Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-10-16
NO. a..
Mrs. Laase Sees Mckinley.

Mrs. Laase Sees Mckinley.
NEW YORK, Oct. Io.-Mrs. Mary E. Lease
has had an interview with Mckinley which the
World prints. In part it is as follows: "Af-
ter discussing Kansas politics, in which discus
sion the Major became the interviewer and
elected synopsis of the political situation in
that state, we chatted pleasantly of our Scotch
lineage till remarked Scotland is the only
nation of the civilized world upon which the
money breeders have not placen the octopus of
mortgaged Indebtedness A startled look,
half fear lest he had given utterance to an un-
guarded statement, half defiance lest should
pursue the subject, leaped into Major McKin.
ley's eyes. What pity continued, that
we have not initiated in this country the ex-
ample of the Scots. The gold owners have
purchased us body and SOUL No reply.
"Every effort to continue the conversation
was futile and changed the theme. In reply
to the question, Has woman a future in pol
itics p he replied 'Beyoud all doubt she has
a great future. Who can doubt her advance.
ment along every line when we view the
wonderful progress she has made in the past.
"An effort to obtain some expression on
economic questions was void. Il am not being
interviewed at present. he said. Il think it is
the part of wisdom to remain silent
"T would like your views on socialism,
suggested. Its spirit is permeating the hearts
of men. The condition of the people is such
that the tariff will not even prove palliative.
Machinery has displaced human labor. In.
dustry is in rags and idleness. Will a tariff
benefit the men whose occupation has been
taken by labor-saving machinery ?'
"I do not care to discuss that question: he
replied.
" But the conditions are forcing discussion
of these questions upon us and we are not brave
to shirk them,' 1 said.
" 1T is too great question for you and me
to enter upon. We could not settle it, Major
Mckinley calmly retorted.
''Major Mckinley is living example of dis
ruption of self. The atmospheric power
which protects individuality has been broken
down by the forced conditions which have
brought him into contact and made him depend
ent upon others. A lack of self-con6dence
masks the man. You do not need to ask him
questions to know that he is qualification.
4 refuse to be put on record is in his manner
and turks in his eyes. Looking at him, one
would say with Emerson: BE still, for what you
are stands over you and raps so loudly cannot
hear what you say His speeches are read
from manuscript. His every public utterance
is prepared. He does not dare trust himself
for he has not been true to himself He is on
record 1t is great misfortune to be brought
within reach of the throne. 1t deadens the
sensibilities, makes callous the understanding
and sears the conscience.
"The poisoned influence of wealth aud
power proved fatal to the real Major Mckinley,
but his corpse and the habiments remain. AS
a farmer he would have read the mournful story
of the report of the Agricultural department
and his soul would have gone out in sympathy
to the oppressed classes. AS laborer he
would realize that the menace that confronts
the wage-worker is labor-saving machinery in
the hands of capitalists that has destroyed the
stimulus of consumption by driving the labor
er into enforced idleness while glutting the
markets with boindless production. AS can
ddate for the presidency on platform which.
his past career and his every public utterance
in the past rep1diated, Major Mckinley has
closed eye and ear to the needs of the people,
and, standing as did Pontius Plate before the
multitude, he washes his hands of the blood of
the lust One.' Major Mckinley is the most
colossal example of moral turpitude and politi-
cal cowardce the age has known. dispatch
in Kansas City Star.
ALL FOR A DIME