The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-11-25
HARRIS INTERVIEW.

Senator Harris in his intervie'
with a Kansas City Star reporter a
published in the Star Nov. IS, il
discussing the causes of Populist de
feat states among other things: "a
found some of the voters in the ag
ricultural districts well satisfied will
big crops and higher prices of las
year, inclined to vote to keep thing
as they are"
Mr.. Harris has we'll stated in tn,
above sentence the views of the in
telligent reasoning farmer as we'll a
other professions. Mr.. Harris ad
mits the changed condition Of al
fairs, and 50 must any man who il
not enjoying Rip Van Wrinkle sleep
and is honest. Mr.. Harris and hi:
party, admitting the much more
favorable conditions existing, O.
course do not give Republicans ant
Republican laws and Republican
policies any credit as being an ell
ement in the improvement that has
taken place.
1t would not do for the party
leaders to concede anything good to
the opposing party, but the Amer
lean people by their votes in the re-
cent election have said: eve be-
lieve Republican methods have had
something to do with our changed
condition." and they voted to con-
tinue in power the party that by its
wisdom in legislative affairs had
been able to contribute so largely
to increased prosperity, not of the
farmer alone, but of the mechanic.
the artisan and laboring man gener-
ally.
A thunderbolt from heaven, or a
gush of redhot sulphur from hades
would not convince Senator Harris,
at least cause him to admit it, that
a settlement of the financial quest
ion and an intelligent adjustment of
the tariff along the lines of Repub-
lican theories could in any way con-
tribune to the general confidence
and assist in any way in bringing
around the most desirable change
that has been wrought.
However much the honored SEN
ator may worry his brains to conjure
up some other excuse for the pros
perlty which he admits, the
masses of the common people thai
our friends talk so much about, have
been reading and thinking and they
have come to the conclusion that
possibly the change in the policy in
the administration of our national
affairs did have something to do in
the increased employment of labor
and that possibly some other ele-
ment besides the famine in India
did have an influence in increasing
the prices of our output, especially
the price of jack and lead, which
are not shipped to India IN very
great quantities to feed the starving
people, and they have spoken in no
uncertain tone of their intention to
hold up the hands of the party that
they believe has contributed largely
to this bettered condition until its
theories can be thoroughly tested.
There can be no risk in retaining
the Republicans in power, for God
knows they can make matters
no worse than they were two years
ago, if they are not instrumental in
continuing the improvements.
In answer to the question, "Do
you think the results of the election
were rebuke to the free silver
idea?"
The Senator said: 81 do not
You let touch of hard times, per-
iod of depression come again as il
will, and the matter will come to
the front with as much vigor or more
than ever"
The Senator then admits that his i!
party of calamity and that they mus
have "touch of hard times" tc
again bring it to the front. Rep
ublicans have always claimed tina
the laundering incompetency of thu
Democratic party in its man
agement of national affairs, its eter
nal tinkering with financial matters
the philosophy of which it seems t.
know nothing and its blind clamo
for the English idea of free trad,
have produced distrust in this coun
try aud brought about depressed
conditions that have made it posi-
ible for the Populist party to gain
foot hold.
Now that different party is II
power and different ideas prevail
both in the line of finance and tar
if, We do not propose that these dc