Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-12-11
TALK OF TOWN
AND COUNTRY.
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A young man, probably past his Seth
birthday, was standing in the line of peo-
pie who were patiently waiting their turns
to be waited on at the stamp window of
the postOttCe yesterday afternoon. He
evidently Il devotee of the prince, al
though several articles of his apparel in
dicated that he was the possessor of a
slim purse. His face was remarkable for
the total absence of any expression. unless
it be that of apathy. He was leaning list
lessly against the wall apparently uncon-
cerned over the fact the wOman at the
windoW was delaying everybody behind her
in Il vain attempt to find her pocket in
order to get the necessary two pennies to
pay for the stamp. His expression even
did not change when three well dressed
women, with that perfect right which every
man recognizes. walked into the office and
crowded into the line in front of him and
Il dozen other persons who had been pa
tently waiting for nearly half an hour to
get to the window. In crOwding into the
line one of the women, who wore an eN-
preston that indicated that she had con-
quered many man before, gave freezing
glance at the inoffensive young man as if
to give him to understand that he was eX-
peCted to crowd back and make room for
her. Her eyes gave a sweeping glance from
his head to his feet and back again, but
suddenly rested on button on his coat
lapel. his expression renamed as II hau
for the past half hour and he seemed to
be thinking of something miles away. She
nudged her companions, who turned and.
following her sneering gaze, also looked
at the button and then at the face of the
wearer.
at would he a cold day before I would
crafty his wish.'' said the young woman
who had first noticed the absorbing but
ton as she crowded into the place made
IN-t ba a ntgb
Her companions laughed. and one remark
ed, How silly, He evidently needs one"
No change came over the face of the in
offensive young man. although the remarks
were meant for his ears. The little white
button bore in black letters, the evident
wish of his heart, Wanted, a Wife"
Local Populists do not take kindly to the
action of Mr.. w. ]. Bryan in naming his
book THE First Battle" They feel that he
arrOgateS altogether too much Importance
to the part he took in the recent campaign,
and assumes there never was battle made
for silver until he became Il presidential
nominee. They claim that this is quite con-
trary TO the facts. one of the principal
Populistic orators. who had written several
publications on the money question, free
silver and questions of economic policy
years before Mr.. Bryan was heard of as a
white metal champion, said to a Journal re-
porter Yesterday: The title is misleading;
the fight for silver was simply a night for
the advancement of civilization. and those
battles had been in progress for i0oOj years
before Mr.. Bryans grandparents We're
born. This is q historical fact, known and
admitted everywhere. Why, then. should
Mr.. Bryan pose as the first warrior. the
leader in the first battle? Mr.. Bryan claims
leadership of the free silver forces. His
claim may not be ratified by the forces
when they assemble TO form battle lines in
the next struggle. Leadership is privilege
given. not "a right enjoyed. Mr.. Bryan is
all right as one of the white metal sol
diers. but as the leader in the first battle
and the seif-appointed leader for the fut-
ure there may be some doubts"
Cleveland Carlisle Thompson. clerk of the
Clinton county circuit court. at Plattsburg
Mo. was one OF the Shriners who partook
OF the banquet at the Midland
Wednesday evening. Mr.. Thompson
bears a name that savors strongly
of sound money Democracy. and it
was a name full of inspiration four years
since when he received the Democratic
nomination for the Office he holds. and
served :, valuable purpose in giving him "a
tremendous majority. But things have
changed since that time and despite the
halloweL Democratic memories that are
thiCky clustered about the double name he
bears. he has espoused the cause of free
silver and in the recent campaign was
follower and ardent admirer of W. J. Bry-
an. Four years ago he was proud he bore
the name of the president: now he explains
1t by saying the name was given him years
before Grover was sheriff at Buffalo, and