The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-01
Over Four Thousand People As
semble There to See Him.
Little Enthusiasm Manifested when
He Tried to Peruuade Prosperous
Farmers of the states Garden
That They Were Really Suffering
From Bad Lesisiation--coi. James
Hamilton Lewis Fails to Put I'm an
Appearance, TO the Disappoint-
ment Of the Crowd, Who Hoped
for an Opportunity Of Compa rison

Special Dispatch to the t-Intelligencer.
NORTH YAKIMA. March 1.--For some
thing over two hours today. gathering OF
nearly 1000 people sat under broiling
sun to hear Candidate Bryans argument
on the trust, money and expansion issues.
In point of enthusiasm the meeting was
almost complete failure, and tonight sew
eral of those who were with Mr.. Bryan in
his special car admit that the results OBJ
tained from the North Yakima meeting
were unsatisfactory. Mr.. Bryan was very
hoarse at the end his speech. and this
evening at the banquet was scarcely able
TO talk above whisper. It is believed.
however, that the rest he will obtain to-
morrow will enable him to be in good form
when he reaches the Sound. on Monday.
Col. Lewis Fails to Appear.
The failure of Col Lewis to put in an
appearance today was another discourage
ing feature OF this part of Mr.. Bryan's
trip. 1t was understood that Col. Lewis
would join the Bryan expedition at Spo-
kane. No word has been received from
him during the past twenty-four hours.
and his absence Is unexplained Col. Bry-
an In many ways varied his arguments to-
day. The majority of his auditors were
farmers who had driven into the city from
their farms In order to hear the APOSTLE
of free coinage and anti-expansion.
Audience Lacks Enthssiasm.
For an hour Col. Bryan sndsavored to-
make his auditors believe that the cohdi-
ton Of the average farmer IL deplorable
and without hope OF betterment except
through the Democratic party. The state
ments aroused attle or no enthusiasm. 1t
was not that Mr. Bryan is not eloquent.
for even by those who do not agree with
him 1t must be conceded that he is an elo-
quent man and n magnetic speaker. At
any rate, the result was the same. This
fact may be accounted for because OF the
further fact that the men to whom Col
Bryan addressed his arguments are we'll
to-do. prosperous and progressive.
Farmers Are Too Prosperous.
From hill within five minutes drive OF
North Yakima one can see beautiful
homes and highly cultivated farms rang
ing from i've to twenty acres. Here In
Yakima county the average farmer makes
more than a good living in one-sixth or
less of the land required In an Eastern
state to produce the sustenance for an
average family. These farms are all In a
high state of cultivation. Their owners
are practically free from debt, we'll
dressed, abreast OF the times and con-
tented.
Same Old Arguments.
Mr.. Bryan said at the beginning OF his
argument: THE bankers say that the
farmers know nothing about finance be-
cause they handle less than Si,0so per year.
II the bankers made the laws the farmers
would handle probably less money. The
average farmer. after paying himself
merely wages and a reasonable interest on
his money invested. has little or nothing
left at the end OF TIE year. No genuine
reform ever arises from the financial
classes, and no real reform can be brought
about through them Whenever the farm
ers meet together TO discuss their rights
and interests the fellows who live on of
legislation scoid and fret because the
farmer IL negiecting his business"
At this part OF his speech he invoked
the doctrines OF Jefferson. quoting equal
rights for all and special privileges for
none"
He said divcrting a moment: II think
there must be some Republicans here"
CvoIce; Yes. there's ten TO one")
III viii be sixteen 20 one on the other
side" replied Col Bryan. but the laugh
was on the speaker.
suGerinEs of the Farmers.
There iS continual contest between
the taxpayer and tn. tax eaters The
more the tax eater stays about the seat cg
government the more the taxpayer has to
stay at home 10 earn money 10 pay taxes
with. The farmer suffers from the fact
that he cannot hide his crops. Ave stock.
etc. from the tax satherer. whereas the
rich man can Secrete his bonds. stocks
and notes Thus the farmer has to pay
taxes which should be borne BY the rich
mat There is more money stolen by bad
laws than is stolen In violation OF good
Laws The Republican party Is rnAkinz
this injustice between men greater be-
cause & Is under the control OF corporate
wealth"
Talks on Finance.
The speaker turned 10 tbs financial qaes-
,iea here he declared that gold had
never made a aght In the open nor wen
victory In the daylight The Republican
marty. he said. would aem0nctlze silver dol.
lars just as soon as it dare do H. lie
declared that the farmers suffered danger
OF having the hanks centred the issuance OF
the paper money.
Mr.. Bryan did not fail TO devoSe
cooa share o. his speech 10 a discussion
~ the Philippine question.
His uttsrances We're as extf3Vagans and
i,,t.n,psrate as at Walla Walia.
Continued on Page Two.