The sun., 1905-08-20
STORIES or JERRY sIMPsoN.
Popuiist VINO Was Tom Reed's Friend
Pleased to Read His Own Obituaries.

fOpuuet VINO was Tom hoeuS Eueuo
Pleased to Read His Own Obituaries.
A political and personal friend Of Jerry
Simpson, says the Washington Slar, has
received this message from the ex.Reprs-
sentative, III in New Mexico: what pleas
ure It Ia to read your own obituaries, pro-
vided the papers speak we'll Of you.'
Perhaps the last town In the State VS.
ited by Jerry Simpson before his illness
was Chanute. He mot Hugh Farrelly and
others who had been with him In the old
Populist campaigns on the depot PLATFORM
and he went from there to New Mexico.
But he Is not dead yet Thin and ema-
oiated he was that day; be talked to the
correspondent Of the decline and fall OF the
populist party In Kansas and tho nation
Still the keen blade Of his intellect was not
dulled nor did the adversities Of the last
few years show on his sun Drowned face.
Now, in a Kind Of ante-mortem spirit,
they are telling stories Of Jerry In the days
when he was "all there Il to IT, They are
telling Of a brilliant career ruined by a
jest, Of man who had the friendship Of
Tom Reed to an extent enjoyed by few
men Of Reeds own party.
"Will you tell me, said Reed in bis drawl
to Simpson one day, why you are Popu-
list?'
"For the same reason said Simpson,
that you are Republican A majority Of
the people Of our respective districts are OF
our way Of thinking
From that time forward Reed was the
stanch friend OF Simpson. There is an
other story Of Simpson which Ia going the
rounds. 1t demonstrates further bow he
stood with Reed, and also where his heart
was upon OCCASION
Simpson wanted private pension bill
passed. Therefore he had been opposing
pension legislation. This particular bill
did not have favorable report, but he
went to the Speaker, Mr.. Reed, about it
and told him the bill affected the fortunes
why" said Reed, 4do you want this bill
passed when you have been opposing pen
sion legislation during this session, es-
pecially such bill as this, which comes in
without favorable report?", .
this BILL" replied Jerry. "The first one is
that the woman needs the money have
forgotten the other twenty-nine.'
Jerry got recognition and the bill passed.
1t was on this last visit to Chanute that
Populist party being dead he said, and
smiled, when we have converted Roose-
welt and Taftl II Roosevelt had made
| the speeches he is making now four years
ago he could not have been elected con.
Long Island. They are all coming our
way. They do not call themselves Popuu-
lists, but rose BY any other name smells
as sweet. And III bet all the money in
New Mexico that Il there had been a
there ought to be, the will Of the people
expressed in the State refinery law would
| have stuck.
Talking about New Mexico. did you
know that came within one vote OF bein
the future State? Well, it happened, and the
fellow who voted against me had Mexican
blood in his veins. He apologized after
ward and said II he had seen me before he
cast his vote that l would be in Washin gton
now instead Of organizing excursions for
a land syndicate. That shows that when
a mans luck gets started the wrong way
nothing will stop It.
Now, il that man with Mexican blood
had voted for me I would have had an
opportunity TO ofticiate at the SECOND com
Ing OF the Populist party. because u is
progress Of Populist principles than you
| can stop the periodical visits OF the grass
hoppers or the locusts. They have called
the Populist party the hard times party,
ana that IL lusV "HaI ~ 70 AoVpic Wv NJ
YOU have to look Wall Street in the face
and haven't got the mohey to pay that
you need legislation. No man ever asks
| Tor an Endorsement on his note until he
| hasn't got the money to run his business;
that is what the Populist party is. 1t is
an Endorsement upon the note OF all the
people of the United States. Now, don't
laugh. Wait few years. perhaps not 80
long. and then watch us come to the 'front.'
| And during the same talk, half humorous,
half regretful, half argumentative, he said:
The country is not going to rem remain always
be case OF the very rich and the very poor.
The farmer going to town TO stop at me-
dium class hotel cannot find 1t any longer
He has to 20 either to the marble palaces
or to the cheap lodging houses.
we are all going to be capitalists or
| poems. and as I have never experienced
the joys of being the first, ! expect lshall
land in the latter class.
~The old party which gave Kansas such
a reputation as she has not enjoyed since
the days Of John Brown has gone to pieces,
he said later on. Look at Mary Ellen
Lease and then, wipe your. eyes. Think
hotel! That is all convincing evidence
she Ia no longer q Populist, because in the
old days no respectable Populist would be
| caught with that amount of money any
| where close to his residence. Harris is
| president OF some cattlemen's association.
! Little is prosperous and back to his old
associates. Hugh Farrelly and myself are
the only two left. Even Farrelly Is not
! faithful, because when went TO New Mexico
l left my principles in his keeping and he
has let Hoch and the rest of the Republican
| ~ nit Npw I IN