People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-08-20

"Why, what's the matter with that
fellow, anyhow" became the query,
and Republican to our right, said
so, he mas got his wedge into a silver
knot" and this explanation was ac-
cepted as a plausible one, and settled
down in our seat to watch for pro-
gress as he mauled away. With efforts
that seemed painful he stammered on
until suddenly he ceased and took a
seat much exhausted. We venture to
say that an Oxford audience never be-
fore met as much dense ingnorance in
in one speech on the finance question
as was presented by Burnette on this
occasion. Evidently he presumed bis
audience had not studied the question
and was not informed, as he admitted
himself to be, during his talk. o.
casiOnally he would imagine that he
made point, and that his wedge was
sinking in, then he would hesitate for
applause. but never would applause
come. His hearers seemed to be dumb
with amazement and this no doubt
made his efforts more chafng, and
finally he felt like scoldlng some one,
and picked on some young fellows
with their girls who were out by the
town pump having a good time and
caring not picayune at this time,
whether we had a British policy or an
American policy, a single standard or
double standard or whether the
ratio be l6 to or Al to /. The Judge
had stopped his labOrs and said he
would wait till they got through, but
they took no notice of his remarks,
and in fact we believe that they had
no knowledge of his chafng, as they
seemed to be ObliyiOus to all surround
ings. So the Judge was compelled to
resume his mauling, He made great
effort to convince the people that
they did not want silver in their busi-
ness, that he had a perfect horror of
any legislation in behalf OF the sill
yer mine or bullion owner. as it would
be class legislation and that kind of
legislation he could never stand, even
If it should be for the wheat grower
of the West or the cotton grower Of
the South. Oh no, but he never ex-
pressed any fears in the direction of
the gold bullion holder Of Wall and
Lombard streets. This is part of the
racket the 6. o. p. newspapers and
speakers are requested to make from
now on until after election. But such
rot is not going to take with the
people and believers here in an Ameri-
can financial policy. Only hope that
Burnette may go and believer the
same kind of a speech in every town.
ship and voting precinct in the coun-
| ty between this and November and
that he may be followed at each OF
these places by Hon. ]. W. FOrney
who followed up here just to do the
light work las he had been told by the
Judge he would do the heavy work.;
but Mr.. FOrney realized that after
all the heavy work done by Burnette.
the wedge was not started yet. So be
began his pounding on the same cut
and with the same wedge. Though
his tactics were a little different, yet
his progress was slow. 1t was SUR
prising how little credit he allowed
his audience for any intelligence on
the question that the financial ex-
perts Of the &. o. p. want to make us
believe is beyond the comprehension
Of ordinary men. Why said he in the
out start: Il venture / can count on
the tips Of the fingers Of one hand all
who are present that understand or
can give a correct answer to the
meaning Of l6 to l." and then he pro-
posed to educate them just as he un-
derstood it and that he was going to
be truthful and not mislead them, for
it was with great abomination that
he looked upon a political prevarica-
tor and that his right arm might for
get its cunning and his tongue might
cleave to the roof Of his mouth il he
falsifled to them in one instance.
At this juncture we left hastily for
we were in great fear lest this dread
full thing would happen, but we were
Informed next morning that he con.
tinued on until the two were exhaust,
ed, without any change in arm,
tongue or audience, except little
drowsiness which had overcome the
greater portion uf tue audience.
On consulting our almanac the next
day for such happenings we found
that we were unnecessarily alarmed,
for we see it stated by this authority
that such happening has never been
known to take place with a Republi.
can speechmaker.
Yours for the money standard of the