Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-10-07
THE HARPER DEBATE.
Long and Simpson Addressed
a Large Crowd, Many of
Whom Were Citizens
of Their Home
County.

about the different results of the Long
Simpson debates, the INDEX editorial
force concluded to go to Harper on
Tuesday of last week and see and hear
for ourselves so that we would not be
asked to take anOther's opinion in re-
gard to the outcome.
Both of the candidates had returned
home on the Saturday preceding the
Tuesday of the debate and rested on
Sunday and Monday which put them in
good shape for the battle at Harper.
Both went to Harper on the excursion
train on Tuesday morning among
large number of friends and neighbors
and each had his admirers. While the
train was or It's road to Harper the vot-
ers on the train were polIed twice-once
between Medicine Lodge and Sharon
and once between Attica and Harper.
The result was:
Simpson. Long.
First poll. ..................... ........57 As
Second poll. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 62
This, of course, was not expected by
the Simpson men and very great as
well as very unpleasant surprise to
the Long men. Under the circumstan.
ces it was naturally expected that the
Long men would be in the majority
for the reason that most of the crowd
was made up of town people. On the
train between this place and Harper
Long badges were given to all who
would consent to wear one while the
| supply ofSimpsOn badges were exhaust
ed in half hour at the price of 10 cents
each. BY the time Harper was reached
it was plain to all that the Populists
were greatly in the majority and the
republicans looked considerably wor-
ried though they made heroic effort to
keep up courage. The crowd was not
less than 5000 in number and we
would not be surprised if it reached
5000 had there been way by which all
could have been counted. 1t was a
great day for the city of Harper but a
greater day for Jerry Simpson. Bryan
and free silver.
The debate took place in the open air
but even then over half of the crowd
could hardly get close enough to the
speakers to hear plainly what was said.
The debate began at about 2:30, p. m.
| Long opened the discussion and the
first thing he did was to read the SIX
questions he asked Mr.. Simpson at
Newton and which he prepared for G.
M. Martin in his first debate in this
city. OF course Simpson answered
these questions at Newton and Yelling
ton but, as he put it, Long would not
''stay answered" Long then added
three more questions which were also
answered-and answered IN good shape.
| Mr. Long devoted most of his time to
putting these questions and very little
to argument. He wanted reciprocity
and protection but was opposed to free
silver because it would bring the coun-
try to currency with a poor basis.
cheap money, ETC., and ultimate disas-
ter. Mr.. Long did not receive much en-
enlargement from the audience He
was applauded only a few times and
when they did applaud it was very
weak manifestation. After quoting
some figures on cost of exchange be-
tween London and Paris in an effort to
overcome figures given by Mr.. Simpson
at Wellington and few other remarks
along the line of a usual republican
speech, Mr.. Long yielded to MIR. Smp-
son.
When Jerry arose he was given a
great ovation, very much in contrast
with the way Long was received. He
begun by stating that his opponent had
attempted to avoid the issues by ask
ing irrelevant questions but that he
would discuss the question of finance
regardless of what Mr.. Long wanted,
that he had answered Mr.. Longs ques-
tions at Wellington and would answer
him again in the hope that he would
stay answered. Any fool could ask
questions but it took wise men to ans
wer them. Mr.. Simpson took off his
coat, remarking that when he proceed
ed to skin gOldbug he wanted to skin
him right, and then took hold of the
issues and handled them without
| gloves. He showed how the volume of
money regulates prices, how the repub-
licans had destroyed silver by inches.
that the tariff had nothing to do with
existing conditions for the reason that
the present law is higher than any other
law eyer in effect, except the Mckinley
law, and that 1t was only about five per
cent lower than this great pride of the
republican party. He said that the
country had never even approached
free trade and Mr.. Longs talk about
free trade was the sllllest OF twaddle
Mr.. Long did not refer to this in clos
ing. Mr.. Long had, in his opening, ex-
hibited two Mexican dollars and said
that he purchased them six weeks ago
for So cents each. Now they were
worth only so cents. Here Jerry made
good point. He said that Long had
in that unguarded moment showed the
evils of the gold standard, VIZ: that
under gold standard everything but
gold would depreciate in value while
gold would appreciate. That mans
silver would lose value just as his corn
his cattle, his wheat, his hogs or any
property in his possession except gold
| and government bonds This WAS loud