tit
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iiatt
Vol. XIV.
LINCOLN, NEB., FEB. 5, 1903.
No. 37..
THE APPEAL TO REASON
'Populist Edition" of Half a Million Copies
Attacks The Independent in a Page
Article
The "populist edition" of the Ap
peal to Reason has reached this office.
It has also reached the homes of
probably fifty thousand Nebraskans
and the homes of 450,000 outside the
Primarily the object of this edition
was to secure new subscribers to The
Appeal. It was prepared especially to
"appeal" to populists and entice then
into the "kangaroo" camp. This term
is not intended in an offensive way,
but simply to call attention to the fact
that there are two socialist parties:
The S. L. P.'s, or "skunks," as The
Appeal by inference calls them; and
the social democrats or socialists,
dubbed "kangaroos" by the S. L. P.'s.
The leading articles were specially
prepared in order to not frighten thr
populists into whose hands the edi
tion was placed. Wayland himseli
did a stunt telling "What Socialism
Is," being a series of short para
graphs telling what would happei
. "under socialism." A. W. Ricker is
sued "A Call to Arms," an open let
ter to the "old populists who startle!
capitalism in 1892." And the whole
office force joined in preparing a full
page advertisement for The Indepen
dent under the reassuring title, "So
cialists Not Purchasing Gold Bricks.'
In view of the socialist idea of in
trinsic value and that gold is the
"universal equivalent," a few bricks
.of that material might help them to
destroy "capitalist production."
. "Below," says this page ad., "we
-publish an extract from an editorial
comment on our populist edition by
-the 'Nebraska Independent,' a pop
enlist paper published at Lincoln, Neb.
The Independent is the only paper
of GENERAL CIRCULATION in
the United States that still
pretends to teach populism. The oth
ers have all died. It is difficult to ac
count for the continued existence of
this paper on any other ground, thavt
that it has been necessary to the
democracy, and has been sustained by
them. Its make-up and general ap
pearance is almost identical with that
of Mr. Bryan's Commoner. The In
dependent through the last six yeais
of its existence -has exhausted its vi
tality in attacks on mid-road pop
ulists and socialists. Both of these
organizations have interfered with
the successful issue of the disgraceful
surrender of populist leaders in the
. fusion of 189C. The Independent has
never exhibited any affection for tLr
straight populist or the socialist uu
til the past few weeks, when there has
been a studied effort to please both
Jo Parker's mid-road manifesto has
been published in its columns, and
now we have a bouquet thrown in our
direction as follows:
Here's success to your populist,
edition, Mr. Wayland. May it do
a world of good. If you can unite
the warring factions in your par
tyand we fail to do so soon
you will get a big share of the
populist vote. But if we quit
fighting among ourselves and it
begins to look as if we may the
"scattered forces of populism"
will be reformed in line of battle
under our own banner. Nebras
ka Independent.
"We acknowledge the good will im
plied in the above article, but the
closing lines cannot be permitted to
pass without comment. Now the edi
tor knows full well that the people's
party can nevpr again become a fac
tor in the politics of this nation, as a
distinct party organization. The rea
son is obvious: its lenders sold out
the movement to the democrats in '9C
and none of these men would be trust
ed again. There i? no usf5 to argu?
that the logic of the situation made
it necessary for the populists to nom
inate Bryan at St. Louis in 18. for
you know that Mr. Bryan and the
populist leaders arranged months be
fore, so that the people's party would
be placed in this humiliating posi
tion. Mr. Bryan so slated to the
writer in 1897. We cannot but be dis
trustful of the good intentions of The
Independent for we know that there
is another deal on foot to arrange an
other logic of events." And following
this is a harangue about W. II. Hearst
which lack of space forbids reproduc
ing here.
The 'Appeal purposely misunder
stands The Independent's position to
ward both socialists and mid-roaders.
