Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1892-02-04
HOMES, NOT FORTS.
CONGRESSMAN SIMPSON SAYS RI Is
THUS WE SHOULD FORTlFY.

Bribed with Flowers-PredictiOn Thai
\ Third Party Is Sure to Come.
Come in" cheerily rang out the VOICE
Of Congressman Jerry Simpson, in re-
Spouse to my knock this morning on the
door of his room on the second floor Of
his modest little dwelling on First street,
northeast The member from Kansas
came forward with extended hands,
twinkling eyes and broad smile. MY
wife. said he, .has just received u tray
full of flowers from the agricultural de-
partment. Maybe somebody thinks that
will prevent my making the investiga-
ton of that department which my reso-
luton, introduced into the house tho
other day and referred to the committee
on rules, calls for But he's nightly
mistaken. I'm not to be bought of.
That worthy class of people, as the
president calls tbem-the western farm
ers-want their confidence in the agri-
cultural department restored by some
investigating, and. flowers or no flowers,
the thing has 10 be DONE"
The member from Kansas laughed
lightly. and. bidding me be seated, sank
into chair. In a moment he grew
more serious. and a thoughtful look
came into his eyes as if he was thinking:
Here we are getting sixteen dollars "a
day as congressman. and what are we
doing for ity
1--WE just been looking at something
Of the details of that nice little fortifica-
ton bill which Senator Dolph, of Ore
gon, has reported from the senate forti-
tcations committee. 1t calls for the
expenditure of the snug sum of a hum
dred million dollars. ten millions the
first year and nine millions each year
for nine years thereafter. Its purpose is
to fortify twenty-seven Of our seaports
where Notifications are urgently need
ed It's nice bill. and makes pleasant
reading out my way, where we're mort
gagged up to the eyes"
MIR. Simpson smiled sarcastically.
Who's to be defended by such fortifica-
tions?' he continued. Who's to attack?
Are we not now more powerful than
ever before The fact is, this fortifca-
ton business is a humbug from begin
ming to end. What we out in Kansas
want-and the great farmer class
throughout the country are like us-is
not to be taxed for the building of forti-
fcations. We want chance to plOw
the ground; a chance to sow and reap;
chance to sell our products: chance for
some reciprocity with people who want
our things and have things we want,
whether those people are in another
state or in another country. We want
chance to trade and want friendly rela-
tons everywhere. and we don't any
more need Notifications around the
United States than'we need them around
the state of Kansas"
Mr.. Simpson paused again for some
moments and gazed steadily over the
rim of his spectacles. Il think" he said
slowly. that generally such schemes as
this one for Notifications come from a
desire on the part Of the men who intro
duced them i'll congress to stand in with
the fellows who get the contracts to
carry them out. The idea of proposing
the expenditure of 300. 900. 900 on such
paIpable Job. when n large part of it has
to come ont Of people who are selling
their cotton at six cents pound. and
good. fat steers at 21s and three cents
pound. and who must sell their corn and
wheat at a loss AZ soon as the scarcity Of
Europe is bridged over. unless the high