The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-08-14
10. H'6RlF'S GOOD STORY.
Interesting Dialogue Between Webb Nc
Nall and Newt Dry.
Some Old Republican Financial Plank'
Eiaug Into tho Breach to Study
Over-WeBb MeNau Flashes
Ancient History.

story ia the st. Louis Republic:
A few days ago Webb McNall, the
leader Of the republican free silver
bolt in the Sixth district, was in To
peka. He met his old friend Newt Try
Of Fort Scott, who has recently been
nominated by the republicans for
member of the Kansas legislature.
These two men have been the "twO old
cronies" of the republican party CT
Kansas for years. They have slept to-
gether at state conventions, chummed
together at grand lodge meetings,
drank Kansas drug store booze cut of
the same bottle, and rounded up many
a delegation of Kansas "Jsys" when the
bosses had on hand a scaly job to run
through the legislature or a state con-
vention. The meeting here was the
first since Webb jumped over the fence
into the free silver pasture.
Try was sitting in front of the Cope
land hotel, where Kansas statesmen
who drift in Topeka cODgregate. He
was diIsting upon the political condi-
tons in Fort Scott and Bourbon coun-
ty when he observed McNali strolliHg
np the street. As the statesman from
the Sixth district approached wearing
sixteen to one badge that covered the
left lapel of his coat. Try addressed
him in this choice salutation, which is a
part Of the vocabulary of all Kansas
statesmen who have taken the degrees
of the order:
BY, Webb, you've played -. l
thought you would be the last republi-
can to leave the party. Well, I remem-
Der remark you made down in Fort
Scott a few years ago when an old pop
ulist jumped you and told you that the
republican party would be wiped from
the face of the earth. You turned on
him in your wrath and said: Colonel,
when that time comes you will find one
republican left and voting the ticket,
and that republican will be Webb Nc
Nall And now you have gone over to
the democratic party. Great ,
Webblg
The Cliff DwelIer from the great
northwest was not disconnected by this
brief but pointed lecture. "Wise men
change, but fools, never" was the re-
ply. The fools, he insisted, composed
themembership of the republican par
ty in Kansas, because the party had
changed, but they had not yet discOy-
cred the fact. "During the past six
years." he continued, ''the men who
have mapped out the policy and dicta-
ted the platforms of the republican
party in this state, and who have con-
strueted the state congressional and
county platforms, have been teaching
US fellows that the free coinage Of sill
yer would be good thing for the coun-
try. have been an apt scholar. I have
accepted their pronunciamentos as
good republican doctrine, and have,
from every stump and rOstrum in the
Sixth district, proclaimed these prin-
ciples as sound republican doctrine.
The great John J. ingalls,, the idol of
hero wOrshipers, was one OF my teach
ers. The splendid Preston B. Plumb,
died free silver advocate; in fact, all
Of the men who have been prominent
in republican politics in Kansas dur
ing the past six years have given US a
free silver diet garnished with gold"
TRY undertook to interrupt States
man McNall, bat that gentleman had
the floor and. proceeded with his argu-
ment. Pulling from bis inside pocket
an old, rusty memorandum, he said;
aHere is the money plank of the re-
publican party of Kansas, adopted at
the state convention in $780," and he
read as follows:
"'The practical operation Of the sill
YER act now in force. recently passed
by a republican majority, and opposed
by democratic minority, in both
houses of congress, is rapidly increas
ing the value of silver, and is a good
step in the right direction, but we, the
republicans of Kansas, demand free
coinage of silver
aThat plank was adopted by a rising
yote," said MeNall, sand such gold
standard statesmen as Dick Blue, Jot
Hudson, Gov. Morrill, and j. R. Burton
observed this thing with a satisfaction
that betokened contentment and pride
aBut that isn't all the evidence I have
en this subject. You will Femembei
hat I thought I vas running for con
gress up in the Sixth in 1890. Well,
didn't run to speak Of. I was nomina
ted on s free silver platform that de
elared for unlimited coinage, but TO
sons reason the people didn't have an.
confidence in the platforms that year
especially republican platforms, ane
the resslt was that ] vas short abou
9ea0 votes necessary in the matter o
sesirinp q aarfiflaata OF election. Tia