The Independent has opposed social
ism as preached by The Appeal bu'
it has never had any personal attack:;
on sincere socialists. It has oppose 1
mid-roadism, and those honestly be
lieving in it, because it believed som
reform is better than none. And it
has attacked the personality of some
mid-roaders because it knew them to
be dishonest or, to be more exaci.
it knew them to be dishonest in their
mid-road movement.
The Appeal may be as "distrustful
of the good intentions of The Inde
pendent" as it chooses. That is :i
matter of indifference to The Ind -pendent.
It is the "only paper of
GENERAL CIRCULATION in the
United States" that still teaches pop
ulism because it has steadfastly contin
ued to teach populism anr!
just as steadfastly refused to
yield to the suggestions of the
great advertising agencies to change
its name and become a "farm jour
nal." Not a dollar of democratic
money ever helped to keep it alive,
except the many dollars for subscrip
tions received individually from dem
ocrats. The Independent has worked
in harmony with Bryan democrats, be
cause Bryan democracy is a long step
toward populism or because populism
is real democracy. Whenever the
democratic organization shows that it
has forsaken the platforms of 189C
and 1900. then The Independent has
done with further fusion or co-operation.
"Mr. Bryan so stated to the writer
in 1897." What? That he and the
populist leaders had arranged months
before the St. Louis convention to
place the people's party in a humiliat
ing position. That is certainly a seri
ous charge if true and a damnable
lie if it isn't. Who is the "writer" to
whom Mr. Bryan stated this astound
ing thing? Where did he say it to the
writer? The democratic convention
was July 7, 1896, and the populist,
July 22, 189G. Evidently if the
"writer" tells the truth the populist
leaders and Mr. Bryan made all ar
rangements to have Mr. Bryan nomi
nated at Chicago.
This hemming and hawing and hint
ing about leaders selling out the pop
ulist movement has gone tar enougn
without some reasonable proof. Lei
us have it. We may differ as to fun
damental principles, or as to the best
method of securing the reforms W3
ask, but let us stick to the truth in
making statements of fact. The Inde
pendent 'calls upon The Appeal "writ
er" for a more specific and satisfac
tory statement of what Mr. Bryan
"stated" to him in 1897 and until
that is done, orands the whole thing
as a malicious lie.
Bricks Without Straw
Editor Independent: Tom Reed said
before he died that the people of this
country should be especially happy be
cause all were employed. I do not
quote his language. I want you to
inform your readers and the world
of something they did not know be
fore, and that is that the Israelites
should also have been extremely hap
py when Pharaoh had them making
bricks without straw, for they cer
tainly were all employed, and at al
most as good pay as our present work
men get. II. D. ALBRIGHT.
Watsontown, Pa.
Mr. George Kennan, whose writings
on Siberia, Cuba, and the Martinique
disaster, have made him known both
as a brilliant descriptive writer and
as a careful student of political and
social conditions, has spent much time
recently in studying the history of
the extraordinary "hold up" of th;
stale of Delaware by Mr. Addicks. In
throe articles, the first of which ap
pears in the Fr-bruary magazine num
ber of The Outlook, he will tell this
story in all its detaiR The record
of corruption, blackmailing, and chi
canery atf here rel-ated has no parallel
in American political history.
Readers of The Independent should
examine the advertisements in its col
umns. It will pay you to read them
and take advantage of the bargains of
fered. Always mention The Independent.
PLUTOCRACY IS ORGANIZED
Already Prepared to Conduct the Next National Campaign Along
the Same Old Lines of Deceit and Ridicule. 2
THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC LEAGUE
Composed of Trust Companies and Their Officials, Bankers and Subsidized
Magazines and Newspapers in All Parts of the Country.
ITS LITERATURE FREE TO EVERYONE.
Thi week we publish below the name3 of eome of the mombers and promot
ers of The National Economic League taken from one of their letter heads. The
correspondence originated over some articles appearing in The Coming Nation, of
Rich Hill, Mo. It shows clearly the methods and, thorough organization of the
money power. Look over the list of officials and their connections. Do ynu think
their object in promoting "The National Economic League" is to protei t the in
terests of the plain people of the country? Do you want Grover Cleveland, trust
attorney and other things, prominent member as he-is, directing tho political af
fairs of this country again ? He is hand in glovo with tho money power and al
ways was. Look over the list and you will iind other names as much despised as
his.
