The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-29
rnn sw A>n OBSERVER wEDNEs AY MORNINGS july 90

with helping the question along. How
did l come to speak? Well, you see.
jumped up impulsively at a meeting
one day, and have been talking ever
since. Yes, | am a widow, and have
nothing TO interfere with my work
The other woman delegate who ait
tIacted the most attention. and who
had much more weight, because she
spoke with more ability. was Mrs
Mary Elizabeth Lease (uot Mary Ellen.
as is generally printed). She is NOT
Young, like Mrs Roberts. and would
not be called pretty. She has a grown
son who usually accompanies her on
her lecture tours, and is her manager,
having recently made a contract with
j. b. Pond for her to deliver lectures
all over the country. She is very proud
OF her children. one of whom is said to
he a musical genius. Strange to say.
she is nor a woman suffragist. Asked
about woman suffrage, she said: ~
ann not out to help woman suffrage.
Women are not ready to vote. | believe
when they are, the privilege will be
granted to them"
Her speech to the convention made
profound impression She has a
voice not unlike that of Evangelist
Pearson, speaks with power and force,
and has filling" in her speech.
There were tears in her voice when
she reviewed the rise and progress of
the Populst parity; told how the condi-
tion of the humble farmers, who saw
no hope ahead. led them to abandon
their old parties, and band together
for relief; plead with them, in the
names of their wives and children, not
TO become slaves of the new POpulst
party. but no act for their best inter
ests by voting for Hhe men who could
carry out their principles; and de-
clared that, no matter what the POpu-
lst convention should do. her voice
would be raised i'm Ghis campaign for
the election Of Bryan, who had been
providentiaIly raised up TO lead the
people from industrial servitude, from
want, and conditions that were deny
ing comforts 10 their wives and educd-
ton to their children. No single speech
in the convention made a stronger i'm
preston. 1t was spoken with an earn
| estness that carried conviction Agree
with her, or not, you were forced TO
| believe in her deep sincerity, and you
couldn't pick flaw in her logic.
Every woman delegate who spoke or
They gave different reasons for sup
porting the Nebraskan, from Mrs.
| Leases logical argument that he was
| the only man upon whom the silver
| forces could unite to win, to Mrs. Polly,
| of Colorado, who, when asked why she
was for BRYAN, said: "Oh, he's awfully
| nice, and his pictures are so cookbook
| ing. don't You think so?'
Iala al
SORTS of notions about government
Some Of them understand public ques-
tions as well as the men. Mrs. Mitchell.
of Kansas City, who was once an ac-
tress. wanted a plank in the platform
against corsets. "If | had my way"
she said. as if speaking her part i'm a
theatre, Il would let the men take care
of the men, prohibit drinks or cigar
cites as they chose, but | would put
such tariff on corsei,s that fewwOmen
could purchase them"
The Young woman who sang Shoot
the Goldbugs Every One. with cho-
rus of Yankee Doodle Dandy" de-
serves to be seen by the readers of this
paper and 50 her picture, in the act Of
singing, is reproduced here.
One North Carolina Populist delegate
left his home with a full set of whis-
l1ers-of the regulation Populist type.
He was very proud Of them too. At
ter Bryan was nominated, this delegate
went out to a barber shop and had all
his whiskers removed except small
moustache. A friend said to him: Il
| am glad to see you take this great step
towards Democracy. Now come over
the line, and let's all get together"
am not good at drawing a picture,
but the accompanying drawings BE
fore Taking" and after Taking" will
give some idea of how much improve
ment the nomination of Bryan made in
one Populist friend.
= =
There was much curiosity to see
the Coxey outfit. He was there with
his wife, and Legal Tender" the child
born about the time of the march to
Washington. She is now bright look
ing child of more than three years,
and sat with her mother in the con
vention as if she were one of the at
tractions-as indeed she was, for ev-
erybody wanted to see "the child of
the Keep off the Grass" incident You
would never take Coxey for the leader
of revolution. He looks like mild
hammered man. He might be book
keeper or a preacher of mediocre tai
ent. ''They say" he made some money
by dragging the poor half-starved
bows to Washington to give him
notoriety. He advocated a middle-of-
the-road ticket-of course. He was
L L. .