Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-10-28
INTERVIEWS THE MAJOR.
MRS. LEASE FAILS TO PUT NC
KINLEY ON RECORD.
He Wont Talk on. tie Issues Socialism
to Great n question for his Compre-
heDsiOn. A Lack OF Confidence Marks
tho Mar

The New York World publishes an
interview which Mrs. Lease recently
had with Major Mckinley The inter
view in part is as follows:
After discussing Kansas politics, in
which discussion the Ma jor became the
interviewer and elicted a 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
placed the octopus of mortgaged in
dcbtcdness. startled look, half
fear, least he had given utterance to an
ungarded statement, half defiance lest
should pursue the subject further,
leaped into Major McKinley's eyes,
What pity continued, that we
have not initiated in this country the
example of the Scots. The gold owners
have purchased us body and soul. No
reply.
Every effort to continue the con-
versation was futile, and L changed
the theme. In reply 10 the question,
Has woman a future in politics?' he
replied: beyond all doubt she has a
great future. Who can doubt her ad-
Vancement along every line when we
view the wonderful progress she has
made in the paste
IAN 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 reman silent.
I" Il would like your views on social
ism 1 suggested Its spirit Is perme-
ating the hearts of men. The condi-
tion of the people is such that the tariff
will not even prove a palliative. Ma
chtnery has displaced human labor.
Industry is in rags and idleness. Will
. tariff benefit the men whose occupa-
tion has been taken by labor saving
machinery?'
:" Il do not care to discuss that ques-
tion,' he replied
But the conditions are forcing a
discussion of these questions upon us,
and we are not brave to shrink them,
I said.
I" tits too great n question for you
and me to enter upon. We could not
settle it. Major Mckinley calmly re-
torted.
"Major Mckinley is living example
Of disruption of self The atmospheric
power which protects individuality has
been broken down by the forced con-
ditions which have brought him into
contact and made him dependent upon
others. A la elk of self confidence
masks the man. You do not need to
ask him questions to know that he is a
qualification. Il refuse to be put on re-
cord 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
l cannot hear what you say His
speeches are read from manuscript
His every public utterance is prepared
lie does not dare trust himself He is
on record. 1t is a great misfortune to
be brought within reach of the throne.
II deadens the sensibilities, makes cal
lous the understanding and sears the
conscience.
"The poisoned influence of wealth
and power proved fatal to the real Ma
ior Mckinley, but his corpse and the
habliments remain. AS a farmer he
would have read the mournful story OF
the report of the agricultural depart
ment and his soul would have gone out
in sympathy to the oppressed agricul.
tural classes. AS a laborer he would
realize that the menace which con.
fronts the wage workers is labor saw
ing machinery in the hands of capital.
lists, that has destroyed the stimulus
of consumption by driving the laborer
into enforced idleness, while glutting
the markets with boundles production.
AS candidate for the presidency on a
platform which his past career and
his every public utterance in the past
repudiated, Major Mckinley has closed
eye and ear to the needs of the people,
and standing as did Pontus Plate be-
fore the multitude, he washes his
hands of the blood of the Just One.
Major Mckinley is the most colossal
example of moral turpitude and politi-
cal cowardice the age has known