The object of Tho National Economic League and its methods are best told
in the following let.er brought to light by Tho Coming Nation. The same attacks
and charges that are made in it against The Coming Nation are madV against Tho
Independent and every other publication that dares to assert its independence
and refuses to bow tho knee to mammon. Those that money won't buy they will
maliciously misrepresent or destroy by any means possible.
"THE INJURY OF ONE IS THE CONCERN OF ALL."
The Independent does not agree with The Coming Nation in many things but
it concedes to its editor and the publishers sincerity of purpose and the right to
publish the truth na they see it. The man who denies freedom to another cannot
long preserve it for himself.
The letter from The National Economic League was addressed to the cashier
of a bank in Missouri and was as follows:
A PA LIST national economic League
Hoard of Editorial Associates kkttjvk ctnunrru
CONTRIBUTORS AND ENDORSERS 0EN. STEWART I. .WOODFORD (Ei-Mtnirtw to Sjulni, Pamnirr.
HON. SILAS II. DI'Ti HER (President Hamilton Trust To.), (H.nati niTkUKlu.
, , ,,.... ... , CH AS A. MOORE (Manniu, Maiwrll Moore.
K. E. rl.ARK,nrnlCW rwducor. WfJ or .ijDWKt NIMH KM (Ircsldent nubcturrn' Aviation of Nn. Tori)
Railway Conductors of America, tflir Rap- (jirOTAV II. IK'HWAU (North titrana Lloyd . H. 0.
. U'-l ,,.... .. . SAMUEL SPENCER, (mrldrni rotitliam Railwar RriWm)
PROP. J. (J. 8 ITIRMAN, Pmurtcnt Cornell HON. CHAH. A. SClllftRBN (Ki.M.tor of llmokl.n'l, Ureas. National Hfcrj. Ajfntlatia afC. 8.)
J:"iT.,ilP;,!i!?wl-.J;',TO i. .11 . 110. 'JOHN C- M.4HJIRE (F.s-Surrejor Port of N. Y.i
PROF. llrN.1. IDE YU1EEI.ER, President llnl- THOMAS R. MORTON, kcrb-tabi. v
Tfnltj nf California, Brkele j. (.aliforn a. A. 11. MATTOX, EnrroaiAi, Manata.
PROF. WM.R. HARPER, President UnlveMtt.i u
of Chicago, 1 hieafro, 111. '
FRANK P. SAW EST, -li, P. ComrotaioniT of
i'iSdSk"LC-H-.iita. "er. NEW YORK,
flub, Ronton, Mi. ,
JOHN 11. PA-mKSON. President National Cash . ,' , , ,
ftarlstrr Co., Par ton. Ohio,
WM. H. BALDWIN, JR., President L. I. U. R. r '
Co., Now York CRT. '
J. L. GREATHIXGER, President Brooklyn
Heights R. R. Co.. prookljn, N. Y. PAaliiflr Tn t.
GROVER CLEVEI AMI, El-President of Ui. CaSLUer UVtlC,
Vnited States, Princeton, N. J.
O. P. ACBTIN. Chief of Bureau of Statistics,
Washington. D. C. - .......... II O.
WM. A. McCORKLE, Ei-Govemor of West
virtfn-.,(h.uiwtm w. va. MtDfar Sir: Your interesting letter of January i!ith. ad-
JOHN II GRAY, Profrssor of Political Sdraof, , . . ., u l i , . u , V, ' " .
