The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-25
JEFF BOLTS ONCE MORE
The COlOred esSiIver Tongued
Orator" of Topeka.
Free Silver Will Add to Our
Woes Says Davis.
Too Many Millionaires and 'ePicktooth
Shoes" and Other Things Respon-
sible for Evil Times.

jeff Davis, who calls himself the ''Sil-
yer tongued orator of Kansas" has
bolted again. This is not an unusual
thing for JEFF Only a few short years
ago he became a Populist and ''Repub-
lican enemies kicked the store boxes
out from under his feet while he was
trying to expound Populist doctrine on
street corners.
jeff boldly announced his latest po-
htical move to an audience at the cor
ner of Sixth and Kansas avenue last
night He announced that from now
henceforth he is a gold bug and he
would no longer fear death nor the
devil, hell nor the grave"
The lmpetuous cOlored orator has
poisoned into an inventor, and he
stood in his wagon last night and show
ed the people a new lining for chin
neys. He thinks his invention will
make him rich, and says he is now JUS
tilted in joining the ranks of the pluto
Gratis. Politics was a secondary feature
of his meeting.
When he had finished discussing his
invention. he pushed up his sleeves,
cleared his throat and announced that
he would settle the political question.
L heard that in 1861 there was only
three milliOnaires in this country, and
of your labor. You made them rich,
and now you want to go back on them.
You say a millionaire is no account.
suppose we had a war, these million
aires would come here and hire half
the people to kill the other half They
have the money to do it, and still you
howl about the free and unlimited coin
age of silver.
Say you don't know what you mean
by that 'unlimited?' Look at me. You
see God in everything. When you go
to swear in the court you have to say
so help me God and you know mighty
well that you can't have anything I'M
limited. You think I am a short hair
ed niger and don't know anything, but
I know that.
when you get free silver you will
think of old Jeff and then you will call
on him for help. You will want me
then. Still you say you want free sill
yer at Is to 1.
You mean 16 to l." shouted some
one.
We'll, maybe am mistaken a little,
but I can't help that" replied the ora
tor with no show of embarrassment
Tell me how many grains there are
in a silver dollar. Let some one tell
me"
The speaker paused, but no reply.
Then what are you standing around
here talking free silver fOr?" and Jeff
drew himself up with a show of dis
gust
some one ask me- he continued.
Just ask me how many grains or
ounces there are in a silver dollar,
please, some one"
The crowd was silent.
Then III tell you that don't know
shouted Davis.
1neTe IS no work IN any OF the CIT
les 1 tell you, my friends, that you
will have to live on corn bread and ba-
con. The trouble is that there have
been too many pick tooth shoes and
seal skin coats. You will have to quit
wearing them. Nobody but gold bugs
like me can wear them now.
Now you fellows want to howl
against the rich men when you made
them rich. I am not going to howl
about them. I am going to be with
them. When I see men like Col HolH
day, Mr.. Gage and Mr.. AFTER, I think
that the same kind of men nominated
Mckinley and you can't double up and
beat him. I don't care whether it is
Is to 1 or 16 to I. You can get six off
the ice for a quarter now, but after
election you can get eight.
Now. my friends, don't hOller for
free and unlimited silver. Use como
my. Keep off pick tooth shoes and seal
skin coats and you will be all right.
I tell you Mckinley will be elected"
Jeff shouted a little louder than he
used to when he made POpulist speech
es, and it is evident that he is greatly
worked up in devising means to save
the country.