Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-02-05
AN ATTACK ON ALTGELD
REsENTS INsINUATIONs AGAINST
ELECTION METHODS.
Dearmond of Missouri Made Sem
satiOnal Speech Against the
Secretary of Agriculture.

he Indian appropriation Dill anu eh.eieu
mon the consideration of the agricultural
bill, but all interest In these l
two measures was overshadowed by two {
very remarkable speeches. one made 10y
Mr.. Grosvenor Of Ohio. attacking ex-
Governor Altgeld OF Illinois, and the otner
by Mr.. Dearmond, heaping ridicule upon
Secretary Morton for the recent issue OF
q pamphlet entitled THE Farmers In
terest In Finance"
Mr.. Grosvenor's observations on the
governor Of Illinois were called forth by
the latters 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 $1,000 votes were
illegally cast.
Mr.. Grosvenor was personal In his al
lusions to Mr.. Altgeld, laying at his door
much grave responsibility for the result
of the election. He declared that an ap-
peal on the stump against Altgeld never
failed to raise the populace where all
else failed. He then analysed the ONO
vote, and explained the cause Of Its In
crease, calling attention to the fact that |
the democratic vote In the state IN |
creased proportionately much more than |
republican.
Mr.. Dearmond replied briefly to MT |
Grosvenor, but 1t was his subsequent at |
tack upon Secretary Mortoa which Great |
ed the sensation. Mr.. Dearmond IL
democrat, an ardent advocate OF silver,
and therefore his attack on q democratic
cabinet officer who had been most active
on the gold side of the controversy ex-
Cd aYrnriaa 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-
bers 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 1.-THE
Farmers Interest in Finance"
The pamphlet reviewed the silver agi-
tation, to show that poverty and Hitter
acy 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 contemptuously 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
l can understand how grateful you are
that you are relieved of the responsible
ity."
He went on to say that there were
facts which aipht nj
that were known to all others. and one
of them was that the illiterate colored
voter represented McKinley's majority in
most of the states which he carried.
But" he said. mo one took Secre-
tary Morton seriously nowadays. The
world was no longer interested in his
Views on finance. although 1t might look
with expectation for any observations he
might make on the woodchuck, the
hedgehog or the eye of the potato. II
was once said of an eminent statesman
that the secretary stood alone; that mod
ern degeneracy had not reached him."
'It could be said of Morton, the score
tary stood alone. Modern degeneracy hao
not passed him." no said.
Addressing the republican side, he ap.
pealed to them to recognize Secretary
Morton's service, even though they re
fused to accept the responsibility for him
OF course, said he, you will not keeI
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 Pennsyl
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 Altyeld," put In Mr.
Grosvenor. why do you attack Secre
tary Morton here, where he has no oppor
tunity to reply?"
Because" retorted Mr.. Dearmond, "
know the gentleman from Ohio had con
tracted a habit Of speaking here at leas
once a day. and felt that he could speal
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 Iii
both when he was not thinking
The Attack on Altgeld.
Mr.. Grosvenor got the floor during tn
debate on the agricultural bill, and unde
the latitude allowed. proceeded to inter
est the members with reply to some re
marks Of Governor Altgeld at a Dime
given In the latter's honor last week. TIL
loyalty. honor and integrity of the stat
OF Ohio. he said. demanded a reply. A
to much Of what Altgeld said on tina
occasion, Mr.. Grosvenor remarked. hi
answer would not be silence, but he coul
not pass over single paragraph.
That paragraph Mr.. Grosvenor had rea
at the clerks desk. 1t called attentio
that In partial substantiation of the as
seruon that Bryan had been defraude
of his election to the fact that In Obi
last fall there were cast eco, 900 more vote
than in 1892. This. Altgeld said, indicate
an increase Of population of 1.OO0, 90,
whereas he charged the increase had nc
been more than two-thirds of it. Fror
this he concluded that 90, 900 of the vote
were fraudulent.
IT do not wonder" said Mr.. Grosvenol
'that q gentleman who led victoriou