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THE
POPULISTS
MEET
A Full Delegation From All Farts of the
it State.
AS EXCEEDINGLY 8TR0NG TICKET.
By Rail and Overland They Gathered
-'Party ef the People Mightily
i
Alive To-Day.
A Fall Report of the Convention.
The People's Independent conven
tion at Grand Island last Friday to pat-
gVjtic lookers-on was a most inspiring,
faith stimulating body.
The gathering at Omaha just preced
ing ours was, in its action, if we could
in sider it truly representative of the ma-
Jority, oi the sort to convince one that
vruu ia ucnu, buav ucyiovnjr icuib
and that the future belongs to the
rong and cunning plunderers and anar
cbisas. The Omaha convention was
composed of professional' office seekers
and the hired tools of the corporations.
Corporation passes packed it. Corpo
ration decrees controlled it. Corpora
tion fat smeared it; and f he people with
minds' t blinded are expected to gulp
V-V' (malodorous Majors amd Moore,
VV vu who composed the Kepubllcan
eition belonged to the preying,
producing, Ignorant and dangerous
classes, men whe know nothing of the
foul nnaatJnna and issues of the nraaent.
vi, u ra7 mW"t dwuu eciuo ijr au buo
way of the world's progress. Not a man
could have been found among the dele
. 1 R4AHi4 t 4-U
gates at Omaha who is both consclen
tious and sufficiently informed upon the
questions of monopoly oppression to In
telligently act.
' AiTrand Island there were doubtless
sonf?sBn who were morally defective,
..but it was the purest, most patriotic
' i ' m I . il J i . .
i -'na wisest ooay 01 men wno nave yet
' I convened in Nebraska to grapple with
I . 1 1 A l , i a. I
tae powers ui evii. auu ngniuereyou
will notice that we do not except the
churches. The forces of evil atre forti
fled by bad legislation, by prevailing
false standards and hoary, venerable
ustice. Therefore progress must be
ed by holding up new and true ideas
ustice, and by uniting at the ballot
to relieve the oppressed. This is
plied Christianity. This is the chief
work demanded of the churches. The
Grand Island convention we therefore
conJider the most progressive, practical
and heaven-inspired assembly that has
been or that will be held in our state
this year.
The convention was called to order
Aug, 24 about 11 o'clock a. m, by Chair
man Deaver of the state executive com
'4
k 'iireo, nun ocureuary liutjeriuu reau
J If '-call. Music by the band was f ur
A I ) wSd, "The Coxey Army Patrol" be-
f I , enthusiastically receWid. The Cat
I ait. . . .
ik uiee uiuo also sang some local
cal selections which were great
caT The three singeis In this club
e5i Custer count ) have most musical
.neti and nhnuld hn Ufint s'no-lncr rlnr-
the entire campaign, Mr. Huckins
Ntbraska
Jubilee singers also
"rin t( OTaahinirtnn
out of Ar
UoreddoQ, the new Bong book
W. L. Greene of Kearney was on the
tage aad during the preliminary work
was called out for a speech. He gave it
and it was one of his happiest and best.
Senator Allen came later to the stage
and. after Mr. Green, responded briefly
to the call for a speech. His words
f j - earnest true and weighty and they
1 were listened to with the closest atten
j tion. He uncovered Majors and Moore,
J talked about anti-monopoly principles
"Ii iircrprt all to raallzft that, nnllt.ton.1
f r
es must not be neglected.
v. Mi Pnwoll nf Omiha a.
LsS, waj called on by Chairman Deaver
ando'ffered a most earnest prayer, after
which four candidates for temporary
chairman were balloted for, Judge Ne
ville of Webster coutty, W. L. Greene
of Buffalo, Poynter of Boone and
i Sprecherof Colfax. The first ballot did
not elect, but Greene being in the lead
and Poynter and the others withdraw
ing Mr. Greene was elected by acclama
tion.
John P.Mefferd was elected secretary,
with four assistants, Althen, Hautzman,
Brigham and Andrews.
'v;a chair appointed Howe of Lan
M Poynter of Boone, Neville of
i-fln, Scott of Buffalo, Sheridan of
i - yarKi v ii u)gi i imi . ii
Bed WillowBaker of Greeley and Donald
of Dawson committee on credentials.
Also Edgerton of Hall, Borders of
Buffalo, Wilson of Keith, Woodard of
Lancaster and Schrader of Logan com
mittee on order of business.
The credentials committee in a very
few minutes reported 747 delegates
present out of 751 accredited, and no
contests, and the report was accepted
aad the delegates seated.
