Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-02-16
BRYAN AND SAM Jones.

A st. Louis Republic special from
Hopkinsville, KY, says: The Rev
Sam p. Jones, who has been conduct
Ing a revival here, has succeeded in
stirring up regular hornets nest by
an attack on W. j. Bryan. Hopkins
vile is a free silver centre, and while
the people were already smarting last
week under Jones sharp criticisms of
the ways of the town. be capped the
climax by criticislng Mr.. Bryan. He
told them that prosperity had return
ed, and then said:
81 like Bryan. He is good man,
honest and talented, and one OF the
most genial gentlemen | ever knew.
But did not vote for him. Bryan is
nearly 40 years old and pays only IS
taxes. Now, a fellow who can't man.
age his own affairs auy better than
shat hast any business fooling with the
finances OF the nation"
Mayor James M. Lang, of Paducah,
who wired to Lincoln, Neb., for the
facts, received the following telegram
giving a statement of Mr.. Bryan s
taxes for the three years, as furnished
by the sheriff of his county:
Lincoln. Neb., Jan. Is.
u u dHGS M. LdlS, L duuCdl, n.y..
Year '96. $135: '97, sal SO, '9S, 1922
rs. None outside that l know of.
JOHN J. THOMPSON.
The telegram was handed to Nh.
Jones Sunday morning with the re
quest that he correct his misleading
statement. Evangelist Jones to night
gave out signed statement embody-
ing his correction, but he took occa-
sion to give Mr.. Bryan another shot.
Evangelist Jones asserted that he was
told in Lincoln, Neb., that Bryan paid
out So taxes in 1895.
GAS he paid nearly three times as
much in 1898 as in 1896 he is surely
prospecting under the gold standard.
And this is his retraction. Jones
closed his meetings here that night.
The Rev. Sam. Jones is shrewd.
Few smarter men are usually met, and
it is remarkable that he got his leg in
such trap, or made such break as
to talk gold in free silver town like
Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He must
have been spelling for something to at
tack. Since Henry Watterson let go
the hot end of the gold poker, and the
Hon. VIM. Lindsay, on account Of his
gold proclivities, has arranged for a
return to private life, Mr.. Jones should
have caught the inspiration of the
times in Kentucky and held his breath |
on Bryan and silver. But his worst |
break was that he accused Mr.. Bryan |
of not being sufficient Taxpayer to
suit Mr.. Jones as President. Tax |
paying has not been essential hereto |
fore, but in these days when money
counts for everything, tax paying
doubtless is necessary. The religion
which the Rev. Samuel P. Jones
is said to uphold and preach despises
money. A rich man can 10 more en-
ter into the kingdom of heaven than a
camel can go through the eye of a
needle Dives is known to have missed
heavens portal altogether, whilst Lac
arus, the beggar, whose sores the dogs
licked, when dead went to Abraham S
bosom. When, however, Mr.. Jones /
wished to say something derogatory
of Mr.. Bryan, the most he could think
of was that he was poor, that he only
paid So taxes, and thus announced
that poor men ought never to be Pres
idents. If they cannot show worldly +;
goods he has no use for them. It is
stated that Mr.. Lincoln paid little {
taxes. but in those DAYS nobody ,
thought of asking how much. Daniel |
W ebster was thought to be sufficiently e
,reat by many to become President. ! b
md he was hopeless bankrupt. D
These are strange times when money S
the first requisite for everything, C
ven to the choosing of President. S,
overly is stencil with Mr.. Jones. II