VOL. VI.
AT. BOHANAN'S HALL
A Great Audience Tarn Oat to Hear Oar
. Candidates-
AND THE LDTOOLN LABOR CLUB
With Banner Plying, Head the Pre
cession. Indications of a Great
Growth in The Party.
Holcomb, Baffin, Jones and Wilson.
The crowd that came together last
Friday evening to hear Judge Holoomb
and Prof. Jones filled Bobannan'a hall
and must have numbered over 1,500
people. In point of enthusiasm as well
as numbers It indicated great growth on
the part of the People's party in the
chief stronghold of the Republican
party. The Lincoln Labor Club, several
hundred strong, which marched in a
body to the hall with banners flying
was a very significant showing. This
labor club is solidly Populist, and indi
cates that the wage . workers are in
bodies and as unorganized individuals
in great numbers coming to the wealth
makers' party. When we all get to
gether all power is in the ballot.
The first speaker of the evening, in
troduced by Chairman McNerney, was
Prof. W. A. Jones, our candidate for
Superintendent of Publio Instruction.
As Prof Jones' speeches have not been
reported hitherto we will give a synopsis
o'f his remarks.
THE FAMOUS EDUCATOR SPEAKS.
Professor Jones 3aid in substance:
The duty of a State Superintendent of
Public Instruction is to administer the
school law as it is and in a faltnful and
efficient manner. Hundreds of men
could do that.
His problem is to gain such an insight
into the existing social organization of
which the school is one of the parts,
that If he had the power, he would
make the schools reflect and even antici
pate the economic and social changes
that are constantly taking place In
society at large.
As he apprehends these changes and
comprehends them he may Buggest such
modifications, readjustments and meth
ods as win more nearly correspond
with the economic and social conditions
of the people.
To do this with some measure of suc
cess requires special knowledge of the
origin and Idea of the school; not so
much Its origin In time, this would be
Incidental, but its origin in the necessi-
speaker then traced briefly tne method
of tracing thesoclal evolution of society
from savagery to civilization; the gene
sis of the family, tbe phases of Indus
trial society, the church and the state,
and the functions of each. Then
the origin of the school as an
institution collateral to the church,
then as collateral to the state,
the separation of church from
state In this country and the ground of
It. This caused the secularization of
the day school, and the rise of the
Sunday school.
At this point the speaker was called
by time. He had packed this meat Into
25 minutes, and stopped short.
THE OLD SOLDIER TALKS.
Judge Wilson, was next introduced.
The Judge Is a one-armed veteran of the
civil war with fine face and soldierly
bearing, a man whom our people nomi
nated by acclamation for state auditor.
The Judge did not In the few minutes
at his disposal try to discuss the great
questions, but In his lew remarks made
a very favorable Impression. He be
lieved he had been nominated because
the people wished to honor the old
soldiers. They believed In voting for
the old soldiers, and he did too, he
said, a remark which pleased the audi
ence. But some have no use for old
soldier unless they are In the Republi
can party.
His reference to the U. P. order re
quiring their employers to keep out of
politics, was what might be expected of
a man who gave his right arm for the
cause of liberty.
HOH. J. N. GAPFIN'S REMARKS
Hon. J. N. Gaffln was next introduced
as the next lieutenant governor- of
Nebraska. -He
was glad to stand before so large
and Intelligent an audience, and was
proud of being a Populist, because
Populist principles are right and just.
He stood before them a worker, a com
mon man for common men. He had
earned every dollar he possessed. He
had not accumulated it as a mortgage
shark.
Mr, Gaffln dwelt for a moment on the
Identity of Interest or common interest
of the farmers and city workers. In
elaborating his thought he suggested
that each figure one day on the ques
tlon, to bow many workers we are each
indebted, beginning with the cup of
coffee in the morning. The principle
otC?o-operatlon is right, said the speaker
and competition is wrong. (This re
mark struck a popular chord that
showed itself in a burst of applause
starting from , the Labor Club amen
corner.) Our interests are identical, are
one; we are brothers and must all stand
together.