The chairman upon motion appointed
a committee of nine on resolutions, viz:
J. V. Wolfe, G. S. Upton, G. L. Burr,
Dr. Rodolph, Jonathan Higgins, J. B
Nesbitt, Fred Archer, E. Wyman and
J. H. Dundas.
The first business of the afternoon
session, after making the temporary
organization permanent, was the selec
tion of the state central committee.
An informal ballet was then taken on
the question of choice for governor re
sulting in 293 votes for Holcomb, 272
for Gaffin, 41 for Ragan, 37 for Johnston,
27 for Powers, 21 for Poynter and 19 for
Weir. Necessary for choice, 371.
Before the formal ballot was taken
Mr. Weir's name was withdrawn. The
formal ballot gave Holcomb 4371, Gaffin
2944, Ragan 8 and Johnston 5. The
choice of Holcomb was, on motion of
Saunders county Ji made unanimous and
lie r-as declared elected. Saunders
county then moveu the rule be
suspended and that Hon. J. N Gaffin
Denominated by acclamation for the
position of lieutenant-governor; and it
was done with great enthusiasm. Judge
Holcomb and Speaker Gaffin were called
on for speeches and each in turn res
ponded in brief earnest words. Both
of these gentlemen command the confi
dence of all our people, and the highest
respect of members of all parties.
Four candidates were presented for
the place of secretary of state, viz:
Warwick Saunders of Platte county, J
E. Hoover of York, Otto Mutz of Keya
Paha and H. W. McFadden of Furnas
The convention wished to see and hear
from each of its candidates, so these
gentlemen in turn were called to the
stage and Ipoke briefly. All made a
very creditable appearance but McFad
den by his few eloquent words seemed
to capture the audience, and 493 votes
upon the first ballot elected him. Saun
ders came next him in number of votes
cast.
Etch candidate chosen upon the en
tire ticket was honored with a final vote
making his selection unanimous, show
ing that there were no hatreds or di
visions that weaken.
For auditor, Porter of Merrick and
Judge Wilson of Keith were proposed.
Judge Wilson is a one armed veteran
and the convention was greatly stirred
by the speech which placed his name
before it. The judge upon being pre
sented told them he was not a stump
speaker. But the convention did not
consider eloquence a necessary qualifi
cation. Mr. Porter in a most happy
speech withdrew his name and Judge
Wilson was elected by acclamation with
three rousing cheers for the old soldiers
at the end of it. It was then proposed
that the old soldiers who were delegates
stand up and be counted, and 151 were
found u pon the convention floor. A call
for confederate soldiers showed eight
present as du legates.
The committee &n platform next re
ported, Dr. Rodolph reading it upon re
quest of Chairman Wolfe. It was
adopted without debate and is as follows:
Planks They Stand On.
We, the People's Independent party
of toe state of Nebraska, reaffirm the
principles laid down in the national
platform adopted at Omaha, July 4,
1892. We emphasize the demand for
free and unlimited coinage of silver and
gold at the present ratio 16 to 1. We
brand as treason to labor in every field.
and to the best interests of the whole
country, the unconditional repeal by
congress of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman act. We demand both state
and national laws for the encourage
ment and promotion of the Irrigation of
our arid and semi-arid lands.
We demand that coneress shall speed
ily pass a law by which ttie federal courts
will be prevented from suspending the
operation of a state law at the dictation
of corporations.
We demand a liberal service pension
to all honorably discharged union sol
diers and sailors of the late war.
We declare for municipal ownership
of street cars, gas and electric light
plants and water works.
We demand comnulaorv arbitration
of all controversies between employers
and employes.
We heartily approve the course of
Senator William V. Allen and Congress
men W. A. McKeighan and O. M. Kern
LINCOLN, NEB., THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1894.
for their fidelity and loyalty to our en
tire interests, and we compliment Con
gressman W. J. Bryan, who, though
elected as a Democrat, has given strong
support to many of our reform measures.
We demand a more economical ad
ministration of our state government,
and a more strict accountability of mon
eys appropriated and expended.
We reiterate our demand for a maxi
mum freight rate law or the enforce
ment of the one now on our statute
books.
We demand the amendment of our
state constitution by the adoption of
what are popularly known as the initia
tive and referendum.'
We demand the enforcement of the
present law for the investment of our
permanent school fund as directed, and
not through bond Investment -companies,
at a loss to said fund or profit to
speculators and money sharks.
