r
, ' ' " ' ' m. '"it in i .1.1.1 ' ft
OLVI V LINCOLN, NEB., THURSDAlpAUGUST 21894 t " NO 8
"" 11 1 " " " '
WHIT ABOUT THE PLATFOBM?
Ttaop who have convictions regarding what
should be demanded In our itate platform are
Invited to send their Idea for publication.
Editoe Wialth Makihs
A TRUMPET VOICE.
Portfr of Merrlok Call 3rd District
Popnliata to Fight Fuel on.
-;v Clahks, Neb., July 28, 1894.
Editor Wealth Makers:
In response to your query, "What
ball we have in our state platform," I
will try and give a brief suggestion.
First endorse tbe Omaha -platform, then
perhapw reiterate some of those de
mands, as the free and unlimited coin
age of both gold and silver at tbe ratio
of 16 to 1. Demand the speedy pay
ment of tbe national debt and the re
peal of tbe national banking act of
February 25, 1893, and in its s'ead the
establishment of a system of govern
' ment banks to lend money direct to the
people at cost and at tbe same time
affording them a safe place of deposit,
pointing to tbe present panto as abso
lute proof that such a system is needed
to prevent panics.
, Point to the present labor troubles
and again demand government owner
ship of all railways and mines. Declare
for the Initiative ftud Referendum,
.election of United States Senators by a
& majority vote of the people, and any
thing else we may agree upon. In my
judgment' our candidates for Congress
must make their fight largely on the
free silver issue. Of course I do not
mean by this that they must neglect the
other reforms we demand, many of
which are of more importance perhaps
than free coinage; but this one idea
must be keot to the front to win, a
there are thousands of free silver Dent-
oejats and Republicans that don't under
stand the necessity of these other re
forms that will vote for our candidates
on the silver question alone if properly
kept before them. '
I have no fears for our state conven
tion, either for our candidates or eur
platform. But it looks as though in
some of our congressional districts, eur
people had been listening to the
siren song of free silver Democracy
fusion this is especially true here in
the Third.
I think the Independent of Merrick
. county are almost solidly opposed to if,
while in Narcc county they say they
are going to send a solid delegation to
Norfolk the 21st to vote for Judge
ttiYMnann In Democratic district iudee
-of Madison) ;pr our nominee for Con
gross. I ask the friends of the reform
movement In this district if this meets
with their approval, and if they must
nominate a lawyer to represent a farm-
log district. If they hare no lawyers
. in their own party able to cope with the
two by four shysters thai now misrep
resent the people of Nebraska in Con
gress from the Third district. It strikes
me that with over two-thirds of Con
gress made up from the profession of
. lawyers, that it is about time we send
some other class ct men to Congress.
I They certainly could do no worse than
m!jj present Congress has done. I do
not wish toffltlelse or rind fault with
those who are conscientious in this
matter, rut it does seem to me that a
move of this kind (while it tuay be tbe
means of electing Judge Robinson to
Congress) will in the end be the means
of destroying all that we have been
working for the past fw years. Let
' ma say to the friends of the Third that
tf von will not set dieoourasrd in well
dolcg that the very men you proinwe
fulng with will be voting our tl tit
next Noveintwr, Wh? Simply be-
eause we are the on'y pot I ileal party
that I a unit for free coinage, and lhy
will have to om to us togthat they
want both UowocraU and Republican.
