The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-08-08
From Washington ID. c., Post.

From Washington ID. c., Post
Many a heart the wide country ov-
err beats with sympathy for Jerry
Simpson, numbering the last OF his
days in a beautiful valley of New
Mexico. poor Sockless Jerry will
be the almost universal exclamation.
Although not a sockless statesman,
the name has stuck to him, and will
stick to him long after his eyes have
looked for the last time upon the
beautiful orchards in the vicinity of
Roswell, his adopted home. A Popu-
list, he rode the frenzied wave in
kansas to political honors and molu
ments. But there was a brainy head
on those shoulders. Republicans n
Democrats, the while they hurled cpl
thets and assailed his doctrines, quick
ly learned to respect his ability n
to love him for his manly qualities.
Politically, he subsidized when Popu-
lism subsidized. but there is not a lead
er in the House for the last thirteen
years who has not reason to remem
Der him..
Jerry Simpson was n of the
and established a substantial reputa-
ton. One other came from Kansas
ex-senator Harris. The third was aX-
Senator Allen, of the adjoining state
of Nebraska. All the other Populists
once in congress will be recalled ten
years from now only by those who
happen to pore over ancient copies Of
the Congressional Record.
Born of New Brunswick Stock.
Simpson came from sturdy stock
in the Province of New Brunswick.
Yankees across the line in Maine call
them blue noses" but the two races
have many traits in common. He
began to wander early in life, drifted
to the States with his parents, who, i'll
1913, when their son was but six years
old settled in Oneida County. N. Y.
Still pressing onward it was but a
step to the Great Lakes, where at IA
Jerry Simpson became a sailor. He
followed the life for twenty-three
years, n during his areer had
charge of many large ships on the
lakes. He was in the United States
Navy at n time, and during the civil
war served a while in the Illinois in
fantry. By 1878 he had drifted still
farther west, to Medicine Lodge, Kan.
where he was having some success
as a farmer and stock raiser.
AS the sockless Socrates of Medi-
cine Lodge he first came into political
prominence. 1t is said that he himself
is responsible for the name, during
n of his characteristic harangues
exclaiming: Look at us poor people,
who do not ever have socks to wear
AS a member Of the House his forte
was witty speeches. He had been do
ing it before he came to the House,
n so he was in his element with the
larger audience that the House afford
ed him.. He speedily demonstrated
his ability to cope with the best de-
baters. 1t mattered o whether a
Democrat or a Republican incurred
his disapproval. Along in May 1892,
while he was still a very new member
Mr.. Simpson threw himself across the
pathway of Henry c.. Snodgrass, of
Tennessee.
A Short Attack of Patriotism.
Snodgrass was inveighing against
lavish appropriations for pensions.
Some amendment to curtail those ap
preparations was under discussion.
Mr.. Snodgrass favored it. After the
Kansan, who had thousands of soldier
constituents, had ELECTED the informa-
ton that Mr.. Snodgrass voted for an
appropriation of $3.50. 900 for the Chick
amauga Park, he propounded the fol-
lowing inquiry:
Has the gentleman relapsed from
that short attack of Patriotism"
This caused the laugh on the Ten
n-esseean. who turned ferociously up.
on his q~uestioner. When / came
here" said Mr.. Snodgrass, Il expect
ed to find an old sturdy, sockless fell
low, who would not even purchase
socks under this protective tariff; but
to my utter establishment when ! got