The speaker said, he was not, as a
Populist, opposed to any industry. But
he was opposed to corporations ruling
the state. Our party is opposed to
special privileges, - class legislation.
Our party motto is: "Equal rights
to all; special privileges to none."
And the People's party when it gets in
to power enacts into power the planks
of its platform, 'the principles it advo
cates. It has done this just as far as it
has been given power.
Mr. Gaffln closed by saying that if
elected he would do the very best that
he could to serve the people.
THE COMING GOVERNOR.
Judge Holcomb upon being introduc
ed received a very enthusiastic greeting
the cheers belrg prolonged. It was his
first appearance before a large Lincoln
audience, and he was glad to meet the
people of this city of colleges and uni
versities and advocate the principles of
the People's Independent party because
its principles are grand and noble and
just, are for all.
He had heard it said that the Popu
lists are anarchists. Here in Lincoln he
had heard that the Populists are law
breakers. He knew them to be patriots,
people who love the flag. (
We say, said he, the principles of the
People's party will bear investigation,
will lead to repentance and a turning to
the People's party. We believe we are
advocating what will bring relief.
Among happy homes and free men
there will never be an anarchist. Give
anarchists, even, a good home and they
are likely to make good citizens.
The Populist!) demand government
ownership of the railroads. And ail
can see that It Is better for the govern
ment to own the railroads than for the
railroads to own the government
Government ownership Is in the future,
but, let us hope, the near future. The
Populist party takes a bold and decided
stand, and demands that the govern
ment take the Pacific road Into their
bands when the mortgage falls due,
and this Populist "vagary" is the
sentiment of very n any men (who have
business sense) In the old parties.
The Judge at this point read from
the State Republican platform of 1874
in which they called for a double track
government built and owned and
operated railroad from the Missouri
river to the Atlantic seaboard. He
went on to say we could not here in
Nebraska take government control of
the railroads, but we believe freight
charges should and may be regulated.
The Republican party also believes
that the railways should be made subser
vient to the public good. Sounds like
a Populist platform. But the Populists
of today were then In the old party.
Tfle Judge took occasion while dis
cussing the rallroods to say he had
never been in the employ of the B. &
M. or any other railway, as had been
charged. '
Continuing the Judge said, I am
honestly of opinion that the business
interests of the state demand the elec
tion of the Populist ticket next Novem
ber. And by business interests, I meam
the interest of not a limited number, but
of all men.
The Republicans have been convicted
of misappropriation of funds and a
majority of the supreme court has de
clared that the Republican state officials
have shown such disregard of the inter
est of the taxpayers and so squandered
the publio funds as to bring upon them
most deserved censure. Fifteen years
ago the Republican party was for an
honest and economic administration of
LINCOLN, NEB., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1894.
the state government. Now it allows
tbe dishonest to go unpunished and
calls on the people to vindicate (!) them
by selecting the same old gang to ran
for office this year. t i ,
AUSTIN H. WEIR.
Tbe People's Independent Party
Candidate for Congress. (
The subject of this sketch was born
in the state of New Jersey, although
his earliest recollections are of4he
state of Illinois, whither he went with
his parents in early infancy, and was
consequently by training and education
thoroughly western. His boyhood and
youth were spent in the manufacturing
town of Moline, Illinois, and here ( he
reoeived a common school education,
and later an academic preparation
under special teachers for a collegiate
course. It was here while working in
the planing and saw mills, during
vacations, that he learned tne rudi
ments of the lumber business, In which
he has been actively engaged almost
constantly since the war. The begin1
ning of the war found him busily mak
ing arrangements for entering college,
but close application to his studles.had
so Impaired his health that- he found it
impossible to follow this course longer.
In hopes of recuperation he started
early in the spring of 1862 for the then
new country of Pike's Peak and Colo
rado. No raidroad had yet reached
the Missouri river, and the party
which he had joined upon this trip took
the long tedious overland journey
across what was then the Great Ameri
can desert by ox team. The stirring
open air life, hearty food, and severe
exercise of the long tramp by the side
of the lumbering freight wagon soon
gave him renewed health and vigor,
and after spending the summer In the
mountains, f uily regained his did vigor.
