The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-10

There was time when the Populst
street corner orator. who. sp.teful people
say. wishes the American public had bur
one ear, made his headquarters on Pioneer
square. and from morning 10 night riddled
the air with the rapid-iire guns OF his
oraiory. But time has wrought q change
Now all interest centers in the war with
Spain. and the result is that a meily
throng is constantly gathered IN front Of
the bulletins in the windows Of the Post
Inte.igencer business offices.
Deserted by his Northumberland no one
is rude enough 10 call them so 10 his face
the orator mas been forced 10 go in pur-
suit. In consequence he is now 10 be found
IN the thiekest of the crowd in front of
the bulletins, with hrazen throat and
leather lungs, a veritable arsenal Of argu-
msn;. Nor is he a solitary specimen of the
variety. In the sententious slang of the
street. there are Others.
1t is a strange fact, which TO one who
observes the crowd long fails to notice. that
there is rarely a battle royal between two
OF these self-eonstituted oracles OF politics
and every kindred subject. Each seems to
have thorough respec. for the others
ability In the line of verbal assault and
battery, and they rarely II ever give the
crowd the zest of battle of giants in that
line. Ii Is generally some inoffensive cit
iZen who ventures to dissent in an under
tone from some particularly rab!d gener-
ahzation of the orator who Is overheard
and singled out 10 be silenced by verbal
bonn ba rdment.
Such an instance was noticed In the
crowd yesterday afternoon. An oratorical
heavyweight with FURNISHED bronze hair
and a glowing mustache which fairly
bristled for the fray. was jostling his way
through the crowd with ears wide open
for a hint of dispute. AS he neared the
curbstone he caught one. pretty good
natured old gentleman with snow-white
hair and a gray imperial had just re-
marked that Uncle Sam ought to hold the
Philippines.
"Hows that. partner" calculated he of
the tlefy hair, as he approached under
slow bell and cast the searchiight rays
from the big glass diamond in his blue
cravat full upon the old gentleman.
Why" stammered the old gentleman,
somewhat surprised at being brought TO
so unceremoniously by stranger, II was
just telling the gentlemen here that /
thought We ought To hold the Philippines"
''You think we ought to hold the Philip
pines, do you?" detained he of the blue
cravat. as Ne struck an attitude ard
brought his batteries 10 bear. I'D jest Ike
to have you tell me anu us feieis here
what We want to hold them Islands for.
VIII you ever get any or EN-, I'd ike 10
ask you?''
Why. 10. only as a citizen, certainly"
was the mild reply from the old gentle
man as he pictured himself the proud
r1a nf nf he III 90
gems of the Eastern seas.
"Oaly as a citizen. huh," gunted the
mouth under the br.stling snustache. And
what do you think you'd get as cltizen?'
why, I'd have my share in them just
like everybody"
You would. eh; you would. Now. Ia
like TO see us keep them their islands, too,
and divstie III, among U.s. Sell EN- and di-
vide the stuff, but do you think me and
you'd ever get any OF il? No, Stree: not
| II IL was only 80 apiece for US here. Who
would get il? Why. I'll tell you who would
get IL: the corporations would. Corpora
tons viii have them islands, and ia Amer
lean citizens will never have even a red
cent out of ems We might jes' as well let
Spain keep EN- instead OF going over there
among them yaer Malays and wastin'
our life's blood 10 save 'em for corpora
TORS
| The man with the blue tie stopped for
| a gasp Of breath after the broadside and
! maneuvered for a nearer position.
The lght OF combat was beginning 10
gleam IN the eye 81 the old gentleman,
who wore a Grand Army button. "Of
| course you won't get a penny out Of the
| Philippines. unless you work for IT, he
shouted az the man with the brstiing
mustache. ''Do you think YOU are going
| 10 have your share OF the islands brought
10 you on a silver platter by 4 niger.
i3t YJr. xttt far
hundred dollars apiece go over there and
make a lot more, You howl At them for
corporation and you've got the same
chance yourself Why don't you 20 over?"
What, ME ~ over. | can't get a bean.
How can a man have anything in this
country when a dozen men control every
thing. See that man Rockefeller"
Yes. there you go, roasting a man just
| because he has money. II You had been
| lucky enough 10 have located the ground
| that had all those OIL weiis en- IL, wouldn't
you have been just as rich? What are you
doing beef!ng about 1t when you ought 10
| be kicking yourself for a chump"
'-Um--well. just the same. those feliers
contrs TOO much. No man can make
| s5aeoos1 a year and not seal T. I'm
wilin' 10 allow man all he can earn
| hut there ANT no man can earn as much
- jhgm piutoCrats make"
Go on. you're sore because you're not
making as much" was the good -humored
response Of he old gentleman. as he
| jostied h-s way ont Of he crowd Just In
| time 70 hear the discounted orator ohal-
lenge him u a debate or the question Of
| The a3visa5i..ty ~ applying the single
tax IN the Philippines
The gauntlet was quickly picked ed by
an eager eyed !.'tle man who had been an
interested listener. and soon another Ell
| gaEement Has IN progress
X ia not an uncommon thing for ad-
| herents Of the champions engaged In the
| main contest - pair If for font debates
az the same time and often a half-doz.r
knots Of 4etaters car b seen In the erapa
], one TINE.