VOL. VI.
He Shows How Fusion Leads to Confusion
and Failure.
OUR HOUR OF GREAT TEMPTATION.
Let No Entangling Alliances Be Made at
,g Out State Congressional and Legisla
tive Conventions to Elect a
Democrat.
His Letter to a Nebraska Citizen
Washington, D. C, Aug. 10, '94.
Wilbur F. Bryant, Hartington, Neb.
My Dear Sir: Your letter of recent
date asking my views on fusion at hand,
' and contents carefully noted. Previous
to the campaign of '92 1 expressed my
views on fusion as follows: '
"Fusion means confusion, and will
lead to nothing else. We want all the
votes we can get, and wish for every
Democrat and Republican to come to
us, we would like to have every office
within the gift of the people, but we
can not afford to secure them by barter
ing away our principles. The moment
we use them as trading stock to be
peddled around to the highest
bidder for office, we will sink 'into obli
vion, and we ought to. There is but
one thing for us to do, "Keep iu the
middle of the road."
"Anyone who expects that either of
the old parties will give us financial re
form by helping them to office, is, in
my opinion, a mental deformif ?
These were my views in 1892, and I
know of no reason why I should change
them now. The "Nonconformist" of
Indianapolis dated August 2nd, exposes
a fusion genome in th west, which, I
regret to say, contains much truth,
Permit me to lay before you some facts
with regard to the political situation
la the nation at large, and your state in
particular.
The great obstacle the People's party
has to overcome in the South, is the
fact, that the Populists of the west
have been fusing with, and electing
Democrats to Congress and state offices.
So long as the People's party of the
west support men like Bryan of Ne
braska, Martin of Kansas and Coffeen
of Wyoming, we can never expect to
gain a permanent foothold in the South.
Mr. Livingston of Georgia, Bailey of
Texas and McLaurln of South Carolina,
together with seventy of the senators
and representatives of the south, have
voted with Mr. Bryan, Martin and Cof
feen on all measures that came before
congress. Now if M. Bryan is good
enough for the Populists of Nebraska
to vote for, why then is not Mr. Living
ston, Bailey and McLaurln good enough
for our people to vote for in the South,
why should we be endorsing and elect
ing one Bet of Democrats in the West,
and fighting the same kind In the
South? To secure victory we must
prove to the people that our party
possesses integrity and leadership, and
in order to do this, we must pursue a
straight course.
Personally, I admire and honor Mr.
Bryan, Martin and Coffeen, as well as
Mr. White of California, but so long as
they remain in the Democratic party,
they are ihe greatest enemies we have
in the West. They believe in our prin
ciples! but remain in the enemy's camp,
to be used as decoys.
The moment you fuse with the Dem
crats, you discourage Republicans from
coming to us, and at the same time the
Democrats will say, "Why should we
join the People's party when they are
coming to us and electing our men?"
This will cut o pat supply at both ends
The Democratic steering committee of
the Senate realize that after the 4th of
next March they will lo9e control' of
that body, unless they can secure two
or three senators from the West. They
will move Heaven and earth In order to
secure one from Nebraska, Wyoming
and Montana, and the only way to do
this is by utilizing the Populist vote.
Senator Morgan exposed their hand
when he said on the stump in Alabama,
"That the Populists of Nebraska would
elect a senator next January, but he
would be a Democrat when he comes to
congress."
I hope that no entangling alliances
will be made at your state, congressional
and legislative conventions, by which
the members of your next legislature
will be compelled to vote for a Demo
crat for United States, as Kansas and
California were compelled to do two
years since. What good haye Senators
Martin and White done us? Mr, Martin
did the same thing that Bryan proposes
to do this year. He stumped the state
for ub, and declared himself in favor
of our principles, and yet repeatedly
said he was a Democrat, and did not
wish to be called a Populist. Think of
the humiliating position in which Sen
ator Martin has placed the Populist
members of the Kansas legislature who
elected him, when they review his
sycophantic and stultifying record here.
I am confident that Kansas will poll
more votes and elect more officers this
year without fusion, than they did two
years since with it.
If Mr. Bryan, as he Bets forth in his
last letter, believes in our principles,
then he has no business to remain with
one party, when he believes the princl
pies advocated by another. It is an in
sult to the Populists for any Democrat
to say that he can honestly advocate
our principles, and yet remain in the
old camp. No conscientious citizen can
honestly belong to one party and advo
cate the principles of another. He
must either be disloyal to his party or
to the priuciples he advocates.
