Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-01-08
OVERMYER STIRS EN- UP.
WRITES AN INTERESTING LETTER,
Which was Side-traCked, but Came 10 Light
Just the Same.
He Gives Bryan Some Good Advice.
Advocates Complete Union OF POpulisfs DE m
Ocrats ana Free silver Republicans
Under One Name.

TOPEKA, KAs., Dec. 3o.--A letter of deep po
litieal significance, written by Hon. David
Overmyer of this city, is made public H. re to-
day. Mr.. Overmyer and Mr.. Atwood, repie-
sentine Kansas, together with Governor Stone
and R. p. Bland of Missouri and Senator Allen
Of Nebraska were invited to attend and speak
at the banquet given by the Travelling Mems
BRYAN club of Lincoln, Neb. Monday night i'll
honor of w. ]. Bryan. Mr. Overmyer was un-
able to attend, and wrote a letter of regret,
which created political sensation among those
who received it, and it was suppressed. After
a complimentary mention of MIR. Bryan, MIR.
Overmyer, in his letter, turns to the future
and marks out the political course he believes
Mr. Bryan must follow if he hopes to ever be-
come the leader of the common people Of this
country. Mr.. Qvermyer advocates complete
union of the Democratic, Populist and Free
Silver Republican parties on one platform and
under one party name, and his recommends
tions as to the issue for the new party are tore
ible, if not radical. While he does not recon-
mend the abandonment of free silver, he does
recommend that the platform be enlarged to in
cude remedies for still greater evils than the
GOLD standard, sach as public control OF cor
porations and public participation III their earn
ings public ownership Of the right of way of
railroads, with at least partial control; tax up
on incomes and great estates money controll-
ed by the people, iastead of by the banks, etc.
Mr.. Overmyer S letter reads
"Your kind invitation to me to attend BAN
quet at the Lincoln hotel on the 23lh inst in
honor of Hon. William ]. Bryan has been re-
ceived deeply regret that professional en-
gagenent for that date which cannot be post
poned or avoided will prevent my attendance.
feel constrained, however, to communicate to
YOU few thoughts suggested by the fact of
banquet in honor Of Mr.. Bryan
"Hugo has said that the English di we'll to
honor Wellington, but that in paying tribute
to their hero, they forgot themselves, and he
adds that the one thing which stood ont above
all others at Waterloo was the unAinching
courage of the English nation"
'4n honoring Mr.. Bryan, we honor not only
the most interesting and impressive personality
to-day in American public life honor no.
only him of whom it has been sid that lie is
in intellect a giant, in endurance gladiator
in courage a hero and in devotion to the cause
of the people, martyr we honor not only
him whose prodigious efforts for popular anne
Iteration arrested the attention of the civilized
world, but i'll honorng him we celebrate also
the great cause of humanity for which his name
now stands.
"Upon such an occasion, the mind turns to
the future. What of the morrow ? Where
does duty lead Where shall the liue of battle
be drawn ? What grounds shall the field of
battle cover? Shall the hosts of humanity con-
tinue divided into three separate armies or be
united in one Shall those who agree as to
the nations malady, like physicians of oppos-
ing schools, prescribe separate aud partayre-
pugnant treatment? Or shall all who realize
the fact that more than three -fourths Of the
property of this nation is held by less than one
hundred and fifty thousand persons, while the
people own less than one-fourth and that this
all-absorbing, stupendous and appalling fac