The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-26
Ben TilIman Tells the New
Workers They Are Ignorant.
Read Only the Provincial New
York Papers
WHICH TELL NOTHING
About the Rest Of the United
States.
Consequently New York Knows
Nothing Of the West.

New York. June 26.-The first or
gained movement in behalf of free sill
yer in this city was inaugurated last
night at Cooper Union and the hall held
a vast assemblage- The meeting was
under the auspices of the American
silver organization, which has 1or lIs
sponsors the young Democracy" bet
ter known as ex-Sherif James O. Brlen's
followers.
Senator Ben Tuman Of South Caro-
lima. the chief speaker, received an Ova-
ton as he walked upon the platform
and took a seat under a painting of
Horace Greeley.
The meeting was called to order by
George p Keeney, the official general
organizer, who called attention to the
presence of Senator Tillman. The men
tion of the senator's name set the au-
dience to appiauding again and 1t
cheered Vigorously
Senator Bixby of the state Democ-
racy' and Alexander Delmar made
brief speeches, after which Senator
IIlman was introduced. He was again
loudly cheered and began his speech
with a bitter attack on the press of
New York. Then, continuing, he said
in part:
some of you have perhaps formed
your opinions about me. I have also
formed mine about you. You are the
most ignorant and benighted COM
munity in the United States Your
newspapers, on which you alone depend
Tor your news and knowledge of public
men and affairs have studiOusIy kept
you hidebOund and narrow by giving
you only one side of this question.
Right here let me say that you are the
biggest Of newspaper gluttons i ever
saw in my life I have seen the time
I would vote for any man at his bid
ding, whether idiot or thief. but have
got above that Though I appear here
as a Democrat, / appear here also in
the higher role of an American"
He sarcastically reviewed the pOIit-
zeal history and legislation since Cleve-
land was first elected president making
bitter attacks on him. He then de-
/ clared that the currency fight was a
sectional one. adding that bimetallism
Is national while gold buggery' is sec
tiOnal
You are driving US to the alternative
OF reputation or cOnfiscatiOn." he de-
clared- This is why 7 am glad to
come here and carry the war into Afri-
ca for this is the head center of the
deVllment- That is why came to New
ork. within mile Of Wall street,
where You are surrounded by million
aires Where you belong to them as
slaves, and ask you to rise i'm your ma
1esty and throw off this yoke But 7
tell YOU right now. we are not calcu-
latlng upon your doing it. We do not
expect your help and our planning is
70 heal you at the polls in spite Of your
money"
He compared the wealth of the east
with that of the west and south and
auoed- The south and west cu1tivates
corn ana wheat The eastern man
chiefly cultivates bonds"
ne sara the millions in New York cof-
LsIs nad peen stolen from the rank and
file; that the money of this country
was congested In the Golfers Of Wall
street. and that was why the men of
the south and west complained
At the conclusion Of the speech free
silver resolutions were adopted and
VIM. r. ST. John was delegated to go
to the Democratic and Populist con-
Ventions to press them upon the dele
gates.
A call for silver convention in St
Louis July p to nominate or fndorse a
presidential candidate was read, clos
ing the meeting.