Hut the moment you fuse with the
DoniocraU you drtv out inousaod of
vwr who bave Ua Republican who
will nat swallow anything which savor
if lWm.raoy( and again thrfe are th
(aa4 they are the very bulwark of the
party, the men wko Vu4 altuot ftton
f r Mnnu ht-o tht who are now
talkli'g (union war whooping It up for
tU old vanWa) whit Udar that tf a
llttuwrat I aomlaated j thu IVpu
iUti that will autalaaU a tWatht
ivpulltt by NtHioo, m they will at
' support ft IW-publlce tr Kiiuvrat
mil Is tbe eltuatto ttH l the Taint
(KiMtaS dlsUlct. and I kao that
I way b ouw4 of wareeaarv tmiUw
U oppuairf this lusUia, by the who
honestly, or otherwise, believe that it
is the only way to success, as my name
has been mentioned as a candidate for
Congress in this district, and this alone
has kept me from raising a note of
warning to the true and the ttied of this
district. But after watching the pro
gress of this move for tbe last three
months, and as the convention is almost
here and no one seems willing to come
out openly and oppose it I have con
cluded that to longer remain silent for
fear of being criticised, would be both
treason and cowardice, and I never was
much of a man to sacrifice principle for
policy. I bave no fear of bring mis
judged by those who know me, as I
never sought the nomination for .any
office and do not intend to begin this
fall at Norfolk. I believe I bave all I
can attend to right here in Merrick
county,and ask no nomination from any
convention. But I say to all the friends
of the Third district that if I am per
mitted to attend the Norfolk conven
tion tbe 21st of Augest, that I shall
exert every energy I possess to defeat
any fusion, and to accomplish the nomi
nation of a straight Populist, even
though I stand alone in so doing, , It
will not be the first time that I have
espoused an unpopular cause, if it be
unpopular. I see the Populist party of
this district drifting towards tbe break
ers of disaster, disruption and ship
wreck, For the party name I care but
little; but for the principles of a peo
pie's government as enunciated in our
platforms of the past I am willing to
sacrifice all I possess to see them
enacted in'o law5. But I would prefer
defeat for the present with victory for
the future, to a so-called victory which
in the end only means defeat and die
aster and a return to absolute Republi
can and railroad (synonomoui terms)
rule, with no hope for the future but to
begin again at the bottom. No, brother
Populists, don't listen to the siren song
of the fuslonlsts. Fusion is the Trojan
horse which once admitted within
our ranks will divide and destroy us.
Yours for the right
Poster of Merbick.
Great Demand for Direct Legislation
Holdrrge, Neb., July 27, 1894.
Editor Wealth Makers: 1
I have been carefully reading all let
ters in your paper on the question of
"what shall the platform be," and I am
gratifled to see that so many .of your
correspondents favor the Idea of making
a demand for direct legislation one of
the leading planks of the platform. I
hive thought this matter over for a long
time and I have come to the conclusion
that we made a m'stake in 1890 and 1892
when we paid so little attention in our
platform to that question. I believe if
ws had in 1890 demanded direct legisla
tion and very little the, we could by this
time bave succeeded under that system
in having moHt of our state demands
made the law of tbe state. I say this
because I am satisfied that the majority
of the citizens of the state favor most of
our demands, and tbe reason they did
not vote for them was because of their
'party."
Now, I have canvassed the Independ
ent voters of this county lately and I
find that all who have given the matter
any thought, agree that our next Ute
platform should contain a plain demand
f r direct legislation first, and further
than that the platform should contain
nothing to antagonize a slncle voter In
the state. Let our candidates be pledged
to make direct legislation the funda
mental law of the state and let them
further be pledged to oppose the enact
ment of any more Important legislation
and to strictly ent ro the laws now on
the statute books,
Tbe promulgation of a platform auch
a I nor prottoted ought to satisfy the
people that we want the fil$ to rule
regardlei of partus. Let Hro, Wolf
gl hi bead together and draw up a
platform on the foanral plan bare out
lined and submit U to all concerned.
Your truly,
I. C. llKNCK
W II. ltMa-itvv' Opinion.
YALfAUAiao. Neb , July 17,101.
itllwr WKAL.ru Makrkm:
I will offer ttiu tuggeatuMi la regard
to oar platform. We e4 a plaifofta a
a W tf htl la order ta fled out Die
oplatans or prltUle of the we
pact top!cal thehtad of our party
I wwqult a lumber boipr vhtlr
oplaluft vl our platform Ultk it U m
leak Ut unnecessary, that wo nevd rm-a
who will use preper judgment in the
administration of the affairs of our state
and nation "John, Daniel and Beanie,"
the great "I am" of the Republican
party, Bill McKlnley, also the great fat
dragon, who now disgraces our presi
dental chair, the immortal Grover, all
these men claim to use tbelr "better"
judgment in tbe administration of the
affairs of the nation and on the no plat-:
form principle, we could not convict
them of selling out, or going back o
their constituents.' If complained of
their answe would be, we used our
"better judgment," and if you don't like
It, you must not complain of an honest
difference in opinions.
Let's bave a platform.
I. Put in as lew words in each plank
as possible and make your meaftiog un
derstood. t
II. Use as simple language as tbe
Circumstances will allow, If your plat
form is Intended for the majority of
your readers to studyi for instance, the
Initiative and,Referendum. If I under
stand the meaning of thtse words it is
a principle or a means which gives to
the majority of the voters of tbe state
a right to suggest a change in the laws
which govern us, and in case the legis
lators object or refuse to make such
changes, we, as a people, can by request
of a certain per cent of the voters, com
pel them to adopt these chaDgts, 1 be
lieve this would be a proper way to
make all laws, but I also bellere it is
too far ahead of the people. We, who
are just learning our A B C's in politics
can't understand such things, therefore
I say, leave It out of tbe platform for
the present. 1
III, "Equal Suffrage ' You will find
very few women In our state that would
for a cigar or a glass of beer, a sjalle
and a nod from royalty, or a promise of
some little office like "deputy" road
overseer, vote against th ir own and
children's Interests, as many men do
now, I suggest, put that plank in, I'll
stop now. Don't crowd out any gooa
article to make room for this.
