The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-12
MRS. LEASE SEES M'KTNLEY
She Evidently Frightsns the Major,
Judging by Her Story.


New York. Oct. 12.-NIrs. Mary f.
Lease has had an interview with Nc
I&inley, which the World prints. In
part it is as follows.
After discussing Kansas politics, in
which discussion the major became the
interviewer and elected q synopsis of
the political situation in that state, we
chatted pleasantly of our Scotch line
age Till L remarked. Scotland is the
only nation Of the civilized world upon
which the money breeders have not
placed the octopus of mOrtgaged in
debtedness.' IA startled look, half fear.
lest he had given utterance to an un-
guarded statement. half defiance lest
I should pursue the subject further,
leaped into Major Mckinley's eyes
What a pity. I 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 CONVEX
sation was futile, and L changed the
theme. In reply to the question. Has
woman a future in poliGcs2' he replied:
hey ond all doubt she has a great fu-
ture. Who can view her advancement
along every line when we view the Won
derful progress she has made in the
An effort to obtain some expression
on economic questions was void. I am
NOT being interviewed at present he
said I think it is the part of wisdom
to remain silent
d" I would like your views on social
ism I suggested. It's spirit is perme-
ating the hearts of men The cOndi-
ton of the people is such that the tariff
viii not even prove a palliative Ma
chinery has displaced human labor. In
dustry is in rags and idleness. VIII
q tariff benefit the men whose Occu-
patton has been taken by labor saving
machinery
.''I 90 not care to discuss that ques-
ton he replied.
% But the conditions are forcing a
discussion of these questions upon US,
and we are not brave to shirk them,
I said.
1t is too great a question for you
and me to enter upon. We could not
settle it'll Major Mckinley calmly re
torted.
..NIaior Mckinley is a living example
of disruption of self. The atmospheric
power which protects individuality has
been broken down by the forced cOndi-
lions which have brought him into con
tact and made him dependent upon
others "A lack of self confidence masks
the man You do not need to ask him
questions to know that he is q stult1fI-
cation I refuse to be put ON record is
in his manner and turks i'm 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
been true to himself. He is ON record.
1t is a great misfortune to be brought
within reach of the throne. 1t deadens
the sensihiHties. makes eanOus the IN
Outstanding and sears the conscience
THE poisoned influence of wealth and
power proved fatal to the real Major
Mckinley. but his corpse and the habil-
iments remain As a farmer ne would
have read the mournful story Of the re-
port Of the agricultural department and
his soul would have gone out in sym
pathy to the oppressed agricultural
classes AS a laborer he would realize
that the menace which eonfronts the
wage worker is labor saving machinery
in the hands of capitalists, that has de-
stroyed the stimulus of consumption by
driving the Iab0rer into enforced idle
ness while Cutting the markets with
boundless 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 Pontius plate before the multitude,
he washes his hands of the blood Of
the Just One Major Mckinley is the
most colossal example Of moral turpi-
tude and political cOwardice the age
has known