The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-10
SIMPSON IN DETROIT.
The Kansas Congressman Addresses
the Single Takers of That City.

The Kansas Congressman Addresses
the Single Takers of That City.
Detroit. Dec. 1O.-Jerry Simpson came
to the meeting of the Henry George
single tax club, held in Bamlet hall.
last night, and. notwithstanding the
fact that he had sworn off speech-mak-
ing, he was induced to give the large
audience a 20 minutes talk and his re-
marks were to their taste, for every
sentence brought out roars of laughter
and applause.
trOduced he was greeted with prolOng
ed applause. He said:
1t is always a source of qualification
to me to meet single takers. have
been one OF those cranks for a long
time. I am getting somewhat mixed
up about this matter, and tonight 1
am here to study out where 1 am at.
L have thought this last year that
these efforts to better mankind were
useless efforts. The country in gen
eral, and Kansas especially, has been
blessed with prosperity
1t was told US in the last election
that all that was necessary was to fire
the Democrats and put in the Republi-
cans. and good times would come. Ev-
erybOdy in Kansas has raised lots of
wheat and got good prices, and I am in
doubt if the Republicans are not right,
but 1 think the big crops here and the
shortage abroad that has more inf1u-
ence than have the Republicans.
THE tariff, so the Republicans say,
was for the sole benefit of the work
men and the farmers, and 1 cannot un-
deTStand how 1t is that the farmers
and workmen have got into the condi-
tiOn they are in. They must be hard
cusses to manage. The tariff was first
made to benefit the farmer but it has
failed as a revenue producer, and THAI
IS the reason 1 am hurrying on to
Washington.
Notwithstanding that this bill is the
N SraTr
Dingley; Notwithstanding all this, the
receipts of the government seem to be
falling below about $10,000,000 month.
1 want to suggest to Mr.. Reed, Nc
Kinley and Dingley that if they would
put tax of 10 cents on every cabbage
head that put them in power it would
make the tariff a revenue producer and
we would never be bothered with any
deficit.
The congressman from this district
who is your congressman
Somebody in the crowd shouted Cor
liss.''
well" went on Congressman simp-
son, 4 regret that Mr.. Corliss had not
thought of this measure, as it ought to
come from this district
Somebody told me this afternoon
that Mr.. Corliss called me ass be-
cause 1 opposed the usurpations of
Speaker Reed. I might say to Mr.. Cor
liss that even the ass saw the messen-
ger of the Lord before Balaam.
when you elect a congressman,
elect some one who has some idea of
true economy; you want a man VINO
is capable of representing the district
and a single taxer. 1 would suggest
H A. Robinson. who has been a single
taxer for a long time.
.-As Mr.. COrlisS has seen fit to object
to my course, 1 will explain here for
the first time why l opposed Reed in
his government of the house The
larger branch of congress is supposed
to represent the people. Now, Kansas
people go to some expense to elect men
to represent them in congress who will
voice their will and get it enacted into
law to benefit them
7 had no voice in making the laws.
This began in the fF'ifty-fir congress.
The Republicans had the administra-
ton and a narrow majority in con-
gress. They elected Tom Reed speak
er, knowing that he could get things
through. They had to rule arbitrarily.
The Democrats refused to be present.
so Reed ruled that man could be
counted even if he was down town.
"A change came, and the Democrats
proceeded to carry out the same poll
cy, and the Republicans adopted the
same system of filibustering. Filibus-
tering went on and it was hard to get
vote Reed is now the committee
rules No measure can get through
congress without the consent of this
committee on rules. This committee
must bring in special rule before
measure can be brought up. The mem
beTS must go to Mr. Reed and explain
what they want, and the effect it will
have on thaSlRepublican party, and if
Reed does not give his consent nothing
can be done. In order to get a measure
through, a congressman must be the
lackey of Mr.. Reed. and that is what
I fight. The greatest stride to con-
centrated government is this usurpa-
tion of Reeds.
4 must be an ass for opposing this,
but I intend to keep up the fight.
1t is said that Reed is a great man
and has reduced the house to a busi-
ness organization. Well, in the first
place, he used his policy to carry on
business and later in the extra ses-
sion he used the same power to restrict
business. All he wants is the right to
order the previous question
This is the first time shave ever de-
Tended myself. I was brought up as a
boy around this city. but 1 am not the
only pebble on the beach, and I am not
like Mr.. Reed, the whole thing"
Mr.. Simpson further added:
Yes / am on my way to Washing
ton, but I am in no hurry. as Reed is
the whole thing. I read in the papers
the other day that Reed and Dingley
had given it out that nothing would be