The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-01-30
AN ATTACK ON ALTGELD
REsENTs IEsIHUATIONs AGAINST
ELECTION METHODS.
DeaFmOnd Of Missouri Made Sem
satfonai Speech Against the
Secretary of Agriculture


the Indian appropriation bill and entered
upon the consideration of the agricultural
appropriation bill. but all interest in these
two measures was overshadoWed by two
very remarkable speeches, one made Ly
Governor AItgeld Of Illinois, and the other
by Mr.. Dearmond, heaping ridicule upon
Secretary Morton for the recent issue of
a pamphlet entitled The Farmers In
terest in Finance"
governor Of Illinois were called forth by
the latter's speech last week in which
he charged that Mr.. Bryan had been de-
feated by fraud. and based his charge
on the enormous increase OF the vote in
Ohio. where he alleged 5000 votes were
illegally cast.
MI. Grosyenor was personal in his al
iusions to Mr.. AItgeld. laying at his door
much grave responsibility for the result
Of the election. He declared that an APP
peal on the stump against Altgeld never
failed TO raise the populaee where all
else failed. He then analysed the Ohio
vote. and explained the cause Of its In
crease. calling attention to the fact that
the democratic vote ia the state in
creased proportionately much more than
republican
Mr.. Dearmond replied briefly to Mr.
Grosvenor. but II was his subsequent at
tack upon Secretary Mortos which Great
ed the sensation. Mr.. Dearmond is a
democrat. an ardent advocate Of silver,
and therefore his attack on a democratic
cabinet ofncer who had been most active
on the gold side OF the controversy ex-
cited less surprise than II otherwise
would have done.
1t already had been noised about that
the Missouri member intended TO make
an attack on the secretary. and the mem
beers eagerly crowded about to hear him.
With biting sarcasm and raspIng irony
he scored the secretary OF agriculture,
taking as his text a recent publication
issued by the secretary and sent out over
the country under a frank entitled The
Farmers Interest In Finance"
The pamphlet reviewed the silver agi-
tation. TO show that poverty and Hitter
aey characterized the states which had
been foremost In the demand for the re-
storation OF silver.
Mr.. Dearmond asserted that the demand
for silver came chiefly from the farmers,
whose interests the secretary OF agrIcul-
ture was supposed to look after. and ask
ed CONTEMPORARY what excuse there
was for issuing TO them this Islander,
this traversty on facts
The republican party is not respon.
siDie for him." interposed w. A Stone
"Assuredly not" was the answer. land
can understand how grateful you are
that you are relieved OF the responsible.
Ity."
He went on to say that there were
facts which some men lose sight Of
that were known to all others. and one
Of them was that the nliterate colored
voter represented McKinley's majority in
most Of the states which he carried.
But" he said. mo one took Score
tary Morton seriously nowadays. Tn,
world was no longer interested in hi,
views on finance. although it might IooI
with expectation for any observations Ia,
might make on the woodchuck, tn,
hedgehog or the eye Of the potato L
Was once said Of an eminent Statesman
that the secretary stood alone; that mod
ern degeneracy had not reached him"
1T could be said OF Morton. the score
tary stood alone. Modern deKeneracy haS
not passed him." he said.
Addressing the republican side. he ap
pealed TO them TO recognize secretar,
MOrton's service. even though they &c
fused to accept the responsibility for him
OF course, said he, you will no; keel
him in his present position, but you NIGH
put him in the national museum.
I'VE will put him in a better place,
again interrupted Mr.. Stone OF Peansyl
vania. I'VE will send him back to Ne
braSka."
why should you desire to punish Ne
braskans?' shouted Mr. KEN of Ne
braska.
You intimated that took unfair ad
vantage OF Governor Altgcld," put In MI
0rosvenor. why do you attack Secre
tary Morton here. where he has no oppoE
tunity TO replyT'
Because" retorted Mr.. Dearmond, -
know the gentleman from Ohio had con
tracted a habit OF speaking here at less
once a day, and felt that he could spea
for him II necessary"
In conclusion Mr.. Dearmond again com
mended to the prayerful consideration Q
the republicans this curiosity Of moder
political life. whose popularity was tina
he talked when he was not writing. an
wrote when he was not talking. and dI
both when he was not thinking"
The Attack on Altgeld.
Mr.. Grosvenor got the floor during tn
2 debate on the agricultural bill, and undo
the latitude allowed. proceeded to intel
$ est the members with a reply to some =,
marks of Governor Altgeld at a dime
. | given in the latter's honor last week. Tt
o loyalty, honor and integrity of the sta,
4 OF Ohio. he said. demanded reply. A
: to much Of what Altgeld said on tn,
4 oa,aslnn Mr. GHoavanar ravnarlr.d "a
{ answer would not be silence, but he cou
: not pass over a single paragraph.
That paragraph Mr.. Grosvenor had req
at the clerks desk. II called attentiC
: that in partial substantiation OF the a
sertIon that Bryan had been defraud,
OF his election to the fact that in oh
!, last fall there were cast 5000 more vot
= than In lSa2. This, Altgeld said, indlcat,
an increase OF population OF l,Oeo,o
a whereas he charged the increase had n
been more than two-thirds of It. Fro
;. this he concluded that 5000 OF the vot
II were fraudulent.
!, II do not wonder" said Mr.. GrosvenC
that a gentleman who led victoria
!. majority In the city OF Chicago recent
~ and then was absolutely overwhelmed
A. almost all the counties and voting pl
re cincts OF Illinois, should select his o'
a. state as an Illustration OF the quality
Of unfairness which had been the index
this election.
"Ex-0overnor Altgeld Is the last ~
son. in my Judgment. who ought to dr.
re from the rapidly closing waves OF obi
= lon the history and detail OF the recS
y election. Whatever happened In Ohio v
or due to a large number OF factors no Z