We demand that all officers, both
itat and county, be paid a reasonable
salary, in accordance with the labor to
be performed and the amount of skill
required, and that all fees be turned in
to the general fund for state and county
purposes.
We commend to the favorable con
sideration of the state the building of
what is known as the Gulf & Interstate
railroad, now under process of con
struction. We demand that immediate steps be
laken for the relief of the drouth suffer
ers of our state, and that some means
be devised to give thsm employment
and wages.
Having stated our demands, we cor
dially invite all persons who are in sym
pathy with them to co-operate with us,
regardless of former party affiliations.
The evening session was addressed
first by Mrs. M.G. T. Moberly. She
called attention to the exceeding im
portance of putting an honest man into
the office of commissioner of public
lands and buildings, and said she would
during the campaign expose the frauds
of that office.
One of the most significant things
which took place in the convention was
the raisiBg in about, thirty . minutes
of nearly $500 to wipe out a debt of two
years standing. Considering the loss
of crops and the year of depression it
indicated a wonderful spirit of sacrifice,
determination and faith.
The nomination of Hon. John H. Pow
ers for state treasurer by acclamation
and with the greatest enthusiasm shown
at any time, shows how the faithful
pioneers are not forgotten. Judge Ne
ville made the nominating speech, re
marking that as the party had j,ust
taken Itself out of debt it could place a
poor man in nomination. His speech
was eloquent and the conventien was
swept to its feet and cheered its white
haired leader mightily when he came
forward and addressed them.
The names of Hon. Daniel B. Carey,
John O. Yeiser and Capt. W. H. Asnby
were presented for the place of attorney-general.
Yeiser withdrew in favor
of Ashby. Carey and Ashby were pre
sented upon the platform and spoke
briefly. Carey then was elected, the
first ballot giving him 442 votes.
The only candidate for commissioner
of publio lands and buildings was S. J.
Kent. The nominating speech by Mr.
McNerney showed that Mr. Kent repre
sented and was strongly endorsed by
organized labor and he was nominated
by acclamation, after having been pre
sented to the convention from the platr
form.
Four candidates were brought for
ward for the office of superintendent of
public instruction, viz: Prof. W. A.
Jones of Adams, Prof. W. H. Creighton
of Nemaha, Prof. Irvine of Harlan, and
Prof. J. H. Bavsron of Red Willow.
Prof. Jones received 408 votes, and his
electl n was made unanimous.
Mrs. Shrat of Custer before, and Miss
Helen M. Goff at a very late hour, after
the writer had gone to his hotel, ad
dressed the convention upon the ques
tion of woman's suffrage, and an ex
pression of opinion on the question, by
standing, revealed the fact that a very
large majority of the delegates were
equal suffragists.
The state executive committee meet
ing during the small hours of morning
elected J. H. Edmiston chairman and
J. A. Edgerton secretary for the year to
eome.
Free.
In these "hard times" anything that
is "free,"-and really worth having, is
likely to attract attention.
Well, the state offers six years of
sound education in an almost infinite
variety of subjects and courses, includ
ing agriculture and shopwerk; and
offers this free.
Write to the Chancellor, State UnL
versity, Lincoln; and find out about
this.
BY PRODUCT SHARING.
.
A Colony in Northra Hiohigaa Started
by Practical Christians-
WALTER THOMAB MILLS, LEADER-
Its Plan of Economic Co-Operative Pro
duction and Just Distribution Out
linedAn Interesting Plan.
Why Not Start Similarly in Lincoln's
. Suburbs.
Twelve miles north of Manlstlque in
Schoolcraft county, Michigan, is a new
and Interesting enterprise. A new vil
lage is being built under a plan called
product sharing. This is not profit
sharing. Profit-sharing means that the
wage system remains In force, only that
the employer shall share his profits with
his employes, when he has any, as an
additional advantage to him In the work
of production and as a premium to the
workman over and above regular wages
It is not co-operation In the ordinary
sense of the term,' for this usually means
a company of men working together to
produce some single article, they being
their own employers ai d managers and
workers, but still depending on the mar
ket for the sale' of the single article
which they produce in order that they
may purfeUacs ft things which they
will need for they owa t)S32Jptlon.
It is not socialism in the ordinary
sense, for socialism means the produc
tion oi all the tihingf necessary for our
us3 under the authority and direction
t f the, state- . v '
Now, product-sharing has nothing in
common with profit-sharing. Like co
operation, the workers are their own
employers, managers and workmen; but
unlike co-operation, neither its sole nor
its main reliance is on the market for
the worker's support; and unlike social
ism in the ordinary sense, it is a volun
tary organization like any corporation,
partnership or firm acting under their
own management and without authority
interference or patronage from the
state.