Witn returning health came the burn
ing desire to serve his country. The in
tense excitement ot ine war was stir
ring even the far away quiet of tne
great mountains. He witn his only
brother had often discussed the ques
tion of offering their tervlce to their
country. Bat as he had been in failing
health, his older brother thought it
was his place to go, while A uBtin snould
remain, Butoue morning after they
had been discussing tne tu eject, and
while tne oldor brother ' was ifeuinir
breatuasi in camp, be quietiy mue iua
way to tne rociuuiug iatiun In tue
little Colorado town, and cast his lot
witn Uncle Sam in wnat whs then t&e
Third Colorado Infantry. Being under
age there was some hesitancy upon tne
part of the recruiting officer in accept
ing him, but he was finally passed. The
Second Infantry had organized but
neither regiment was complete, and
the two batallions were sent east, and
after about a year's service were con
solidated and transferred to thecalyalry
service, becoming the Second Colorado
Cavalry, in which Mr. Weir served un
til discharged at the ciose of the war.
After the close of the war, Mr. Weir
returned to Illnols, but his formar plans
had all been broken and changed, and
he scarcely knew what course to pursue.
He, however, completed a partial
course of study in the old Chicago Uni
versity. In 1892, he came to Lincoln, Neb.,
and has resided there constantly ever
since. He has been engaged almost
constantly in the lumber business since
the war and Is now one of the oldest
lumbermen in business In the city of
Lincoln. He came out of the war a
Republican in politics, having learned
the great dogmas of the party under the
teachings of the immortal Lincoln.
Later serious reasons became evident
for differing with the party leaders on
MAYOR A. H. WEIR.
the financial and other Important ques
tions, and for some time he was an inde
pendent republican, voting for such men
and measures as met his approval.
When tbe People's Independent party
was organized, its declaration Jof prin
ciples fully met his, views, and his
allegiance was at ones wholly trans
ferred to that party. It was the old
time republicanism of his youth It
breathed tbe spirit of the old political
teachings. It was the doctrine taught
by Thaddens Stevens, Abraham Lincoln
and the other immortal founders of the
true Republican party. Since the plat
form and principles of the Populist
party have been placed before the pub
lic, there has been no more hearty and
earnest supporter of them than he.
Mr. Weir is hopeful of the present
campaign. He believes the principles
of the party are right and will triumph
He is zealous to see silver remonetlzed
and restored to its place in our cur
rency, and the money syndicates com
pelled to give back to the people their
birthright. He is in favor of tariff re
form that means something and made
effective. He believes when these are
accomplished our factories will be re
opened, our business rehabilitated with
life and activity and every interest re
stored to its former prosperity so far as
it is now possible to do.
Mr. Weir has been prominent in all
of the business enterprises of the city
of Lincoln since he became a citizen
thereof, and an active working member
of the First Baptist church. He has
twice been elected to fill the office of
mayor, which position he now occupies
He was nominated at the Congress
ional convention that met at TecumBeh
August 30th, and no better represent
tive cf the First District of Nebraska
could occupy a seat In the next Con
gross of the United States.
Oar Candidate For State Superin-
tendent. ,
Prof. W. A. Jones, A. M., was born
in Middlesex county, Connectlcutt,
June 16, 1830. He was educated in the
schools of his native state and at Will
Iston seminary, East Hampton, Mass.
He also took a course in the commercial
school of Nicholas Harris, Hartford,
Conn. He served three years as secre'
tary treasurer of a manufacturing com
pany in his native state. He voted for
"Fremont Jessie" In 1856 and started
the next day for Knox county, Illinois.
He taught school seven years in one
place in Knox county; was then elected
principal of the high schools, and sup
erintendent of the city .schools of
Aurora, 111.
He occupied this position from 1864
to 1870. During this .time he reorgan
ized tne schools of Aurora and did a
work for them which attracted
the attention of the school publio be
yond the limits of the state and which
led to his selection by the board of trus
tees of the Indiana State Normal School,
located at Terre Haute.
