The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-11-26
TON NSEAL. JERRY SIMPSON AND
CHRSIRR 1 LONG


cine Lodge. He was a union-labor
man, aud was ready at any time and
place TO make 4 speech in favor Of his
party. About this time his wife's
health became very feeble, and he
moved into town that she might have
medical treatment.
Tom AcNeal is a wag, aud consid-
cradle Of 8 wit. He is now editor Of
the Topeka Breeze, But recently be
was a citizen Of Medicine Lodge, that
city Of western statesmen. which gave
to the world the Hon. Jerry Simpson
and the Hon, Chester l. Long.
While Tom lived in the .'short grass
country" say about 1890, or there
abOuts, he was elected mayor Of Medl.
cine Lodge. There was an immediate
rush made on HIM for the appointment
Us city marshal. Tom was a rantan-
kerous republican, and, Of course, be
wanted 10 appoint a republican 10 the
Office; bat he reasoned after this
fashion:
"My majority was not - big as il
might have been; there are q few pro-
hibitionists in this town. II | appoint
a republican marshal aud be closes up
the joints, we win lose the whisky
vote; if he does not close them, we
will lose the prohibition and the female
vote. II l appoint q democrat, and be
closes the joints, the democrats will
get all the credit for the act, and ]
will get the ''cussing'' Of the whisky
men. Alb, | have III Theie is Jerry
simpson, who mas Just moved to town,
and Is out Of a job, / will appoint
him. He belongs to the union labor
party, and there are only seventeen Of
those fellows in the county. II Jerry
closes the saloons, and the move is
popular, 1t cannot help him much; il
1t IS unpopular-well, Jerry can take
the ''cussing."
So Tom appointed Jerry, and "Tom
and Jerry" grew to be a by-word on
the streets of Medicine Lodge. Bot
this "Tom aud jerry was not at all
intoxicating. In f~Orty-eight hours after
Jerry put on the marshal's star, every
joint was shut up tight, and the drug
stores were only selling whisky on
prescriptions from physicians. Aud
Jerry kept them shut IS long al be
wore the star, which was more than
any other marshal had ever done.
Thus Tom McNeal gave Jerry Simp-
son his first taste Of public life. A few
weeks aiierward the ~"'alliancen people
held their congressional convention,
At this time everybody who vas not a
republican was working with the
alliance Jerry went Al a delegate.
The nominatlon was offered him ana
he accepted. The republicans noml-
dated James r. Hallowell, then con-
sldered The finest stnmp-speaker in the
state. Hallowell and Simpson met in
joint debate at Larned, aud after
prince Hal" had consumed his hour,
Jerry began bis celebrated ';skipping''
Eot. 1t was torture 10 poor "Pr}bc,
Hal" snd be could only endure th,
process for twenty minutes, when b,
bolted the hall, and no power or brib,
cO0ld ever induce him to again NEE
Jerry on the stump. From this hOui
The election of Simpson was almos
assured.
The alliance continued TO grow ii
strength, aad fually the "people'
party vas organized, which took il
the alliance bodily. 1t also took il
everybody VINO opposed republieanism
1t soon swept over the state, ParalyzinI
the republicans and electing u legisla
lure that bounced john J.Ingalls on
Of the United States senstA.
At the expiration Of Jerry's term b
Tas renOminSted by the Populists. Tb
republicans nominated Chester I. Long
a handsome young lawyer, q citizen o
Medicine Lodge. As Jerry had no
secured pen lions for everybody VIII
had asked him to do SO, he was besteI
Oy 3 mar who promised to secur
them. Mr.. Long went 10 WashingtoI
Tor two years, and when his time ex
PRED be was Tenominsted. His oil
opponent, Jerry, was again nominate,
by the pcpulists. Mr.. Long had no
secured pensions for everybody, anI
this time Jerry beat him.
Last fall Jerry was again the nOmi
nee Of the populists, and Mr.. Long wa
again put forward by the republicans
The returns show that Long has agai
beaten bis old enemy. And Jerry say
be will retire from politics. But "
hope not. We know him to be a plsi
man Of more than usual intelligence
and a wonderful ability TO tell what b
knows. lie is a natural fighter, an
the next revolution Of the politics
wheel may bring him on top agar
There is no man in the populist part
VINO has done more for the party tina
he.