Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-11-16

the political contests for personal and
party supremacy.
The first populist elected to the SEN
ate was William Alfred PETER, of Kan
sas, who surprised the whole world by
defeating the brilliant partisan orator
John J. Ingalls,. He Immediately be-
came the target for the ridicule of the
political writer's of both the older part
les. Because he wears a long, flowing
beard, the photographers and picture
makers make fun of his beard. AS a
matter of fact, nobody could say any
thing against Senator PETER himself.
He is one of the most correct, honor
able and upright members of tie United
States senate. He is 64 years of age,
although he looks much younger. In
deed, he might easily pass for man
twenty years younger. He has not a
gray hair, his skin is healthy, his step
elastic, and no traces of the lapse OF
time appear in this quiet, dignified and
modest senior senator from Kansas. He
was a warm personal friend of the late
Senator Plumb, who was one of the
greatest men the state of Kansas ever
produced. There is no more honorable
man in public life to-day than Senator
PETER, of Kansas.
William Vincent Allen, senior senator
from Nebraska, is a populist. He is
one of the broadest men intellectually
and at the same time one of the biggest
men physically in congress to-day. He
is man of little more than six feet tall.
weighs about 240 pounds, is splendidly
proportional and a picture of perfect
health. His face is smooth shaven,
and his countenance is classic. He is
rs gentle as woman, refined in manner
and possesses heart as kind and gener-
Gus as man ever had. know him well,
and like no man better in public life.
He is a friend one can tie to, and in
whom one can rely with perfect con-
fidence. He is only 48 years old, and
will probably long remain in public
life. He was a poor boy and was edu-
Gated in the common schools of Iowa.
He attended the Upper Iowa university
for awhile, but when the civil war be-
gan, like so many other patriotic young
men, he put aside his books and shoul-
dered musket. AS a private soldier
in the Thirty-second Iowa infantry,
when only II years of age, he entered
the service and remained until the close
of the war. He then studied law, and
removed to Nebraska, where he prac-
ticed his profession until elected judge
of the Ninth district of Nebraska. He
was always a republican, but espoused
the principles of the populist party.
and became permanent president of the
populist state convention of Nebraska
in 1892. He was elected to the senate
as a populist, to succeed Senator Pad
dock, who, by the way, was man every
way worthy to succeed himself, and
who had rendered his state and coun-
try splendid service.
Senator allen had only been actively
engaged in senatorial work few weeks
when the great struggle began over
the bill for the repeal of the Sherman
silver purchasing act. The opponents
OF the bill resorted to dilatory tactics
under the senate rules, and undertook
to talk the bill to death. Time was al
lotted to each senator of the opposition.
The senate remained in continuous ses-
sion for three days and nights, until
the fight was given up because of the
physical inability of the ''sound
money" men to compel vote on the
bill. At that time Senator Allen began
o speech one evening at seven o'clock.
He occupied the floor for Is hours,
talking all night, and long after sun