Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-10-19
CHAPTER VII.
fnhie Crews Remarkable sneech

nation than v before, for the war
had extended u dominions, by Spain
ceding to us Porto Rico and the Philip
pine Islands. Also the Cubans had
been given their freedom. We also had
avenged the Maine! What a blessing
1t had been to those islands to exchange
Spanish rule for American!
Simon was glad we had been at war,
because, he said. it had made better
prices for farmers products.
He had never accumulated money
faster than since McKinley's election.
The reasons he gave for good times
were the scarcity of farmers products
and the late a Instead Of going
to the %poorhouse they enjoyed luxuries
in their w remodeled home.
Boonsville had just given Glen Har-
rington and the other soldier boys, just
returned from Cuba. a reception.
Vfnnie's term as Superintendent of
Schools was almost over and the Greys
wondered if the Populist convention
would renominate her. 1t seemed evil
dent that they would, for she had given
perfect satisfaction.
1t was time for the convention, and
Simon was once more a delegate. He
was as enthusiastic as ever, and eager
to know whether Winnie would be re
nominated or not.
Winnie herself was interested and de-
termined to attend the convention. 1t
had been whispered to her that she
would again receive the nomination,
and for this reason she wished to be
present. She had no desire to have
her name printed on another pOpulist
ticket.
Winnie viewedthe convention Of Popu-
list delegates with keen interest. 1t
seemed to her that they were lacking
in the old-time enthusiasm. Was it
possible that they, like herself, were
beginning to realize that Republican
times We're not so bad after all, and
We're not anxious for a change?
The chairman called the meeting to
order, and after the necessary intro
ductory business had been attended to.
they proceeded with the nomination of
the several candidates. Finally the
chairman announced that a nomina-
ton for County Superintendent was
in order.
"Will some make n nomination
for Superintendent the chairman
said.
A man from the Boonsville delega-
ton arose. 81 believe," he said, "tllat
1t is the will of this convention to give
our present Superintendent the nomi-
nation again. l make n motion that
we give Miss Winnie Grey the nomi-
nation for County Superintendent"
And then the crowd yelled.
The motion Don was seconded.
"Any else wish to make a nomi-
nation for this oftice?' said the chair
man; hut the crowd was silent.
"Then 1 suppose 1T is the will of this
convention to choose Miss Grey unani-
mously by reclamation. Will some M
kindly make a motion to that effect?''
Instantly Winnie had arisen in the
rear of the room and said in a clear
voice:
"Mr. Chairman"
"Miss Grey" said the chairman.
"The gentlemen of this convention
have been very kind to me. l thank
them very much, but l cannot accept
the nomination."
declaration was a surprise to
all. and was followed by a laugh.
"She's just gasin'," said one.
wants to be coaxed." said another.
"Nominate her anyway" said a third.
whats the reason you won't ac-
cept it?" said n fourth.
"Order!" shouted the chairman. hut
his voice seemed to be unheard.
To pacify them Winnie rose again.
Miss Grey" said the chairman.
"Mr. Chairman, the gentlemen of this
convention seem anxious to know the
reason why I will not accept the NOM
ination. May I have the privilege of
telling themy"
Ii chairman, seeing that everyone
was eager to hear what she wished to
say, gave her that privilege. vinnie's
remarkable speech was as follows:
ITO begin with. gentlemen, 1 have
lost all faith in the Populist party. 1t
has ceased to be n party of reform, IL
1T ever was ono. l do not wish to crit
icise the gentlemen of this convention,
but l mean the Populist party as a
whole. 1t is almost entirely composed
of fault-finders, men who are never
satisfied with anything. You know as
we'll as I do that we are having good.
times, yet how many men in the Popu.
list party are willing to acknowledge
it? II you find one. ten chances to
one he will say 1t is because of sup
ply and demand or the late war. or
something else; the Government has
nothing to do with 1t. Now. suppose
this is true. Just trace that same nan
back to a few short years ago. before
our last presidential election. He
would then have told you that supply
and demand had nothing to do with
the regulation of prices, and that moth
ing could bring good times with gold
for our standard money. You know as
well as l do how they told US that the
rich would get richer and the poor