The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-14
Jerry Simpson VIII Probably
Run Again
For Congress in 1900 - Gives
Reasons For Defeat.
NO ISSUES CHANGED.
Says Republican Party Still
Represents Corporate Wealth
And the People Are Still OPP
pressed and Will Agitate.


Congressman Jerry Simpson is defeat
ed but not discouraged and thinks he
may re-enter the congressional fight at
the end of Mr.. Longs term:
81 don't mean to say that I am in
the race for congress again. I simply
am not out of it. I am still in politics
to help the other fellows and maybe
may go in again on my own account
In a word, I am not a dead man. our
Republican friends seem to be anxious
to put me away, but refuse to be put
away"
How do you account for your de-
feat?''
"Oh, in my case the tail went with the
hide There was no chance for any OF
US. I am only surprised that Ridgley
pulled through. read my own fate IN
a telegram from Lyman Naugle, in
which he informed me that my majority
in Sumner county was only 125. I knew
that if I had not done better than that
in Sumner 1 was whipped. 1t was the
same story all over the district-au over
the state-Our people stayed at nome
and the Republicans won by default
Let US go back a bit to find the
cause. Last spring in the house when
the Democrats were crOwding the war
upon the Republicans held aloof from
It, L saw that 1t would open up WIN
ming campaign for the Republican party
this fail. I went to Bailey, who led on
the Democratic side, and said to him:
If you force them they will do it and
play that card in the campaign They
cared nothing for Cuba, but they saw
their chance and they swarmed to the
White House; pleading with Mckinley
for war. Finally war came and the Re
pubIcans made their campaign on it. In
the main, I attribute our defeat to the
Republicans being in power.
Another factor to hurt US was the
state a
weakness. We hadn't places enough to
go around. The POpulistS felt indiffer-
ent and were off on account of the war
Ihey felt that the president ought to be
sustained and they stayed at home
rather than vote the Republican ticket.
Il don't think Governor Leedy's ap-
pOintments cut any figure in the cam
paign, and heard little of the WetmOre
letter. That was sprung so late that the
people looked upon it as a campaign
story. While Leedy made some mis-
takes, think in the main his appoint
ments were wise. 1t is natural to pick
the wrong man sometimes in a new
party as ours is. The great mass of US
are unknown to one another. In state
like Kansas, where everybody thinks he
is fitted for Office, We must get some
bad men. Probably so per cent of the
men of Kansas think they are cut out
for Office.
I'VE are race of politicians in Kan
Sas- don't say that in criticism or con-
tempt On the contrary, I think it is a
government; every man is interested in
it, But Tuesdays defeat does not end
it; the battle for the rights of the peo-
pie is to be fought just the same. The
Republican party still represents cen
traliZed power, corporate control; in a
word, organized wealth.
The reform forces represent that
class of people who are proved upon by
organized wealth. In 1900 there must be
a fusion of the elements opposed to the
Republican party I don't think party
lines were broken by Tuesdays defeat.
There may be a little panic now, but
the lines will be reformed under the
same banners. The Democratic party
will not absorb the POpulist. It is neces-
sary to have the two organizations be-
cause people have political prejudices.
Many POpuliStS are recently from the
Republican party, and the old virus still
is in their breasts, and while they will
vote against the Republican party,
many viii not vote a Democratic ticket.
Free silver will be one of the planks
of 1900; that is to say, there will be a
plank containing what free silver i'm
plies, the financial question. The same
conditions that brought it uD before
will bring it up in 1900 and keep it up
until the conditions are changed. I be-
lieVe Bryan viii be the nominee in 1900
We will have more need than ever of a
man of Bryan's mold. No man that I
know of can unite the opposition to the
Republican party so sOlidly as Bryan.
In 1900 Kansas will go fusion bigger
than it did in 1896.
THE Republicans are welcome to
this victory in Kansas. OF course we
wanted to win, but it will be no bed of
roses for them. Stanley will be handled
by the politicians, that goes without
evidence The canvass the man made
is evidence enough. He is weak He
Wobbles. Look how he played between
prohibition and home rule He will be
afraid OF the politicians and they will
run him. But if by some chance he sets
his face against them, then a monument
ought to be built to him.
AS to myself, I am coming back TO
the farm next March and help Mrs
Simpson run it. She has had all the load
to carry. Now I Will relieve her of if
I will attend to my own business and
let the public's business go. For tven-
ty years have spent one-thfrd of nv
time trying to better the conditions Of
the people and neglecting my own af-
fairs. Not that I am out of the fight
for I am not. If I can be of service in
1900 I am ready. In the meantime, for
a year, we must be patient. The reac-
tiOn will come. have not quit
Whether in congress or out of it, I
am just beginning to fight. The old
guard dies, but it never surrenders.
W ait a year until the smoke of this bat
tie clears away. The people will cry
out to be saved again"