The Advocate and news., 1898-09-14
NAs1ASaMN-.1Nr2
Cause of POpullsm.


Chicago Record,
Let us suppose that the farm hand gets
to the field at o'clock in the morning.
He follows the self-binder around the
field and stumbles through the rough
stubble and begins to bake under the
morning sun and complain because the
tall hedge cuts off the only breath of air,
and finally when he has that empty
feeling and approaches a sheaf Of oats
in slow, humped-over and weary man
ner. and takes a drink Of water every
fourth shock, he yells to the man on the
self-binder and wants to know what
time 1t is.
The man on the machine consults q
silver watch which Is fastened by a
leather strap to a cast-iron button on his
never-rip Overalls and then he shouts
back well, it's purity late-it's twenty
five minutes past eight"
Could anything be more cheering?
The sturdy yeoman knows that in three
and One-half hours he will stop long
enough to get something to eat. It
seems to him that he has spent a lifetime
In the field already that morning. Yet
tion that in Chicago a great many peo-
pic are just getting ready to turn over
the last time preparatory to crawling
out and having nice cantaloupe stuffed
with cracked ice.
Also the husbandman, with the wet
spots on his hickory shirt and the
rough-shod crickets playing golf up and
down his limbs, is always happier when
he remembers that over at the county
seat the Auditor and the Superintendent
OF Public Instruction have just finished
their first game of checkers after break
fast, and are now on their way over to
Brownells drug store to get two glasses
Of ice-cream soda.
II at this particular stage OF the har-
vest hands reflections sewing machine
agent drives past under q white UNI
brella and smoking cigar, that settles
| it! The harvest hand becomes a Popu-
list.
My theory is that the thlrd-party rebellion
did not result from the gold standard or the
spread OF mOOOpOlIes, or any other Of the
| causes commonly assigned. 1t was o natural
and spontaneous kick from men who had to
work fourteen hours day and remember all
the time that good many OF their country
men were lying in hammOclks and ordering
| lemonade every little while.
why, In Chicago have met fat and benevO-
lent gentlemen, who sit by electric fans and
dictate correspondence, who express horror
and modification because the farming ele-
ment In our country seemed to dislike and
dlstrust the classes which enjoy more leisure
and como In for a few luxurles. These gem
tIemen have advanced tho theory that the
farmers prejudice Ia due to ignorance. The
farmer does not read the proper books, and
me Is too much "lsOlated," and there are
other reasons.
Give me your attention, oh, you with
the electric fan chasing the cool breezes
along your spine, and will make for
you a picture.
Imagine large red barn with a shin
gled roof blistering in the sun. Under
the sloping roof is a long, dark NOW,
stuffed with Ted-hot hay. At one end Of
the NOW there is a square hole into
which two men are stuflng hay. Cooped
inside is a gasplng man, wet with sweat
Not perspiratiOn-swea
The dust arises from the hay In chok-
ing clouds. II settles on his flesh, 1t
shifts within his garments. Every part
Of his body itches and stings. Not a
breath Of air comes to him through the
hole. He sees for a moment the square