The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-17

anyway? During his Eastern tour he
sought to find favor with the horny-handed
by wearing a shabby alpaca coat to indi-
cate hat he had no style about him, and
gave the toilers who never owned night
shirts in their lives not a hint that he was
addicted to such luxuries. For, according
to precedent established in the case of ex-
Senator Tabor, of Colorado, this gar
ment is not only a luxury but is significant
of plutocracy. Mr.. Tabor's celebrated shirt.
it is true, cost $3.50. and the Associated
Press reporter is client as to whether Mr..
Bryan's was extensively decorated with
embroideries and frills or not; but the fact
remains that it was especially designed for
a sleeping robe, and that is enough to set
tie the matter with the Pops. That $3.50
shirt "queered' Mr.. Tabor with his Colo
RADIO constituents, who are the Pops of to-
day; he never went back to the Sem
ate, and there is nothing to show that his
political history would lave been otherwise
had the fateful piece of apparel been
sweetly simple and without costly scallops.
1t was a night shirt; only plutocrats wore
have no more of him. Mr.. Bryan has been
4 dOOuL Us COuLltIy III a SPCIldl
car with all the fine appointments that a
millionaire could command, but this has not
been held against him as a personal Of
Tense because it is understood that such
accommodations are furnished to him by
reformed mine owners who are now willing
to spend money unselfshly for the dear
people, and that it is none of his doings.
But the mine owners never compelled him
to wear a night shirt, and the only infer
ence is that it is his habit to wear one.
Can a man SO lost to the dictates of econ
omy and drifted so far from the customs of
rural simplicity-can a man secretly adj
dicted to ways of effeminate luxury be
trusted to carry out his promises to level
the aristocratic classes until they are
undistinguishable from the democratic I'M
washed 'masses?" In short, can a Pop
ulist. firm in his opposition to law and the
fellow who has saved his money-can he
lay his hand upon his whiskers and declare
his belief that d man who wears a night
shirt can be depended On to lay the Su-
preme Court out cold and destroy the
money power?" Can he do it? 1t is to
be feared not. 1t is painfully probable that
Mr.. Bryan made a fatal error in thus Civ
ing himself away at st. Ignace. Perhaps
he was asleep, perhaps dreaming Of place
and power, and knowing not what he did.
On any other theory it is difficult to under
stand why, after hippodroming all over the
country and carefully keeping his night
clothes in concealment, though called to
the platform at all hours, he should care
lessly exhibit them at st. Ignace. If he
should not repeat the offense the story
may not gain a wide circulation among
his supporters, and he may recover him
self. On the other hand. night shirt
speeches, If well advertised, would be sure
to draw large numbers of people who
would not otherwise trouble themselves to
go and look at him, and as a special
attraction would help greatly in making
the usual advance collection Of cash at
each stopping place. On his return tour
through Indiana he can even afford to
raise his prices, for the average Hoosier,
irrespective of politics. dearly loves a
freak show, and will put up handsomely
to see it. But Mr.. Bryan must consider
well and choose between Populist votes in
November and cash in hand for night-shirt
appearances in October. AS he will not, in
any event, get enough votes to do him any
good, he might as well take the cash and
have something to show for his
work when the campaign is over.