely at this
late date attributes his success in his
speculative game to this bill now being
considered before congress. He il
merry and cute and "shrewd," but his
laugh has the ring Of the procuress and
his inning" will merit and receive ar
outing, to all Of which he and his elias:
are welcome A. J. GUsTIS.
Kearney, Neb