The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-09-19
Mr.. Billybynum Retires.

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1t is authoritatiVely announced from
Chicago that Mr.. Billbynum, the author,
editor, compiler and general manager OF
the justly celebrated Billbynum party,
has retired from his exalted position as
chairman of the executive committee or
the National Gold Party-GOd save the
mark
Our readers Will remember that prior
to 1896, Mr.. Billbynum made h1msef
conspicuous by bowling for free silver.
He didn't care whether it was coined or
not so long as it was free. and he Whoop
ed it up on that line until the Cleveland
rainbow appeared in the political SKY.
This rainbow was a very praItlcal al
fair. 1t was made in tin shop not far
from Wall street, and painted gorgeous
ly without regard to cost 1t was thlng
YOU could handle; Mr.. Billbynum han
died it. One end rested in Wall street
and the other in the treasury; by those
signs Mr.. Billbynum knew that the old
nursery tale had been verified; there
were bags of gold at both ends of the
Cleveland rainbow.
Yes, bags of gold. Mr.. Billbynum
placed an index finger on his marble
brow and p0ndered. Gold. Could there
be anything in it for Bill? He went to
the proper parties with this inquiry
shining in his lustr0us eyes, faltering on
his trembling and eager lips, and writ
ten in his itching palms. We all know
what the answer was. Mr.. Hanna was
blandness itself; no doubt he was gen
erous, too at any rate, in the tWinkling
of an eye, Mr. Billbynum changed from
a bowling free silyerite into ranting
champion of gold-into a violent har-
ranguer for Sound" money.
He organized the justly celebrated
billbynum party, nominated Granny
Palmer and Uncle Bolivar Buclner, and
drew his salary every chance he got.
When the campaign was over, it was
thought the the result would put a def
mite end to the billbynum party, but,
for good and sufficient reasons, this was
not to be- Mr.. BiiToypum looked into
the treasury and found there thirty-odd
thousand dollars in extremely sound
money. lie consulted with himself,
and probably with Josiah Patterson, and
decided to keep up the campaign. He
carried his headquarters to New York,
put Josiah on the road as lecturer, and
proceeded to eat up S., $50 of the thirty
odd thousand dollars. Other expenses
were incurred and, in view of the empty
treasury, Mr.. Bnlbynum has handed in
his resignation at Chicago.
This resignation was received with
surprise by the other leaders of the bill
bynum party, and one of them suggested
that he be investigated. This idea of
investigating a sound money saint is
enough to horrify the whole country. At
the worst, Mr.. Bilbynum is only guilty
of a desire to make living in the east
est way possible. Why should he be IN
vestieated? All the sound money lead
ers are in politics for the dough" the
"scads" the "stuff;" why should Bill be
selected to make an example Of?
The funny part about it is that when
Bill was going about the country earn
ing his wages as a lecturer for the Han
ma syndicate, he deeply resented the
statement that he was a Sound money"
man for The money there was in it for
him. In Atlanta, he denounced The Con-
stitution for suggesting such thing.
Josiah Patterson was a sound money
lecturer for the same reason; but moth
ing more clearly exposes the whole sor-
did and shallow scheme than the resig
is no money in the treasury.
Let us be glad that obscurity is about
to pull the cover over these so-called
leaders.