Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-07-14
TON LAWSON'S
KANS. ADDRESS.
Speaks To An Immense Crowd
on Frenzied Finance.
OUTLINES HIS REMEDY.


Forest Park, Ottawa, Kas., July 8.
Thomas w. Lawson of Boston was
greeted in the heartiest kind Of fash
ion this afternoon, whens II. w.
Chassee, president of the. Ottawa
Chautauqua, introduced him to an
audience which flled::ss thel huge
tabernacle and extended beyond its
open sides further than the most ro-
bust speaker could j. hope to make
himself heard. Specialtrains brought
thousands to hear and see the assal-
ant of the Standard trust. A par
ticularly enthusiastic delegation came
from the Kansas oil fields. .. Lawson
arrived at noon and was invited to
dinner at the residence of c. H.
Estabook, president of the First
National bank.
Lawson's speech was detailed ex-
pose of the operations, methods and
results of the thing he calls the
system" couched in the VIGOROUS
English for which he is noted. The
remedy he proposes for the American
people to divorce themselves from the
System" by selling every share of
stock and every bond they hold
l'back to the frenzied fnanciers at
present inflated prices"
Lawson began by giving defini-
ton of robbery and dwelt at some
length on the spirit of our forefathers
as manifested in 1776 as the result of
British oppression.
"Between these myrmidons of
English royalty and the new lords of
dollardom the sole difference is
the condition of oppression. The
system" of today is holder, fercer
and more grasping than that our an
cestors drove across the ocean in
1776; it has possessed itself of the
resources of our rich country and
levies tribute on our coal and iron,
our meat and clothes, on our comings
and goings, on our earnings and
savings. 1t has tax on every motion
and function of our lives.
''But, while there is little difference
between these robbers of our day and
the freebooters who attempted to in
terfere with our ancestors liberties,
there is a tremendous divergence in
pluck and spirit between the men of
yesterday and their descendants-the
difference between royalty bred bulls
and tame goats. Our forefathers threw
of the yoke as quick as they felt the
pressure; we cringe in terror at the
commandments way for this
majesty, the millionaire"
81 would it were my part in this
great gathering of yours to shower
honeYed words on your greatness, to
Iaud your achievements, your splendid
prosperity, your glorious indepen-
dence. 1 would l could throw off my
hat with you and shout ALPS well;
peace on earth and good will to men,
It is human nature to go with the
crowd and the part of the raven pes
simist to moan and groan in the midst
of festivity. Naturally l am an OPP
timist, but l would be an arrant
coward, false to every principle of
conscience and character, if l failed
at This juncture to expose to you the
weaknesses that beset you and reveal
the wrongs that are being done you.
"I have come to Kansas on
simple mission to point out to you
that the American people are being
robbed, by whom, how, and what the
consequences will be if the robbery Is
not staid and an example made of
the robbers. I know whereof l
speak, and I know my audience.
Despite its present supinneness 1
know that when the American peoPl
digest the brutal facts that I have to
lay before them, and realize that
they are absolutely in the power of a