Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-10-12
The POpulists.

Jumping Jim and Wiley Weaver are
names which have been attached to
Jas. b. Weaver, who spoke at the court
house last Friday afternoon. Jumping
Jim was in good form on this occasion
and happily entertained the large au-
dience which had turned out with the
same spirit that they take to minstrel
show. Not twenty-five persons had
any faith in what he said, as there is
no ground for faith in the utterance of
man who has fitted from one party
to anOther,-all for revenue. Weaver
was accompanied by "Mr. Maxon,"
who picked banjo and sang songs of
silver for silver. The speaker handled
the silver question only in his discourse
of an hour and half. He labOred for
an hour and twcnty-nine minutes to
show that the country has been in a
perpetual state of insolvency since
1873, and in the one minute promised a
cure for all ills, real and imaginary, in
free and unlimited coinage of silver.
This was the sum of his address, but
the manner of delivery was very enter
tanning. He is an orator and an actor,
and with anecdote and ridicule is high.
ly pleasing, but when sifted down,
when closely inspected for points of
instruction, there was absolutely moth
ing to it. He also promised that when
pOpulists came into power they would
provide government savings banks, but
said nothing of the land tax, the income
tax, the railroad purchase or any of
those other schemes dear to the pop
ulite heart, and entirely ignored the
tariff, the uncertainties regarding
which are paralyzing industries to-day.
When jumping Jim" had finished his
weeping and juggling and character
representations, "Mr. MaXon" poured
out his soul in song, and then the star
feature of Jim's performance was
ushered in. 1t was passing the hat.
Sometimes, from one cause or another,
Jim omits this or that part of the pro-
gram, but wherever two or three are
gathered together to hear him speak,
they always pass the hat. Mr.. Heath
urged the hearers to put in dollar a
piece, and they received quite hat full
of money. In the meantime while "Mr
MaIon" was singing for free silver,
and the hats were being passed for free
silver, Jumping Jim was RECEIVING free
silver for subscriptions to his paper.
When this medley was finished Jim
clasped the grasping hand of monopoly
over the silver paid for subscriptions
and the free silver dropped in the hat,
and he and "Mr. Ma1on" silently stole
away, the audience passed out and left
Chairman Heath with his hands Shad-
ing his eyes from the glare of free sill
yer and looking for delegates. After
Jumping Jim left the hall there was
nothing left of the silver but the glare.
He had decreased the per capita of the
audience ABOUT twenty-five cents
contracted bur circulating medium
from twenty-five to forty dollars.
which was added to his own monopoly
on free silver agitation. And like a
bird of prey Jim passed on to Adair,
where another audience was gathered
in the evening to give him another hat
full.
Chairman Heath called the delegates
to the convention within the railing,
and found seventeen to be present.
Mr.. Heath was made chairman, and
w, M, KEGS, secretary. The following
was nominated by ballot;
Representative, Rev. II, N, Carpenter, Viola
Treasurer. Nelson Olson, Viola
Superintendent. -. Il. A. Armstrong, Hamlin
Sherin, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. NJ. KEGS, Hamlin
Coroner. .................E. j. Fenton, Hamlin
Supervisor. A. Heath, Greeley
The candidate for representative is a
son o. X. e. Carpenter, the county at
tSrgeg, ana a preacher IN the Christian
church. IL is a good ticket, from 4
populist stand point.
Uncle pavy Oyeraeld was turned
down at every opportunity. He should
have been given place on the ticket,
as he rocked the pOpulist cradle when
there was nothing in it. He was not
even given a complimentary vote for
anything. He wanted the convention
to endorse John Frahm. the democratic
nominee for treasurer, and gave
the convention assurance that John
was free silver man, but he couldn't
get an endorsement.
At the conclusion of nominations
Mr.. Heath wanted more money. 1t
was quite apparent that Jumping Jim
had absconded with the first hat full.
Some thought the convention overdid
this religious duty of passing the hat,
but it is Jim's star act and was to be
expected.
The silver policy is one to which
Iowa democrats have been educated by
successive platform declarations, until
this year, when it was omitted, and it
is probable that many Of them will seek
expression for their sentiments by
voting the popalist ticket,