No man would support Mr. Bryan
more cheerfully than myself, If he
would proclaim himself a Populist.
I do not write this letter with any un
friendly feeling toward Mr. Bryan or
any other Democrat of the West, but
we must protect the integrity of our
party at all hazards. Populist votes
have too often been used to elect men
to office who have proven to be our
worst enemfes.
I do not wish to dictate what your
state, congressional and legislative con
ventions shall do, but this question con
cerns our party at large, and l cannot
refrain from giving you zny views. 'll
Fraternally yours,
H. E. Tatjbeneck.
A Fillmore County Man's Views.
FlLLMORB Co , Neb., Aug. 9, '94,
Editor Wealth Makers:
I desire first to enter an earnest pro
test against the tendency to tack on to
our State platforms, new and sometimes
questionable propositions.
Political platforms are unlike most
other platforms In the fact that they
present a seeming anomaly in becoming
narrower the more planks there are
sdded to them, until finally, if enough
planks are added to them, they become
so narrow that no one can stand on them
and but few can tell what they mean.
The so-called planks of political plat
forms would be more appropriately
called riders or restrictions, tacked on
to some fundamental principle.
If I were to attempt to make a polit
ical platform upon which every Popu
list could stand with both feet and fight
manfully for victory, It would contain
only a demand for government owner
ship and control of railroads, govern
regulation and control of finance, and
government reclamation of public lands
and the granting of the same to actual
settlers only. A belief in these propo
sitions should in my judgment, be the
only test reqaired for any office of profit
or trust within the gift of the People's
party of Nebraska. All other proposi
tions are side Issues a man may believe
in them or not and still be a good Pop
ulist; but lean not understand how any
one can disbelieve in any one of these
propositions I have given and still hope
to receive favors at the hands of the
Populists.
W. J. Bryan although perhaps as
grand a man as the old parties can pro
duce to-day, is still as far from being a
Populist as Cleveland or Sherman, and
for my single self I had as soon vote to
place such a man as Sherman, in office
as to vote for such a man as Bryan, not
that I think that Bryan is as bad as
Sherman, but that I do believe him cap
able of doing Infinite, y more injury to
the cause of human liberty. Tne people
know John Sherman and are on the
alert for his infamous designs against
their liberties. Bryan carries the con
fidence of many because he agrees with
them on the free coinage of silver. But
if I am not mistaken the free coinage of
silver at a ratio of 10 to 1 Is but a very
small increment of Populis tic faith, and
so far as I am concerned I had just as
soon see our platform without this in It
as to have It in, for I believe that it
only places the correct and final solu
tion of the money question still farther
in the future.
Tne Initiative and Referendum sys
tem, Woman Suffrage, Single Tax, and
LINCOLN, NEB., THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1894.
numerous other proposed reforms are
many of them in the line of Populist
principles but these things added to our
State platform, would only serve to
make it narrower.and distract attention
from the issues that most nearly con
cern us.
As Populists we should not be of the
number of those who having eyes see
not and ears hear not the things that
most nearly pertain to the wants of a
common humanity, neither should we
be of that number who despise every
thing that is past simply because it is
past, and rush madly forward with blind
Impetuosity, only that they may be
moving, but rather let ua strive to
"prove all things and hold fast that
which is good."
That the governmont should own and
control the railroads, and that it should
issue a full legal tender money direct
to the people without the intervention
of banks, have been proven repeatedly,
and it needs no argument to demon
strate the proposition that the govern
ment should not grant large tracts of
land to alien owners. Such a course Is
short-sighted, imbecile and criminal.
Then whatever else we embody in the
State platform let us not lose sight of
these fundamental principles of the na
tional platform, a copy of wh'ch,I believe
should be appended to our State plat
form. Having secured the fundamental re
forms demanded by our National plat
form, and having redeemed our state
from misrule and treachery and rescued
it from the clutch of corporate powers,
the People's party will have performed
the mission whereunto it was called,
and having performed this mission It
will pass off the political arena covered
with tnore glorythan' any political
party that in the annals of this world
ever rose, or reigned, or fell. Its earth
ly mission doDe, It will glide away into
the great heaving bosom of the past,
followed by the praise and thanksgiving
and benedictions of a grateful people.
It will be sufficient glory for me If I
can but do something toward securing
these blessings for the human race.
