Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1895-08-30
SECOND DAY OF THE Pop" PICNIC.

Jerry Simpson, the Sockless States
man from Kansas. Was There
and Appeared at His best
Ashby and Hillias also
Made Speeches The
Crowd Estimated
at 5000
The second day OF the Populist
picnic, held in Major Wslton's pas
turs, four miles west OF Keytesville.
last Thursday. was attended by q
crowd OF people estimated at 5000.
The Salisbury correspondent OF the
st. Louis Republic guessed It at 81
900, but then it is best, under the
circumstances, to make considerable
allowance so as to be in safe bounds.
When We arrived, "Stump" Ashby.
the swarthy, eloquent orator from
Fort Worth, Tex. was about con-
cluding q speech Of several hours
duration. From what We heard OF
it, We thought it q better speech
than the one he made on the preced-
ing day. He held the audience with
ease. His oratory, his fund OF anec-
dotes and Wit being his drawing
cards rather than sound argument.
Alter Mr.. Ashby's speech there Was
music by the Dalton Cornet band
and Brookneld Glee club, then came
dinner. 0urself and better hall
became indebted to Messrs. Oliver
and Crawford for a splendid dinner.
Shortly after 1 O'Clock Chairman
Wood called the people together
again.
The first speaker in the afternoon
was a Mr.. Hillas, OF the Third ron
gressional district, who was Mr..
Dockery's Populist opponent for
congress at the last election. He GU
nounced that he did not intend rs
make much of a speech and thereby
encroach upon the time of Mr.. Simp-
son, who was to follow him, and who
was really the speaker of the after
noon. He proceeded at once to pro-
duce a number of documents, includ-
ing a copy OF holy writ. The one,
however, from which he mostly read
was the last annual report OF the
National Bankers association-a
report that was not made for pro-
fame eyes to look upon-but which
showed very conclusively the inward
workings OF the moneyed power in
this country as cropping out
through the wants OF the national
banks and the means they employ
to secure the qualification OF their
needs. The gentleman claimed the
Bible as a Populist book, but in the
limited time allotted to him did not
undertake to prove it.
OF course expectation and curiosi'
ty were on tiptoe to see and hear
Jerry Simpson, the rsputsd sockless
ex-congressmsn from Kansas. He
arrived on the ground directly after
the noon hour and was introduced
to many OF the people before he ap,
pearsd on the stand, for all OF whom
he had q pleasant word. Mr.. Simp-
SOD, we take it, has passed the 50th
milestone in the journey OF life, is ol
medium size, dark complexioned and
has keen black eyes. He was intro.
} dueed by the chairman in few we'll
chosen words.
In the commencement OF his talk
Jerry told the people that he was
wearing socks, but whether Tor that
especial occasion he did not say
The mere announcement OF the fact
| seemed to take u good deal oil the
, poetry" out OF the occasion. In q
, plain, unassuming, iarmer-like way
he talked very sensibly on the fnan
! cial qusstion-in fact, talked al
, good Democratic doctrine as We
would wish 20 hear, and talked in
such way as to be easily under
stood. He made q number OF good
} points, and showed that he was vel
: versed in the history OF the nnancia
questions Of this country.
3 A large portion OF the audienc'
J listened to him attentively through
3 his entire speech, which continued
] for over two hours. He told severa
J good stories and evinced fair de
n