The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-11-02
JERRY SIMPSON DEAD.
But he Lived to see his Ideas
Adopted by Six Million
American Voters.

EN-Congressman Jerry Simpson died
at Wichita, Kansas, Monday, from
aneurism OF the cortia. Six months ago
Mr.. Simpson consulted specialists in
Chicago, who pronounced his case hope
less, and about a month ago he came to
Wichita from Roswell, n. NJ, where he
had resided since leaving congress, and
entered a local hospital. For the last
ten days he held death OIL by sheer
force of will. The funeral was under
charge of the Masons.
Jerry Simpson, Familiarity dubbed
"Sockless jerry" was once the most
picturesque figure in congress. Laugh
ed at, sneered at, considered as huge
populistic joke perpetrated upon the
people of Kansas, he lived to see the
IDEAS that he then promulgated taken
up in a little less radical way by little
less radical men and made the greatest
issues of great political fights.
Way back in the sos and early COS
Simpson was telling the people that
corporations were getting too large,
were corrupting the republic, we're sap
ping the life blood and should be
curbed. Simpson two decades ago,
! urged government ownership or control
of railroads, suggested federal super
vision of life insurance companies, and
kept busy hurting shafts into the pack
ers' combinations and harvester monop-
olies. Simpson, in days when senators
were considered above reproach spoke
pointedly of senatorial graft. Simpson
before Bryan was know outside his
country, was talking of the crime OF
| 73, and advocating the issue which
drew 100000 votes for the Nebraskan
i'll presidential contest.
He was an early settler of Medicine
Lodge. He reached there in 1873 and
became stock raiser in Barber county
and helped convert the Virgin prairie
into what is now one of the richest
wheat sections in the country Thrice
defeated for congress he tried again
and the populist cyclone swept him int
office over Col. jim Hallowell of WITCH
ita, one Of the most popular republicans
in Kansas. Simpson was reelected
despite the opposition Of Chester |
Long, and finally was defeated by tn,
latter, who is now United States sena
tor. Simpson dropped out of publ,
life and went to the Pecos valley som,
years ago.
Born in New Brunswick in 1912
Simpson was taken by his parents t,
Oneida county, New York, and at 1.
became sailor Oh the great lakes. Fo,
% years he was sailor. He was com
mander of the barge J. H. Rutter O
Toledo, when on Oct. 81, 1873, it anchor
ed off Ludington leaking badly anc
foundered. The crew and cargo wer,
saved, but Simpson quit marine lii,
then and there.
An original abolitionist, Simpson cas-
his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. H,
was a republican until 1873, and thel
became greenbacker, and in tn,
course Of evolution a farmers allianc,
and peoples party man. Despite tn,
hardships of his youth he acquired con
siderable education, and his native wi
did the rest. When Simpson was frs
elected to congress his clothes ant
rustic appearance, backed up Wichita
pipe story that he did not wear socks
In Washington he became a bicycl,
tlend and donned the white vests
Prince Albert coats, patent leathe
shoes and stovepipe hats of his col
leagues. His change in attire helped
materially in his political downfall
Seventh district farmers thought Jerr,
was putting on too much style ant
voted for Chester Long, always sar
torial dream as rebuke.
Simpson was always one of "the plai1
peopul." His heart always went out t.
the poor man. He was always sincere
He never forgot a friend and never
failed to forgive an enemy.