Wm. H. ROSSITES.
Mr.Malben Calls for the Referendum
Palmyra. Neb., July 23, 1894,
Editor Wealth Makebs: .
In your issue of the 19 th July you re
quest your readers to g ve their views
anent our platform, and any other re
forms we may bave to suggest. Allow
me briefly to give my views on an ail im
portant matter, and It is simply this,
that all friends of our country, be they
Democrats,RepublicaPS,Prohibitionists
or Populism, demand unanimously at
their primaries and of the several mem
bers of Congress that we, the people,
shall have the Referendum incorporated
into our system of Democratic Republi
canism; for if we do not soon have this
carried out in its entirety we will lose
the force of Lincoln's famous aphorism
delivered at Gettysburg: "That we
here highly resolve that these dead
shall not have died in vain; that this na
tion, under God shall have a new birth
of freedom, aud that tbe government
of the people, by the people and for the
people," shall not perish from the earth.')
And for the people to say what these
laws and statutes that are to govern
us shall be, instead of allowing a venal
court, be it supreme or local, shall so
decide. It Is needkss for me to discuss
the merits of this most fundamental
principle In legislation, for Its very end,
animus and trend is carrying Into exe
cution Lincoln' noble and comprehen
sive Idea. And this Is all lu a line with
that other great aphorUm of this im
mortal patriot, "You cat ivtl a part of
the people all the tun, kuX you can
fool all tbe people for a short lime, but
you cannot tool aU the ptoptn all the
lime." This would clt arly tedic! that
Lincoln tad an abiding tl !a th
common people.' 1st 'ufltibarli
Vi thews ptoplu all aupreui power by
tying, let us knaw what you tk!k ul
this or that law, Tier Is autOit ni4
In I0,t)0y keowt ctMih part of
law on our statute Utoks, yet we nt
not p!4 IfiHiraara at the bar of Judg
ment Tour for faulty and just lev,
John 8, Maih
lvnur
tin ia t
Juey
OUR REPRESENTATIVES
The Populist Party Should Offer Ho Be-
wards for Joining It-.
IT 18 FAB GREATER THAN ANT MAN.
Mr Kem Writes ' am the Present Vital
Question of IrrigationLet tbe Dry
Districts Roll in Pttltions,
Of Great Intereat to Western IVople.
Washington, D. C , July 23, 1894,
Editor Wealth Makers:
My DeabSir; In your paper of July
19th I notice that you call attention to
the article which Senator Allen,, Hon
0. M. Kem and I sent to the Omaha
World-Heral d and to the Bee.
Under ordinary circumstances your
suggestion that it should have botn
sent to tbe Populist papers is pertinent.
I write to assure you that this was our
intention, however we were loath to
give this article to the publli and held
it back so long that on learnlog that
some of our people were expecting to
hear from us on that point, we con
eluded that it would reach all sooner it
given to the daily press at once, The
article was mailed to you by Hon. 0.
M. Kem on the same day that it was
sent by telegram to the World-Herald
and Bee; It had been agreed by us to
send this article to The Wealth
Makers, and It was only when we
deemed it best that our statements
should reach the people of Nebraska at
once that we changed our minds and
gave it to the public in the speedist
manner, I assure you that It was only
our duty to the Populist party of our
state which compelled us to speak that
we made up our minds to speak to plainly
that no one that read our statement
could any longer be In doubt.
I have never allowed-myself to en
gage in any factional fights or news
paper ' controversies, nor have I ever
been found at any state, congressional
or coounty convention as a lobbyist. I
believe that the present deplorable con
dition oi the two old parties in the U.
8. is largely the result of an over dose j
of political botslsm. I believe that
tbe Populist party and its prinr iples !
are greater and grander than the politi
cal fortune of any man, whether he be
a Democrat or a Populist. I may be
pardoned for saying that I think it
would be a mis ake for our party to
bold out to any man the inducement of
a political position as a reward for join-
log it. ;
If there is any man in Nebraska or
outside of it so great and wise that we
cannot exist as a party without him it
U good evidence of tbe fact that we
ought to disband; happily however the
Populist party is in no such condition.
