The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1905-11-02

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NM in New MEXICO
where he was en-
gagged In the promotion Of irrigation
schemes. Six months ago Chicago
specialist pronounced his case hope
less and for ten days prior to MI
death life had been sustained onl!
through the power Of rugged Will.
Jeremiah Socrates Simpson was the
name presented him by his parents II
New Brunswick, where he was borr
March 81, 1912. But to those who
came in contact with him In the days
of his political fame he was known
and will be remembered as plain
Jerry" while the great masses who
form their conception Of men in pup
lie life at long range-who Judge
characters by the idiosyncrasies that
are exploited by the oddities and cpl
sodes Of career that attract "hu'
man interest" rather than by the
basic elements that go to make up
the real man-knew him only as
"Sockless Jerry"
One of his first efforts, after he had
become we'll enough acquainted with
the ways of Congress to address the
chair, was to offer ocular as well as
oracular evidence that the sockless
story was myth He did 1t so enter
tainingly, albeit without effect on the
public that he at once was placed on
che list of representatives in the
House who were worth listening to.
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Politically Jerry Simpson was a
product of the Populist uprising that
began in the West in 1890. Previous
to his election to congress in 1890
Jerry had been Republican and a
Greenbacker In private life he was
at that time farmer.
; God Almighty sent our family hard
knocks in bunches," said Mr.. Simpson
one time in speaking of the poverty
of his youth.
{ AT the age of IA Jerry started in as
"a cabin boy on the lakes, and for
atwenty-three years he followed the
life of sailor, on boats plying be-
tween Chicago and the upper ports,
with brief intermission following
his enlistment in the army in 1861,
-swhere he served only a few months
| After some years as sailor Capt
Simpson thought life on land was
preferable to a rowing career on the
waves. He had purchased farm In
Indiana with his savings, but after
running that for brief time he NOV
ed to Kansas, where he pre-empted
100 acres, buying in addition an en-
tire section in Barber county. In the
late sos he gave up farming owing
to the i'll health of his wife and NOV
ed to Medicine Lodge, where they,
elected him marshall, and where he
distinguished himself by stopping abb
solutely the sale of liquor.
/ At Medicine Lodge opportunity
found him when the Kansas Farmers
Alliance sprang up as the forerunner
OF the Populist movement. The farm
ers of the seventh district concen-
trated on him for congressman and
the allurements of official life was
rendered to him on a silver platter.
The "sockless" episode occurred at
Sterling, while Jerry was making his
campaign. He was making a speech
to composite audience, largely made
10 of alliance men, some Republicans
and a few Democrats Jerry's per-
sonal appearance was far from what
the appellation Of "sockless states
man would naturally suggest to one
unacquainted with the man. Although
uncouth in speech, he looked more
like agprosperous country banker than
a rough, weather-beaten, mortgage
plastered Old farmer. So when he
touched up the corpulent aristocrats
the incongruity Of this well-dressed
man calling them silk stockings"
mortgage sharks and the like SEEM
ed altogether preposterous. A horny
handed old farmer who hadn't Joined
the alliance at this juncture called
out: Pears to me, jerry, that you
uns wear silk stoclin's, too
Quick az a wink Terry pulled I'D his