People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-07-16
MASS CONVENTION.
Silver Forces Gene Together,
Choose Delegates and Listen
10 aR Able Address by Hon.
Ed LilIIe-Judge Ray and
Senator FOrney Talk.

of party, large crowd came together
in the opera house last Saturday.
The house was crowded, many stand
ing in the aisles and in the gallery.
Ed T Hackney called the meeting
to order and was made permanent
chairman. Judge Ray read the call
for convention. G. W. Bailey was
chosen secretary.
On motion of J. A. Ray a commit
\ tee of threewas appointed to suggest
he names of delegates to the state
II DveutiOn. The chair appointed
Sne committee as follows: j. A. Ray,
Ira FOy, and a. G. FOrney.
The committee retired for consu!ta-
tiOn.
Hon, E. c. Little Of Abilere was
then introduced and met with a
round of applause. This was Mr.
Little's first speech since he bolted
Mckinley, He had many and suffi-
Gent reasons for the faith that
was in him and narrated them
in very emphatic way. He had
many Republicans in his audience,
many Of them wavering in their sup
port of the gold standard against
which they have been so frequently
warned by Blaine, Logan, Lincoln,
Garfield and the host of early Repub-
lican leaders, and Mr.. Little made a
profound impression upon them. He
was enthusiastic ald so was his audi
ence. He was frequently cheered to
the echo.
Mr.. Little is earnest, vivacious and
at times eloquent. His bearing is
digniied. courageous, and Indicative
of great Intellectual force. He made
a Splendid impression on his audience.
His Illustrations were always pointed
and extremely entertaining.
He said this was an agricultural
country, and selfshness ought to lead
us all to stand for that which stands
flr agricultural prosperity. Hard
times he said meant only low prices
falling prices. Hedenied the David
A. Wells theory that failing prices
were due toincreased methods Of pro-
ductiOn, because the progress in this
line was as great foraperiod of twenty
years before 1873 as since and prices
Gid not begin to decline until after
1873. As to the cry that had been
raised OF calamity howlers," he said
he deSpiSed man who would not
howl when he was hunt.
He produced series of statistics
showing the decline in prices since 70
and summarized the aggregate losses
to the people Of this country. The
loss wOuldif put back into the pock
cts of the PEOPLE set every idle
man at work, start every spindle, and
return US to prosperity. The people
were about to find out who "struck
BILLIE PatterSon'-had the gentleman
pretty nearly located. and when they
became absolutely sure of it somebody
was going to get hurt.
God gave the people brains with
which to think for themselves, and
ne did not intend for US to let out
that Job to some one else.
Money was the lubricating oil that
was used for the machinery OF com.
merce. Men who handed money as a
business were mere agents for the
people who transact real business.
When they corner the stock and de.
mSad e&tOrtiOnate tribute for its use
they ought to be discharged from the
service Of the people. Before we pass
this campaign some of them will get
their walking papers. He talked of
the decentralization of silver and the
contraction Of the currency. Money
had become higd and products cheap.
We wanted cheaper money and higher
wheat.
He had been a Republican from
his youth. He had felt in his bones
that this thing was coming on. Al
year ago he interviewed VIM. McKin.
ley in person. He asked him if
ne owed debt payable in either
gold or silver, and decided to pay
1t IN silver would he be honest in so
doing.
Mr.. Mckinley said: "Why of course
you wOuld,..Mr. Little"
"Well, then, Governor, why wouldit
not be honest fO7 the government to
do the same thing?"
"Oh, no, Mr.. Little, that would
not be honest" said Gov. Mckinley.
and closed his mouth and he has kent
it closed ever since.
Mr.. Little said that he resolved