The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-08

Mr.. Jerome was greeted with tremen-
dous applause. He said.
st have one great regret tonight
know that the third rail is loaded My
one supreme regret is that did not
bring my press agent with me. OF
course I knew that Lawson had been
raised up by God to raise -. I was
touched by the remarks by a previous
speaker about the charter member of
this club he met in New York 1 could
not help wondering whether he was
under bond. If he was not under bond
it would have been safer for him to
have come by the Grand Trunk than by
the ST. Louis Limited.
''I don't want to get into a very seri-
Gus strain. I told them at Ottawa to-
day that I had expected to talk on
Shakespeare until I found the Wiscon-
sin reformer had exhausted Shakespeare
as well as the audience. So I left it for
Lawson tomorrow.
There is serious side though you
may have your fingers crossed and not
be it. I have been fortunate enough
when I could get away, during the last
few years, to come to the west / am
free to say that I always go back a
better man than before. am of New
England stock and believe that sturdy
fiber makes men. But the days are
drifting from it. But there flowed out
from it stream of moral inspiration
and the west is taking it up and that is
the thing that encourages a man. I
don't care how many bouIevards Kan
sas City has or whether the Missouri
river overtlowS your 600 acre tracts.
81 do care that the moral inspiration
Of the men who landed on that rock
bound coast be carried out into broader
things. We think the west crude, per-
haps, and you think the east conven-
tional. but We mix with you as well
as you do with the east.
sFWhen a man from the east comes
west alive to good influences, he goes
back better man. I am no idle wor-
shipper, but you do try, out here, to
make yourselves realize your ideals"
Lawson Tells of His Mission.
In introducing Mr.. Lawson, Mr.. Reyn-
o1ds said Mr.. Lawson had exposed
DANGEROUS disease and told its cure. The
applause that greeted Mr.. Lawson last
ed several minutes.
my story is simple one. The wrongs
of the American people and the men
who committed them. And before tell
ing them I thank God I have a press
agent l am sorry l have not more of
them I came west to lay your story at
your feet If I were Mr.. Jerome with
his power to do things 1 would get up
here and say I came west without
press agent. The people have not cloth
ed me with the power they have you.
would rather be in your place for two
years than be president of the United
States or Mr.. Rockefeller with his 500
millions.
Il am not going to apologize for the
kernel of truth bring to the west No
one has more respect for your ability,
Mr.. Jerome, than 1 have, but l am not
going to apologize for what L am do
Gentlemen, 1 thank you for this
to tell you my story, the
wrongs of the American people, and
who have committed them You
know. know. Mr.. Jerome knows A
hos nacSad and NV kernel truth
has grown, grown little so that the
entire American people know that
what I said is but a part. l read, in
this mornings papers that Mr.. Je-
Equitable fight, and it looks as if he
would send it's officers to the pen1ten-
tiary It's a ten to one shot, but I'll
take the long end that he does.
Talks at jerome.
''I don't blame Mr.. Jerome for what
he said. I don't seek favor from any
man, for have won my spurs. That's
the penalty that any man who Is trying
to do what am trying to do has to
pay. ~,
Jerome might have given me some
thing of a 'send-off' on this the most
embarrassing, the most awful moment
of my life, the first time ever faced
a large crowd of people and tried to
tell my story.
paststhirty years, has been prosperous.
Our own and foreign statistics show it.
The large fortunes which have been
made show it; Rockefel1er's millions
and Carnegie's millions. What is pros
perity? 1t is when we strike a balance
and find a surplus over what we have
paid for necessities and 1uxuries.
They wondered where this great
surplus has gone. The statesmen said
if was this and that. But the people
nRnnla knew
there was but three ways this surplus
must be absorbed. 1t must be in the
banks. No; it is not there. 1t must
show in shorter hours of labor. No; 1t
luxurious living. No; it is not there
Then they looked around and saw Mr.
Rockefeller with his 500 millions.
They wondered how he got them.
They said it must be a trick.
Knew Where the Trick Was.
ct happened to be in a position to
know where the trick was. Did not
require any great business acumen to
know it. All Wall street knew it. And
I said what would be the result If
1 went before the American people
and told them all I know.
"a year ago I went before the peo-
pie and told them. And now they
know almost as much about it as 1
do. And I said it is now almost time
to show them by practical methods
what the trick is. Last DecemDer
issued an advertisement. The result
was that 400 millions was knocked
off the price of stocks and bonds in
three days. What did it mean?
at meant that what I said in the
advertisement was the little kernel
of truth that I am bringing to the
west, hoping and praying to God thai
it will bear fruit. Tt meant the truth,
and that the American people said to
themselves that Lawson is no account
but he told the truth
At the Honor Table.
The "honor" table was placed al
the north side of the big banquet
room, Thomas H. Reyn olds, the re-
firing president, occupying the CEN
trail seat. AT his right, in the order
named, sat Thomas w Lawson, James
Creelman, the New York correspond
ent: Henry M. Beardsley, acting may
or of the city; Herbert S. Hadley, at