Knox college conferred the master's
degree upon Mr. Jones in 1868.
He became the first president of the
Indiana State Normal School January
1st 1870. He organized that Institution
Jan. 4, 1870, and remained as its head
till 1880,- when, on account of his own
health and that of his family, he re
signed by advice of his physician, came
to Adams county, Nebraska and settled
on a farm In the spring of 1883.
Having been a student and teacher
all his life, he did not cease being a
student when he settled on his farm,
but his studies were directed per force
to economic and social questions. The
character of his work as an educator is
estimated by others in the following
testimonials which were sent Mr. Jones
on learning of his nomination to the
office of superintendent of public In
struction by the great Populist party of
Nebraska.
From the October number of the In
diana School Journal we clip the fol
lowing. Wra. A. Jones, A. M , the first presi
dent of the Indiana State Normal School
has been nominated on the Populist
ticket of Nebraska for superintendent
of Public Instruction.
Mr Jones was president of our Normal
school for ten years and in that time
did more for the cause of education in
the state, as to its method and spirit,
than has been done by any other man.
His methods and his thought were not
appreciated by the masses at the time
and are even bow only beginning to re
alize their full force.
The acknowledged leaders In educa
tional thought today are standing on
the same platform occupied by him in
187U, when he assumed the presidency
of our State Normal.
Mr. Jones is a leader among educa
tional thinkers and he would honor the
highest educational office any state
could confer upon him. Nebraska
oould not do itself a greater honor, or
confer upon its children a greater bless
ing than to elect him, without regard
to the party, superintendent of publio
instruction.
Following Is another testimonial from
the superintendent of the Cleveland,
Ohio, publio schools.
Cleveland, O., Sept 17, 1894.
Office Superintendent of Instruction.
To whom it may concern:
This may certify that I was a member
of the faculty ot the Indiana State
Normal School for some years, during
the time in which Mr. W. A. Jones was
its honored president. In my judgment
no other man has done so much for the
elevation of the general school work of
Indiana as has Mr. Jones, the effect of
his work being yet clearly noticeable
throughout the state. He is ene of the
clearest thinkers of modern times.
Had he devolved himself to philoso
phy he would have ranked not far below
Dr. Harris.
He Is not a relation of mine and this
note is given in the Interest of educa
tlon rather than In the personal Interest
or Mr. W.'A. Jones.
Very truly yours,
L H. Jones,
Superintendent Schools.
A Young Popullet Statesman.
Frank D. Eager, Lancaster county
candidate for representative on the In
dependent ticket, was born in Rock
Creek precinct, Lancaster county, and
has never lived elsewhere. He at
tended the public schools in that pre
cinct, receiving his first Instruction in
a sod school house, known as the Gar
Creek school, and assisting his father
on the farm during vacation. At the
age of fifteen Mr. Eager entered the
State University, where he attended
for six years, completing the tcientifio
course and receiving his diploma on
the 7th of June, 1893. During this
period he managed to assist materially
in paying his expenses by delivering the
Lincoln dally newspapers. At the
commencement of his senior year he
received the .position of Instructor of
Military Science at Worthington Mili
tary Academy, which position he held
for tbe ensuelng year. The next year
he was given charge of the scientific
department of that academy, which he
held for one year. He then accepted a
more profitable offer from a Colorado
school, which he was, however, com
pelled to resign, on account of the death
of his brother, which rendered it neces
sary for him to remain at home.
Mr. Eager furnishes an apt illustra
tion of what the "wild and woolly west"
and particularly Lancaster county, can
do In the way of producing men. The
nomination of Mr. Eiger for representa
tive by the Populist convention was re
ceived with enthusiasm. His remarks,
in accepting the same, were character
istic and met with the approbation of all.
Oar One Armed Candidate.
John W. Wilson, Populist candidate
for State Auditor, was born in the state
of Indiana In the year 1 833. In October
1861 enlisted as a private In Company
H, 57th Regt. Ind. Vols. In 1863 was
promoted to 2nd Lieut. In 1864 lost his
right arm In battle and was honorably
discharged by special order of . Secre
tary of War. Since the war the most
of his time has been occupied In news
paper work. He homesteaded land in
Keith county, Nebraska, andhas carried
on farming since 18S5 in that county.
