The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-29
MORTON FLAYED.
De Almond of Missouri Hangs
His Hide on the Fence.
He Refutes the Secretary s
Charges That
THE BRYAN STATES
Are Characterized By Poverty
and Illiteracy.
GrOsvenOr Bitterly Attacks
John p. Altgeld.
THE BRYAN STATES

Washington, Jan. 29.-The house pass
ed the Indian appropriation bill yes
terday and entered on the consideration
of the agricultural appropriation bill,put
all interest in these two measures was
overshadowed by two very remarkable
speeches, one made by Mr.. Grosvenor of
Ohio, attacking Ex-Governor Altgeld OF
Illinois, and the other by Mr.. Dear
mond of Missouri, hea ping ridicule on
Secretary Morton for the recent issue
of a phamphlet entitled The Farmer
Interest in Finance" Mr.. GroSvenor
observations on the governor OF Illinois
were called forth by the latters speech
last week, in which he charged that Mr.
Bryan had been defeated by fraud and
based his charge particularly on the in
crease of the vote in Ohio, where he al
legged, go, coo votes were illegally cast.
Mr.. Grosvenor was very personal in
his allusion to Mr.. Altgeld, laying at
his door much grave responsibility Tor
the result of the election. He declared
that an appeal on the stump against
AltgeldiSm never failed to arouse the
populace where all else failed. He then
analysed the Ohio vote and explained
the cause of its increase alluding to the
fact that the Democratic vote in that
state had increased proportionately
much more than the Republicans.
De Almond replied very briefly to Mr..
Grosvenor, but il was his subsequent
attack on Secretary Morton which ere
ated the SenSa ton. Mr.. De Almond IS
a Democrat an ardent advocate of sill
rand therefore his attack on Demo-
crat who has been most active on the
gold side of the controversy, excited less
surprise than it otherwise would have
done. 1t already had been nOiSed about
that the Missouri member intended to
make an attack on the secretary and
the members eagerly crowded about to
hear him. With biting sarcasm and
rasping irony, he scored the secretary
of agriculture, taking as his text a re-
cent publication issued by the secreta-
~ nd q frank entitled.
The Farmers Interest in Finance"
The pamphlet reviewed the silver agi-
tation, to show that poverty ana INT
eracy characterized the state which had
been foremost in the demand for the
restoration of silver. Mr.. De Almond
asserted that the demand for silver
came chiefly from farmers whose in
terest the secretary of agriculture was
supposed to look after and asked con-
temptuously what excuse there was for
issuing to them this SANDER" this
travesty on facts"
The Republican party, is not respon-
sible for him" interposed Mr.. w. A;
Stone of Pennsylvania. +Assuredly not"
agreed Mr. De Almond, land 1 can under
stand how grateful you are that you are
He went on to say that there were facts
which some men lost sight of which were
known to all others and one of them was
that the illiterate colored vote represent
ed McKinley's majority in most states
which he carried. But, he said, no one
took Secretary Morton seriously nova
days. The world was no longer interested
look with expectation for any observa-
tiOns he might make on the woodchurch,
the hedgehog or the eye of the potato.
1T once said of eminent states
man. he continued, that he stood alone,
that modern deGeneracy had not reached
him.
1T could be said of Morton, the secre-
tary stood alone; modern degeneracy had
Addressing the Republican side, he ap-
pealed to them to recognize Secretary
Morton's service, even though they re-
fused to accept responsibility for him
of course" said he, you will not keep
him in his present position, but you
might put him in the National museum
I'VE will put him in a better place.
again interrupted Stone of Pennsylvania.
why should you desire to punish Ne
braska," shouted Mr.. Kem (Neb.) amid
shouts of laughter.
You intimated that I took unfair adj
Grosvenor. why do you attack Secretary
Morton when he has opportunity to
repIy?"
from Ohio had contracted a habit of
speaking here at least once day. and /
felt that he could speak for him, if neces-
sary. (Renewed laughterD In conclus-
ion Mr.. De Almond again commended to
the prayerful consideration of the Republi-
cans, this curiosity of modern political
life whose popularity was that he talked
when he was not writing and wrote when
he was not talking and did both when he
was not thinking.
Fun many a whim of purest ray serene
The dark unfathomed dreams of Morton
bear
Full many a wheel is formed to Whirr I'M
And waste its .heetness meath J. ster-
fng's hair
(Great laughter and applause.)