I have noticed a tendency on the part
of some of our Populist papers to praise
up a certain man, outside of our party,
and then in a few weeks afterwards they
display a desire to pull the same Indi
vidual down. For Mr. Bryan I enter
tain the greatest respect; I regard him
a a pure, honorable, upright and
courageous advocate of the rights of
the common people as against the
clasHes. I see no reason why I should
In aay a. ay become a party to try to
tarnish bl fame, neither no I see any
reason for the Populists to disband
simply because ho chooses to aoi with
some other patty, whose platform he
seems to prefer and whose action he
ovr looks.
No party ever has or ever will be able
to make a platform that will suit every
Individual Mrabr of the organisation;
and to tho who criticise our platform
freely, I would respectfully sagged
that close inspection f the platform
iefitiolr party might reveal tho fast
USat i portion of their time could N
profitably ia to criticising their own
platform.
TM n variety which we find ta
! Kktff it not coo fined ta th vegetable
k '."ta; m tt nia-a r ftllke any
tf.aa two biadea of mm art ftHkti
r I m t dUooawd Ul aboaw Of
ral with a r.a tf shouti dtffr
, iV.::tiarty was not
ordnUjrr cun th r
ttiU'U v,l ) ligation had
ponour I'm', 4 it will
1 1 list un'.U tt wroagaftr
lib Amt'fi. i j pla ar
a thru Ub.l burden.
Lf st my duty here may prevent me
from attending any of the coming Popu
list conventions, I desire to say In the
columns of your paper, that when our
convention assembles, I trust the dele
gates will meet, not as hostile factions,
fighting for or against any man, but
that they will gather together as a
band of earnest men resolved to nomi
nate a ticket composed of tbe best and
ablest mn of our state. In conclusion
I say that when the Populist conven
tions meet and select their tickets I
expect to be found in my place Qfbtlng
with whatever strength I possess, for
the election of its candidates. This is
my duty as I understand it and that
duty will be faithfully done.
I have no doMre to dictate to others,
neither bave I any use for self constitu
ted political bosses. Men like Dr. Mo
Cune and N. A, Dunning may sell our
party if they can, but I for one will ob
ject to the delivery of the goods.
W. A, McKbiohan,
Congressman Kern on Irrigation,
Wahikc;ton, July 23, 1894,
Editor Wealth Makers:
During the last three months I have
received letters, petitions, and resolu
tions, from different parts of the 6th
district relative to irrigation in tbe
west and tbe attitude of congress there
to. Realizing as I long have, that this
is one of tbe greatest questions or prob.
lems our people are confronted with, I
desire to make a brief statement to the
people of Nebraska through the columns
of your paper, and hope western papers
will copy. (
I have not been 'indifferent to the
magnitude and necessity of irrigation
In Nebraska at any time while ft mem
ber of congress, and have from time to
time endeavored to get the western
members interested sufficiently, so that
by united effort upon our part we might
Induce congress to take some action in
tbe matter. But it was impossible,
seemingly, to arouse any interest in the
matter, until recently the logic of events
in tbe way of recurring continued
drouth throughout the whole west has
compelled a few western members to
realize that we as western people are
face to face with one ef the greatest
problems we bave yet faced, and a few
of us for the last two months have been
endeavoring earnestly to get a little
time in which to present the matter to
congress and show tbe urgent necessity
of prompt action by the natioaal govern
ment,
I can not of coure enter into a full
discussion of the subject now, but shall
do so before congress just as soon as I
can secure time. Wben that will be I
do not know, for the powers that be do
not seem disposed at present to grant
us any time; but we shall keep persist
ently after them till we do get a hear
ing, sooner or later,
I have always maintained, as those
will remember who have heard me ex
press an opinion, that the government
should take charge of the matter,and tbe
more I study the question and better
realize the magnitude and Importance
of the undertaking, the more firmly am
I convinced that it is the only power
which can successfully cape with it and
secure to all citizens their just and
equal rights. My views la this matter
are In conformity with some remarks I
made on the floor of the house March
9th lastly, lelfttlva to lighting the
government building and grounds here,
which you were kind enough to publish.
Hon. Willis Sweet of Idaho has ft bill
pending which covers the matter partly
but it applies to Government lands only.