I have no particular preference to
express as to meD, but if my counsel
were worthy of attention I would like
to catch the ear of every delegate to
the state convention, long enough to
earnestly admonish him against the
danger of sacrificing political principles
for the sake of securing political offices.
Long enough to Impress upon his mind
the fact that whenever the People's
party shall have degenerated so far that
political place is made paramount to po
litical principle, that it will then have
reached a point of degeneracy where it
is no longer worthy of the confidence of
true Populists.
I believe that It is the imperative
duty of the delegates to the state con
vention to place on the ticket men who
know where they are at. Men whose
views are clearly identified with
the principleb of the People's party.
Men who are not ashamed to identify
themselves with the People's party but
who are proud of tbe privilege.
No true Populist will seek to make
his own personal aspiration paramount
to the interests of the party. It will
therefore be the duty of the delegates
to the state convention to find, if possi
ble, the men who are best qualified for
the offices to be filled, and under whose
directing care the interests and final
triumph of the People's party will most
likely prosper and prevail.
We need men in authority every
where, who will be wise but not pre
sumptuous, learned but not egotistical,
talented but not proud. Men who are
willing to know the whole truth and
with courage to tremble not at truth
whate'er it be, men who are able to
grasp and struggle mightily with the
great social, moral and political ques
tions that today confront us, men with
souls broad and deep, and pure and noble
enough to take in the interests of the
whole world and with hearts that throb
In concert with the joys and sorrows of
humanity. As an example of one whom
I earnestly hope may be such a man, 1
would suggest the name of Silas A. Hol-
comb for governor.
Very respectfully,
F. Skipton.
Hon. L. C. Stockton for State Auditor
Sidney, Neb., Aug. 10, 1894.
Editor Wealth Makers:
Permit me to trespass upon your time
for a few moments. Western Nebraska
baa heretofore been almost universally
Ignored by all political parties in mak
ing the state ticket.. We are entitled
geographically and from every other
standpoint to one distinctly western
man, and the People's party being a
party of equal rights and always the
champion of fairness should see to it
that the people of the extreme west
end of the state are justly represented.
Now permit me to propose the name
of a man who resides in the proper re
gion and who more than any other man
represents the interests acd partakes of
the hardships and is thoroughly in
touch with the people of this section.
Staunch, able and one of the well known
men of western Nebraska. He has ex
perlenoe, bitterly acquired, which
makes him particularly available in this
end of the state, having met and van
qulshed in this county the most dust
ardly gang of Republican tricksters and
looters that ever existed in the state of
Nebraska.
In adversity he has been steadfast and
unfaltering, in success he will be con
slderate and appreciative. I refer to
L. C. Stockton, editor of that fearless
People's party paper, the People's
Poniard, a man who as a member of tbe
state and national committees any
where, everywhere that labor was to be
done without pay, has for years shown
his devotion to the principles which he
so ably and constantly defends. Being
be education thoroughly fitted for the
duties of "State Auditor," w ask jou
to use your influence In pushing his
name for this place, feeling assured that
the future will sustain the wisdom of
such a course and we appeal to you in
the Interests of the people, of the party
rnd of success to let the reward fall up
on this worthy and faithful son who has
shown himself to be ever ready to do
battle for every sentiment of truth and
justice. Yours fraternally,
D. R. Snyder: ;
Chairman County Central Committee.
Hon. B. J. Johnston's Ideas.
Howe, Neb., Aug. 7, 1894.
Editor Wealth Makers:
A few words as to platform. Of course
we need and should have a platform
clearly defined and live up to it, and yet
not too much of it.
First. Endorse the Omaha national
platform through and through. Then
you have done a great deal. Emphasiz
ing the money question, income tax,
government ownership or control of
railroads and telegraphs. For it is
along these lines that the campaign
this fall must be largely made. I re
gard more money not borrowed but
made as the only present relief for an
oppressed people. Many other things
to come in after that is done, but first
giye us fifty dollars at least per capita,
and then if men must have unholy gain
specially when they get it by unholy
legislation, let them pay for It. If they
perjure themselves 'tis their own fault,
they need not do It.
Second. Oppose anything that Is un
fair to the whole people and endorse
everything that is fair, equal and just
to all the people, whatever it may be.
Stay with the people though the heav
ens fall. Add to this economy, honesty
of the old fashio ned kind all along the
line requiring a rigid accountability
in all public offices.
