The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-05
FARMER AUDIENCE
Greets Col. Bryan at Shepherds
town, w. Va.

Shepherdstown, w. Va, Sept. 5.-Mr.
Bryan began the second day of his pres
ent tour at this point His first speech
vas made at Morgan's Grove, in the
suburbs of the town, where he began to
speak few minutes past 10 o'clock A
fair was in progress and the attend
ance was immense. people having come
from West Virginia, Maryland and
Pennsylvania to hear Mr.. Bryan speak,
while they attend the fair. Mr.. Bryan
spent the night on his special tram
Previous to going to the grounds he
and his entire party took breakfast at
the historic country place known as
Belvue. This place faces the Antietam
battlefield across the Potomac. Here
Mr.. Bryan met many of the local lead
ers and spent two hours most enjoy
ably before beginning the more serious
business of the day.
A letter was read at the meeting from
w. L. Wilson, ex-poStmaster general,
strongly endorsing Mr.. Bryan and say
ing that only sickness prevented his at
tendance upon the meeting. Col. R. r
Chew presided and introduced Senator
George r. Vending, VINO after read
ing Mr.. Wilson's letter in turn intro
duced Mr.. Bryan. He laid stress upon
the fact that Mr.. Wilson had been
member of Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet In
his letter Mr.. Wilson emphasized his OPP
position to a colonial or lmper1anst1c
policy, saying that he had early taken
this position. Mr.. Vending, who had
opposed Mr.. Bryan in 1896, made a brief
speech, himself vigorously attacking
the Republicans and pledging to Mr..
Bryan his support this campaign. He
said he had known Mr.. Bryan from MS
boyhood, and that all the money in
Wall street could not buy him.
Mr. Bryan began his speech by re-
ferring to Mr.. Wilson in most conpH-
mentary terms. He had known Mr..
Wilson in congress, and he had never
believed that so kind and loving a man
could endorse war of conquest.
Mr.. Bryan expressed his pleasure at be-
ing able to address an assemblage OF
farmers. He wanted to know haW any
easy to understand how the head of a
trust army contractor could be
member of that party, he said, but as Tor
the farmers they were not trying to get
their hands into other pockets but to keep
other hands out of their pockets. How
the farmer was not sharer in that pros
perity. Here Mr.. Bryan related the cur
rent reports concerning his oat crop,
claiming that the exaggeration in this
matter was a speciment of fallacious re-
ports in the east concerning the prosper
Gus condition of the agricultural classes.
They always exaggerate the posslb1l1-
ties of a good CROP, he said. and never
take into consideration the likelihood of
a bad crop. And, after the farmer has
taken these chances, he passes between
the bulls and bears of Wall street The
when he is through with them he has to
meet the gold bug. A good crop Is made
party he continued, 'swhile a bad one
Is taken as a punishment for voting the
Democratic ticket The claim is almost
the rainfall but this can not be true, for
If it were there would be monopoly on
rain; the price would go up"
Mr.. Bryan then took up the discussion of
the financial question, showing that more
money was especially necessary to the