The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-04

Il
cording to Her Idea-Fres Silver is the
Opening Wedge to Socialism-In Refer
ring to Her sojourn in New York she
spoke Like One who Fed on Poetry
Three Times a Day.
to Kansas, was interviewed at Kansas
City and in conversation she said:
yes" said Mrs. Lease, when the
battle for free silver IS over I shall de-
vote myself TO socialism 1 have been
socialist a long time. brother"
She laughed in a positive girlish way
and remarked that uor theology and
our politics are at variance. Christ
said" she went on, Bear We one anoth-
er's burdens and our system OF poll
tics and economics is, Everybody for
himself and the devil take the hind
most
Mrs. Lease could say she was an
anarchist and in favor of the gufllotine
and be charming about it. Her genu-
inc warm-heartednesS and good nature
shine about her head like a halo. In
spite of her deep coice and stalwart
figure and fierce utterances, Mrs. Lease
is simply a. woman Like womankind
in general, her tendencies are toward
bitter invectives which, from a woman.
are of the idea merely and do not come
from the heart.
This campaign for silver" coctin-
ued Mrs. Lease, is the opening wedge
for socialism and higher civilization
How do you connect free coinage
with socialism," inquired the reporter.
Mrs. Lease held up her hand and
counted off on her fingers, Gold stand
ard, gold money, gold bonds, and gold
currency"
That Is the one side" she said. ION
the other is the righteousness that the
people can legislate and decide the mon
ctary system for themselves. When
it is decided that the millionaires and
money lenders of Europe can not con-
troG our financial system then won't it
show that the people can control other
things for themselves? That's why I'm
such an enthusiast for free coinage"
did I do pretty we'll in New York;"
asked Mrs. Lease.
Yes. you did," was the reporters
assurance. you got about $1,000 worth
Of free advertising
MIS-. Lease laughed gleefully.
ooh. New York Is the heart of Amer
ica!'' she declared. at is the world in
miniature. ! lived in a beautiful pal
ace on the Hudson. We had beauti-
full yacht. Oh. the swelling tides of the
cool ocean, Oh. the hills and palisades
and rivers that dip into the foaming
breakers. i had believed that my long
life ON the western prairies had sub
he
aims and the sea. But when 1 saw them
and brea thed the air,I melted with pas
sion for the grandeur and glory of the
free ocean and its ceaseless pillows"
Mrs. Lease arose and put her hand
to her forehead as If she was looking
across the endless waters that stretch
from the eastern shore. Her mighty
voice, hoarse from the orations about
millionaires and free coinage, quivered
and the tears came into her eyes.
rs it your impression that silver is
growing in New York;"
Il was employed by the New York
World said the great priestess, ito
canvass the city and find out. 1 went
into Wall street. 1 went into Little
Italy. l visited the tenement districts,
Were men and women and children
are packed thicker than any place on
earth. I was in Harlem and Yorkvilie
and the Atlantic gardens and the Bow
cry and the Broad street counting
rooms. I found that the men draw
ing salaries and the money lenders were
for gold. Irrespective of party. Our
strength is among the earners of a days
wages. In this struggle the salary ear
ners and the so-calhed upper classes are
combined together for gold. Cleveland
is Mckinley man. The greatest Nc
Kinley men in New York are free ira
derS."
Mrs. Lease, while saying that silver
was getting converts in New York, was
unable no say that it was gaining great
ground. She is very careful about her
estimates and observations.