It is not communism. It propones no
community of goods, and involves no in
terference with the family. Briefly
stated, it simply proposes that workman
snail join their savings that they may
purchase and own together the machines
and the materials necessary for produc
tion, and that working together as pro
ducers each shall have his share of the
product, his share being determined by
the part he has had as a producer.
Every family has its own home, mana
ges its own affairs, controls its own
interests. Private property is com
plete, is in no way Interfered with, and
is in every way protected. Only It is a
doctrine of the Association that there is
bo other basis for ownership than that
of production, or of an honest exchange
of absolute equivalents; and that all
business transactions which involve the
obtaining of something for nothing are
essentially wrong, and that all property
rights based on such transactions are
morally void. They Insist that each
man has naturally the right to what his
own toll may produce, but t,hat by no
trick of commerce and nc scheme of
exchanges can he ever establish a pro
perty right in anything which repre
sents no effort cf his own. .
The Association was organized at tbe
clcsa of a series of addresses by Walter
Thomas Mills, he having been invited
to Manistique late in April by A. S.
Byers, who was already engaged in pro
moting such an organization, and, under
a preliminary agreement work was
commenced by about twenty members
on the 1st day of May. There are now
fifty-one members, including brick-
makers, 'carpenters, masons, machinists,
engineers, printers, farmers, lumber
men, clergymen, teachers, dressmakers
typewriters, shoemakers and tanners.
These people have been working to
gether clearing land, planting crops,
building houses, and are probably today
the most cheerful, hopeful and con
tented company of workmen to be found
anywhere in this country. The Asso
ciation now owns 1,100 acres of land, of
which they Juave under cultivation about
150 acres. This land Is made up of ten
farms all joining, which was turned
over to the Association by the farmers,
who themselves became members of the
organization. This land is bounded on
one side by a great waste of pine land
from which the timber has been cut,
and seems now to be utterly valueless
except for the wild fruits, especially
blue berries, which grow in great abun
dance. On the bther side are wild
meadows which for a large portion of
every year are under water and are
entirely valueless for any other pur
pose than for gathering the hay in its
season, which must be taken from the
meadows as gathered. But lying be
tween these two great tracts of worth
less country Is a small tract of probably
2,000 acres, more than half of which
already belongs to the Association, of
remarkably fertile lands. It is a hard
wood ridge covered with the finest
bird's-eye maple, black blrcl), bass-
wood elm and other varieties of hard
wood, all of which will be available for
many lines of manufacture. The finest
strawberries ever shipped to the market
cherries that are rarely equalled, apples
which are of the finest quality, together
with other varieties of fruits of a less
excellent quality are or may be pro
duced in abundance. The Association
will winter 100 young cattle, will have
a large force at work throughout the
fall and winter clearing land, convert
ing the timber Into saw logs for the
mill or Into stove wood for which there
is a ready market. More than 100 acres
of new land will be added to the terri
tory under cultivation for the coming
season, and in the mean time homes for
all the families will be constructed.
The building has gone on without inter-
rcpthla frets th first, but it has been
impossible to construct Loses for new
comers as fast as the new comers hare
been arriving. --n
Very jaany more people have been
refused membership than have been
accepted, this Association being intend
ed for able bodied, industrious and fru
gal Christian people.
The work of the Association is not
solely, or even mainly of self support
for the members, or the improvement
of Its lands. Its members fully believe
that men are better than things, and
their first concern is for the improve
ment of themselves rather than the im
provement of their property. There are
many interesting items Illustrative of
the determination with which these
people are seeking to better as wall as
to do better in their new undertaking.
Of the persons who first formed the
Association but a small portion of them
were active members of any church,
but they had been thinking earnestly of
the best things this life offers, and on
their organization all joined in a decla
ration of faith and unanimously voted
to make their Association emphatically
and entirely a religious body. Only
three of the men did not use tobacco,
but all voted with a unanimous vpte
that the habit was to be abandoned and
Its use forbidden in the Association;
and the manner in which men who for
long years have been addicted to the
use of tobacco have abandoned its nee
and have sturdily refused to return te
the habit has been most remarkable.
In a single instance when its abandon
ment led to illness, the young man on
being offered tobacco with the assur
ance that it would relieve him, said,
"no, not If I die."