Also Carey's bill of the Senate, which
has just patsed that body, it of the same
nature, Neither of tho bills If they
became the law would at all roi the
exigencies of the ca, (or. It all of the
government lands bow rvioalolng war
under Irrigation t would only b an In
fiottusimal part of thvw&olethataeedt
Irrigation. Our own state It would not
touch Tna goveramaat must dal wl'n
It aa a groat whol, rgar4' of suite
llaea
Hlghl ftsrw 1 desire b call fttfaMoa
to an rnr some cf our poop! in to
have fall tows vlt., thai t ovr
meatcaft ftt or wilt not coaslJsr ftay
proueili to MWbliah ft tysWM of
trrtgftMoa Ir any oa prtlvutr locality
alonot uiQ th 1'taW ValUy, Loup
VfttUy, or any ir oa atUy; but if
undertake l all tt sauat, m 1 ft rw
mrk4. V ooatdr4 ft ft want, tu
bracing Matft states ftft-l territories
and covering an area of about one half
of the United States.
Tbe first step to be taken Is to induce
congress to engage in the undertaking,
But when our -people see as I do that
there is no question congress is so ig
norant of as that of irrigation and lta
neoesslty, they will also see this first
step is ft very difficult one and must tak
time to consummate. Ignoranoe and
prejudice give way very slowly, and
both must be removed before this first
step is taken, but when once taken th
battle 1 m re than half won So long
aa I am a member of this body I shall
push this matter along these lines, and
when the work is beeun let it be first
accomplished in the more thickly settled
portions of tbe arid region. Now I trust
no one will say It can't be done, for it
oan and will be, If the entire people
will act in unison, if the petitions em
bracing the entire population of the
country west of the 97 th merridian were
sent here, asking for this, you would
see some results very soon. But an Iso
lated petition from scattered points here
and there will amount to but little,
Tbe people must act in unison and let
eongres know that not just a few of
them, but all of the people, regardless
of their political aflllatlons. are demand
ing it. If the western people will do
this, in my opinion their representa
tives will not only be heard, but heeded.
As for me I shall fight It out along the
line of government establishment and
control, so long as I am honored with ft
seat in this body,
Very respectfully,
O. M. Kem.
A Letter From Fred Jewell.
Platte Center, Neb., July 17, '94yr
Editor Wealth Makers:
I, now thiol: it a proper,. tfJie to se
riously consider our best timber in sigh
for state officer, and while It ha cer
tainly brought a feeling of pleasure to
many an honest man and hard worker
in the People's cause to know that his
friends consider him worthy of nomin
ation to offices of trust; yet in view of
the vast number of names suggested I
now consider It tbe duty of each honest
worker whose name has been menticned
and who has no aspiration to become ft
candidate, to come out in your columns
with a statement that such is the case,
in order to let opinions center upon
those who are willing to accept
Therefore while thanking my friends
who were responsible for mentioning
my name for secretary of state I Jwould
state that I am not a candidate and
could not accept a nomination.
I would however oall your atteatlon
to the name of Warwick Saunders of
Columbus, who has been suggested for
this nomination, and would heartily
recommend his support. He is one of
the Populist editors who have sacrificed
much to uphold tbe people's cause, and
a man with the ability to intelligently
fill tbe office. And located ft he Is la
the Democratic stronghold of northeast
Nebraska would be able to bring us
many votes that we have not had in
tbe past.
Yours for unison of strength,
Fred Jewell.
Word of Warm Commendation.
PiLQER, Neb , July 21, "94,
Dear Bro. Gibson:! look with
wonder and astonishment at the way
you have handled your paper slnoe
those turbulent time commuoocd. That
w appreciate tt doe not express our
real sentiments, I can remember when,
year ago, I read some of Swedenborg's
work. I wondered if ever there would
be a Urn In my short spaa of life that
hi prophetic) words would com true.
I now believe that th new heaven and
dw earth ar but a little way ahead.
"l!rolhrao4 of man' through th 41
via man, Christ, eur Crtek and
Savior.
Uow many ar flodirg your paper ft
trur aouro of life than th crtwdt of
churches I do not know, but I do Know
UfarUi9 tiliko th right ohordvry
time, W. U. Woopfti'rr.
IVpHliat ttatly,
1Uom CitY, Nb.,Jty 2t.Uplal)
YswWtday at Round Grove, five roll
at of this pi, about H,Otx Populist
aaMiabled for fily U, J, M. fcay
dr pp4 th rolr with ft thirty
miaut' talk, and wft followed by
Judg Itolcomb, wto spoke for
hour, Two roat4 tut'ft ftftd beea pre
pared aed ware rt4, Aftr 4laa
iloa. I.. (Irtta of Ktfty spoke
