The representative., 1897-08-25
The LEASE HOMESTEAD.
rhe Proposition to Buy the Great
Orator n Home Meets With a Very
Favorable ReceptiOn-Let Every
One Chip I'm Their Mite.


One Chip I'm Their Mite.
Two or three weeks ago, in an arti
cle describing how the money lenders
had taken Mrs. Ellen Leases home in
Wichita, Kansas, for about one-half
the sum loaned upon it, and had Sc
cured judgment for the balance, and
were seizing upon her little household
effects, and threatening to attach even
her compensation for her lectures, we
suggested that the Populists of the
country should come to the great wo-
mans rescue; and we said that each
one should give what he could if it
was but ten cents.
We threw out passing suggestion
and did not expect that anything more
would come of 1t. But the next week
we received from Cincinnati, O., a let
ter signed workman Miller" heartily
approving of the suggestion and enclos-
Ing ten cent piece. We published this
letter and since then we have received
the following letters:
Walla Walla, Wash, Aug. Is, 1897.
Hon. Ignatius Donnelly, Editor Repre-.
sentative:
My Dear Fellow Populist-The ap.
peal made through the columns of
your paper in behalf of that noble wo-
man, Mrs. Lease, whose home has been
wrested from her by the money power.
should be responded to by every good
POpulist throughout the land.
If the 1900 delegates who attended
the national Populist convention at St.
Louis would each contribute a dollar:
and all our brethren ON the outside
would contribute their dimes, our truly
good sister would soon again be in the
shelter of her own home, beneath her
own vine, under her own fig tree
breathing forth those soul inspiring
thoughts and patriotic sentiments which
by voice and pen she has so eloquently
uttered for home humanity and the
peoples rights.
Bro. DOnnelly, your suggestion in
that direction was a very happy thought
and now since the first dime has been
contributed by our good Bro. Workman
Miller, of Cincinnati, whose kind heart
was the first to be touched by your ap-
peal, trusting that a million may re-
spond, let the good work be accom-
plished Every reform paper should
70 I'm tho onpao1 opd ocC;Ct in Iu1,;, ,, ~
a home for that devoted woman.
So here from the far Pacific north
west, from one Of the delegates, l send
you a dollar-a redemption note
would it were a Greenback, for l am
a grecnbacker pure and simple. Take
this my mite, add 1t to what you have
already gathered s1e nucleus and build
that home.
This is your thought. You are the
originator-will be the treasurer and
the builder. So what Donnelly under
takes must not fail. Your books are a
success, your paper Is a success, and
what you have already contributed to
this beautiful world of our-by permis-
sion Of We lords of estate-has made
your life a perfect success, without an
cher whit; and now why should not
this undertaking be q grand success,
no less a nObler deed coming from the
hearts of the great common people,
the poor man, the penniless man, than
the marble halls built by the rich and
given as gifts to high officials, who
have crushed the people, ignored hui
manity and served the masters of their
souls to their country's shame.
True this appeal is made to the poor
man, for the most of our brethren are
poor, but what of the hardships, the
trials and discouragements through
which we passed in building up our
cause and fighting our battles, when
our hands almost unconsciously would
go down in our old overalls, take out
the last cold nickle, or two bits, to give
to the cause, to buy a cheap reform
paper, OF Bro. Norton's Ten Men of
Money Island. This is the experience
OF us all and now to crown our past
Se%Ni AANS~' "AIA AIlOIC 6lOIy, lcl us per-
form this one benefcent act, not as an
act Of charity, for as one, as an Amer
lean. scorn that word, but with hearts
, filled with love for her whose voice has
thrilled our souls with inspiring elo-
Quence, as a free gift Offering, con-
tribution for true worth and merit, and
to show Mrs. Lease that her fellow men
and co-laborers in the cause which we
have espoused, appreciate her and her
valuable service in the great reforms
which, be it said to the glory of the
Populist party, they were the first to in
augurate.
Now Bro. Donnelly, we want to see
this enterprise a go, and backed up by
the push and er-give-up energy for
which the Pops are we'll known, aided
by your own fndomitable will, great big
generous heart, 1t must be asuccess.
and where is the man that says fail.
Send the message along the lines.