I have thought much of how best to
furnish relief to the thousands of men
women and children in Nebraska that
have raised no crops for two years, and
other thousands of working men who
are out of employment in consequence
of the general paralyzed condition of
business growing out of the shortness
of money more a thousand times than
everything else. The usual appropria
tionsmaking good country roads al
so, if practicable, to build the Interstate
and Gulf R. R., through ' Nebraska.
These all are only suggestions, but some
thing ought to be done for their imme
diate relief.
As to fusion so-called on this point I
want to talk very plain and be under
stood by everybody in and out of the
Independent party. We are a new party
struggling for existence. We have
grown wonderfully and have great rea
son to think our doctrines and princi
ples are very near the great heart of
the people.
Certainly this is a great source of en
couragement. But every one of us came
out of one of the old parties either
Republican or Democrat. But today
we are Independents and should have I
no affinity with either, and yet we must
continue to grow and our growth must
come from one or both (likely both) the
old parties. Therefore I would not lock
the gate against either, but open it to
all men. Our principles and doctrines
are as sacred to us as the doctrines of
Christ are to the Christian. They are
our foundation on whicl we are to build
our house, and we cannot barter or
trade on them. It Is like taking a stone
here and there out of the foundation,
All such houses' have fallen in the first
storm. But there are thousands of men
In both the state and nation, honest to
the core, in both the old parties who
are sick and tired of a Bystem that
makes only millionaires and paupers,
aad who are held only by the brittle
thread of prejudice (like ourselves were)
whicn must and will be broken by the
power of truth men that are almost
persuaded and must vote somewhere
this fall. I would say to all such men
everywhere, come over the line and
help us redeem the state from dis
honesty and corruption. And if you
get nothing else out of it, you will have
tbe sweet satisfaction of having con
tributed something to this end and did
not stand in the way of It. And to my
Independent brethren allow me to say
lookwell to the conditions that do now
exist. We can't change them, more
than we can change the clouds. But
we may fit them and can we not nomi
note a state ticket standing on such a
platform as will soon commend itself to
the world and that all this class of men
can trust to carry out the principles
and doctrines above mentioned? And I
would call on every honest, patrlotio
man in the state, come and help us and
we'll all rejoice together. ,
B. J. Johnston.
An Opinion Respecting Bryan.
RUSHVILLE, Neb., Aug. 14, 1894.
Editor Wealth Makers:
The move to send Wm. J. Bryan to
the United States Senate has been fair
ly inaugurated. It may be a proper
thing for h certain Democratic faction
to do, but how true and consistent Pop
ulists can support said move is not bo
clear. Let Democrats support Demo
crats and Populists support Populists
for office. It is not denied either by
himself or any other member or mem
bers of his party that Bryan is a Demo
crat. He can not be a Democrat and a
Populist at the same time. While he
remains a Democrat he will continue
with all of his greatness to be a good
deal smarter than the People's party.
Will the People's party humble itself to
go to any man who shows himself lack
ing in the qualities of honesty, consls.
tency, wisdom, patriotism and states
manship necessary to prompt and com
pel him to come to it? While Bryan
is admittedly able In many respects, he
is undeniably weak In certain essential
other respects. His weakness has been
made abundantly manifest by his per
sistent clinging to the Democratic party.
His peculiar weakness has been still
further demonstrated by his neglect or
failure to be now standing by the side
of many other more able men who have
made, and are shining lights in, tb.9
new party. Bryan falls short, woefully
short of being a man, with ll his ac
knowledged power, of the kind needed
to lead the Populist host to complete
victory, and the triumph of the princi
ples enunciated in the Omaha platform
of 1892.
Taken altogether Bryan is inferior to
many men in our own Populist ranki.
No chain is stronger than its weakest
link or links, and Bryan, judged by this
rule, it becomes clearly evident that his
deficiencies are too great to be ignored.
Let us not chase uncertain men, Jack-o'
lanterns and wlll-o-the-wisps. Stay in
the middle of the road and send a full
fledged Populist to the United States
Senate, or none. A wrong step is worse
than no step. Let no retrograde move
ment be made to bring popular laggards
to the front and by offering a prize
tempt them to become Populists. The
Bryan movement is a delusion and a
snare, and discreet Populists will cer
tainly denounce and discourage it so
far as the Populist party h concerned.