When the property of the farmers
which was turned over to the Associa
tion in payment of capital stock had
been appraUed by disinterested parties
the farmers themselves without a dis
senting voice agreed to cut the apprai
sal In two in the middle, and turned
their property over to the Association
at fifty per cent of the appraisal, not
because the appraisal was unwise or
ucfair, but because other members
were to put in cash against their
property, and they wished to deal with
absolute fairness, and so attempted to
reduce their own property to an abso
lutely cash basis.
Tbis is not an effort to withdraw from
the world or to abandon their interest
in the general welfare. Hewing their
own homes out of the forest and build-
ina- theirs cabins for the winter thev are
already devoting one-tenth of their
products to the work of promoting such
organizations elsewhere and to hasten
ing the application of the ethics of the
New Testament to the commercial and
Industrial lifo of, the world.
Instances of suah self demial, of such
self control, of Scontlnued and de
termlned industry atd of commendable
publio spirit could -be Indefinitely
multiplied. But thescJare sufficient to
NO. 12
indicate the temper and the strength
of this company of people, who in the
midst of general depression, when in
idleness, disorder or despair the many
are waiting for something to turn up
are diligently turning up with their
own hands, with strong purpose and
good hope, a place in the forest for '
themselves. Here they toil with un
failing good cheer amidst the laughter
of children and hum of industry and the
songs of the worshipers.
DEVISE IS NOMINATED.
The Beat Posted Man on the Money
Questions In the District Will
Lead the Populist to Sneers.
Contrary to the expectations of many
and to the longings of such men as de
sired nothing so much as the tearing
down and demoralization of the Popu
list party, the Congressional conven
tion stood equarely on Populist princi
ples and nominated J. M. Devlne for
Congress. The convention was an in
teresting and enthusiastic one, the
efforts of contending factions being
centered around Judge Robinson. All
through the contest, whloh began early
in the morning and lasted until the final
ballot was cast, and was earnest and
spirited at all times, the best feeling
prevailed. H. C. Sprecher, editor of
the Schuyler Quill, was elected chair
man, and C. S. Fowler, editor of the
North Bend Argus, secretary, and
better officers could not have been
selected. An Informal ballot brought
out the name of Robinson, oi Madison,
Porter of Merrick, Devlne of Colfax,
Abbot of Dodge and Fairchild of Ante
lope as candidates. Messrs. Abbott,
Sprecher and Fairchild withdrew their
names, and Mr. Porter did even mere
than that. He made a talk favorable to
Devine and advised his nomination. -
The first formal ballot nominated De
vlne by a vote of 77 j to 68f and a Robin
son man moved to make the nomination
unanimous, whloh was adopted.
J. M. Devine is a vote maker. He is
a Populist and believeB in the principles
as advocated by the party and will
make the campaign on those principles.
He is the best posted man in the state
n the financial question and has the '
ability to express his views and put
that knowledge Into words. And his
talk is of that kind that carries with it
conviction and makes votes. He is
capable of combating in open field with
any opponent in tbe state. At present
he is in Washington attending to his
official duties as secretary of the Na
tional Bi-MetalHc League, but will be
at home to conduct a vigorous and, we
verily believe, a winning campaign.
Stanton Picket.
Sheldon on Bryan.
The World-Herald is suffering from
Willie Wright measles. It has worked
itself into a furious fever in trying to
push the Populists over to aid
the candidacy of W. J. Bryan or
Bryan to the Populists? Their; party
has much the greater capacity. We be
lieve in the natural order. Let the
greater contain the less. No toying
them at any distance of contact with
the Wall Street octopus of Cleveland
and Morton Democrats. No sharing
thereafter of any risk with the monster
to deal a cunning blow to the People's
party in its battle for equal rights for
all and special privileges to none. This
is not a reflection on Bryan. Though a
giant we all know he can do nothing
without us, but we can do much with
out him. Our present effort is emphati
cally one of organization. We are re
cruiting, officering and disciplining an
army, so to speak, to wage political
warfare. The contest will be hong and
desperate. We must not trade off
strategic positions nor weaken in our
system of organizing force for a com
manding officers who sleeps and vege
tates in the enemy '8 camp. Let Bryan
throw overboard his false pride and
Cortez-like burn the shipping behind '
him. When he is fully with and for us
he cannot be kept from making sacri
fices as we make them; from encounter
ing tbe falsehoods of the swollen-faced
plutocrats and the epithets of their
chattering squirts. It is no harder and
no worse for him to come over than it
has been for thousands of others from
both parties. Until he becomes an In-.
dependent he can never be more than '
second choice of the. People's party for
United S'ates Senator. Chadron Sig
nal.
Subscribe for Thk Wealth Makers
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