Came to Nebraska in 1879. Ts at pres
ent county judge of Keith county Neb.
Notice our new "ads" in the "3 cent
column. Watch that column closely
every week. It will make you money.
if?
FRANK D. EAGER.
NO. 16
PORTER BY ACCLAMATION.
Tbe Polftloal Cyelone' . at Clarke
Swept all Before It,
Central City, Neb., Sept. 14.
Editor Wealth Makers:
The Populists of Merrick county held
their county convention at this place on
the 12th, Inst., and amid muoh enthusi
asm renominated Han. W. F. Porter for
the legislature by acclamation. E. H.
Dorihlmer, county attorney was also
renominated la the same manner.
Since the congressional convention at
Norfolk the Demo fusion paper of this
vicinity have labored hard to secure
Mr. Porter's .defeat for renomlnation,
and this it the way they succeeded.
After the convention Cyclone Davis of..
Texas was Introduced by Mr. Porter to
a full house and for three houra he held
his audience as only an Interesting
speaker can. The court room was
crowded full to overflowing with people
of every political belief,' though the
meeting had been but poorly advertised.
When Mr. Davie finished speaking the
audience arose as one ' man and gave
three rousing cheers for the Texas
Cyclone. Every one present who hat
been heard to express an opinion of the
speaker admits that hit speech was the
finest thing he ever heard, and was all
truth. His speech it the topio of con
versation on the streets and publio
highways, by men of every party, and it
Is fair to presume will make many con
verts, and should Mr. Davit ever speak
again in Merrick county and will give
ten days notice we will give him an
audience of not less than 5,000 people.
. Honest John Powers was alto present
but owing to the lateness of the hour
did not speak. Mr. Powers will apeak
at Clarks at 2 p. m., the 22nd. The
political pot it just beginning to boll In
this county, and hen we get through
we expect to have the Republican gooso
well cooked. So here's three cheers for
Porter, Dorshimer, Devlne and the
whole state ticket.
N. G. Admire.
Dale Renominated by Acclamation.
Wilcox, Neb., Sept. 17, 1894.
Editor Wealth Makers:
Saturday September 15, the conven
tion for the 28th Senatorial district met
at Wilcox and renominated by acclama
tion, without a dissenting vote, W. F.
Dale, the present Senator from thia
district.
An immense crowd of about 2,000
people were present to listen to Hon.
W. A. McKeighan, Hon. John Powers
and "Cyclone" Davis of Texas. The
Atlanta Quartette furnished the music
and was greatly appreciated. Never
did the great political truths receive
closer attention, for men of all parties
were there, and one and all pronounced
It a grest success and seemed to endorse
our great reformers. This is the great
est meeting Wiloox has had for years.
Yours, D.
Newt of Campaign Meetings.
Cyclone Davis talked to a large au
dience at Tecumseh the 20th, holding
their closest attention three solid hours
while he expounded the three great
Populist doctrines of money, land and
transportation.
Judge Holcomb and Judge Wilson
addressed an audience at Seward the
20th which crowded the court house,
with many standing. Holcomb talked
two hours on the tariff question, the
management of the state finances and
the maximum freight bill, and showed
up the corruption record of the Repub
lican state officials.
The Democrats of the First congres
sional district nominated Weir, Popu
list, on a platform not antagonizing
Populist principles. Small attendance
reported. If Populists are acceptable
to the old party why keep up a separate
organization longer?
The campaign was opened by the
Fillmore county Populists September
15th, Judge Holcomb and Prof. Jonet
addressing a large outdoor meeting1 at
Geneva. The Judge talked on local '
matters chiefly.
The Pawnee county Democrats en
dorsed Cleveland, Morton and Bryan,
and favored fusion with the Populists.
Think of the mixture which we are
asked to fuse with.
Subsorlbe for The Wealth Makers