L. P. Ctjmmins.
Headquarters Lincoln Legion.
Populists visiting Lincoln are cor
dially invited to visit tbe headquarters
and free reacing room of the Industrial
Legion, 1114 O St., second floor.
Use Northwestern line to Chicago
Low rates. Fast trains. Offiee 1133 0 St
NO 11
ALL WORKERS UNITING
The State Federation of Labor Adapts Out
Omaha Platform With All It Implies-
BRYAN'S COIN BA8IB REJECTED-
A Government to 8erve Not Rule the
Psople Demanded A Government
Department of Co-Operativa In
dustry Called For.
Tbe Demo-Fusion Sheet Dropped,
The Nebraska Federation of Labor
held ifj regular session August 19th at
Omaha and adopted a platform which
places the city workers of the state with
the Populists. We are at this writing
so limited In space that we cannot get
it all in, but give the most important
planks: "
"The representatives of the federated
wage workers of Nebraska in conven
tion assembled extend the hand of po
litical fellowship and unity to the farm
ers of the state and nation and declare
our Interests to be Identical, and thai
legislation that afiots the one unfavor
ably bears with equal force upon tl ,
other. We consider ours the f ; '
land on earth, and while we chert i i i
Institutions and revere the nan ; J
those patriots who offered their 1 , ;
and fortunes for the oppressed, jit Vv
feel and assert that today In thin k 1
the vilest tyranny is practiced aad tljs
most abject servility is taught, And ex
acted from the wage workers. -
"We Indorse tbe Omatia ptatforiiind
preamble with everything that it Im
plies, and we emphasize the fact that
every metallic basis for money is a hum
bug. We do not want our money re
deemed in gold ana sliver, but in food
aid clothing and warmth and shelter,
and in object of comfort, art and beauty
for the adornment of our homes, that
our children may be noble and refined,
contented and happy.
"We declare that the proper use of
government is not to rule the people,
but to ba an Instrument for securing
equality, prosperity and happiness
among tbe people, and that therefore
it is the first duty of government to
guarantee to every citizen an opportun
ity to earn a living for himself and fam
ily, and any government that fails in
this is a bad govsrnment and should be
remodeled.
"In order that ourselves and our
children and our children's children .
may forever be secured against priva
tion and want, we demand that the
general government establish a cabinet
department to be known as the depart
ment of co-operative Industry, for the
purpose of providing ways, means and
capital for employing in co-operative
productive labor every citizen who may
need employment, the workers in said
department to have the full proceeds of
their labor without profit to the govern
ment. "We declare -that our mothers and
wives and daughters are by their virtue
and intelligence and fiaer moral sense
entitled to equal voice with ours Ives
in the affairs of governnent
"Experience with the Interstate law,
and our own state board of transporta
tion, having shown that it is impossible
for the government to control the law
less railway corporations, we demand
nothing short of government ownership
and operation of these highways.
We glory in the pluck of tne Ameri
can Railway Union and its grand leader,
E. V. Debs, and we denounce the com
bination of government officials and
railway managers by which the rights
of woralngmen are trampled upon, and
we declare it high time for the people
to go to the ballot box and recapture
the government, which is now in the
hands of traitors.
In line with our views we demand at
the hands of the lawmakers of state and
nation: Free con pulsory education of
all children up to the age of 16; total
abolition of child labor up to the age of
16; sanitary inspection of factory, mine
and workshop, schools and prf sons; an
eight-hour work day; the initiative and
referendum in all legislation; free and
unlimited coinage of silver at IS to 1; a
national bureau of co-operative Indus
try; national ownership and control of a
national system of irrigation; govern
ment ownership and operation of coal
mines, oil wells, railroads, street cars,
lighting, heat and power; election of
United States Senators by direct vote of "
tbe people; abolition of the contract
labor system; free employment bureaus
In every city of over 3,000; a graduated
income tax; land taxed at its full rental
value; arbitration in all disputes be
tween capital and labor; abolition of
national banks and the substitution of
Unite ! States bank of issue.
The Federation withdrew the endorse
ment given by the executive council
last spring to the Evening News, the
Popullst-Demoorat fusion sheet.
President Debs' Position.
"1 am a Populist and am in favor of
wiping both old parties out so they will
never come into power again. 1 have
been a Democrat all my life and am
ashamed to admit it. I want everyone
of you to go to the polls and vote the
Populist ticket."-E. V. Debs.