NoVthl rtmcmity. Ev.,too, 111. dressed to In Hod. b. H. Hutcher, Trenanrer of tho National
j. i.. m. ci kry, 8ec The Pcabojjf Funi, Economic I paeue Rui President of t he Hamilton Trust f o . lias
j IIkyTn 'i-.'-iieut. Gov, ot Ken-uok,. referred to n.o. Allow me to tlank yon, for Mr. Duteher and
(vv'.".m k. tue Lenpue. for your kind interest in the work you are trying to fio.
ciiAKi.KSA.H'HiEiiEN,Ei-MTorofi-rook- l am familiar with the Socialist paper called The C minij Aa
tmom'p 'eg "v ..tw. a. r., " "V"1 ':a V ?! Pa'jy rrceiv. " copi. s. in which they attack and
" rim inn. i. omo. ndictile the National Lcononuc League.
J. A. MUtli, fresiihnt The Howe Scale Co, 'J'll ' iWtOIia. hCUmimiC IjfiHIIC lff OYJI tl iZP(l ) IflOUghl-
Rutunii. vt. Tnui( ful.carefvl mm, yowl citizen, for thr f.r;rr,) imrjxm of court er-
''Vo'i wliulrrrt. Nc-'wk ." ' oi ttDij mrh iiuriHli iry and norrhMir publication an flic Coming
gi ft'av ii M'HWAit. Mr. mK JVii'iifi. The business men of the country do not know that there
wpVu'v-k 'i'S rt" u"iru.r. l ousands of vile sheets like this that are kept alive by cicit-
pro,i cw . i. IDR '" pa sions of the working people.
gko'rge ii utRis, Prefiiicnt Amhmt cdiise, 1 lie National Economic League believes that (he greatest dan-
u DrN.;? sec-, xatum.. wrfwrf tlintthreatens capital today in all lines of productive industry
Mf-r . l'wion! 'm w-' pomes from socialism and Haas-hatred. Th bitter feHine against
C. I. CARPENTER, Mana-nr I ahor I'cpi., weailli HT 1 HKlUHlTy IS K I I li lllg great, IIPHO Way Oy IDC IDUIlCnCO Ot
Na.inf.aica.fc- u,?,i",'.,' "V!?", ' the Socia istic press and Yellow Journalism. Anti Trust legislation
RT RtV J I. SPM-I'ING, ArelihUtcn., Proria, .... ' ... . J t t l i- 'vfiwawwu
in by both pirties and the exactions of tno Labor I rnons.
rt. rev. wm. henry ELDER, ArrMikhup, Conservative men of all professions roTirpdn I hat OUR facial
cincinna-i (ihin commeicial itttci fi x are in treat danger of brino ovfrthrown.
WilTJy-" '' To counteract tl.eae evil influence", w hich. if not r hected, will
wm t. 'potter. Justice of Fuprrmc Court, bring National rlisas'er, the National Economic League has organ-
john v 'f ;rwfll Trca,.The jhn v. Pa, mi artial non-political movemcul, to be under the direct
w'-iico -ilit-ato iii. supervision of tepreseutativo men in the Manufacturing world,
.i. ii. kir'ki.am..' chancellor vauini in I'm. 1 abor Leaders, Commerce, College, Agriculture, Church, Lav,
cr.iiT. Na.hiiiic.Tenii. Transportation. Newspapers. M agazines. etc. -
PRZ c.,1 in Hecognizing the fact that etlueation is the most potent factor
d m.' parky. PrMi.imt Nation.ii Asn'n of in overcoming these evils t.l at threatpn Capital, the League, as a
" l'Mt',.r,l Vai, j. ii I v.njc, ii uir .-ouoiini "irrsjn k'vi.wwa, t,j i vill III Rl b
w. w. iiAEDwiN, Pre-Mmt St. i ouia, K.okuk CPrg for rnem herslii p wi II be established m factories, workshops,
Sorthwestrrn r. R.Uur iiifton. mi rips, in ii Is, etc.. throughout the United States, and by an I'kluca-
A'.tio'n; Hi1''" ,V'r tional ' orrespondence it will be the aim of the League to teach.
riiiikkt mohan. Moraa Br. to., sh;i- the work ingman that Socialism and Has hatred are rtisjistrous to
CHARLES CRAMP. Vm Cramp Soiw.Sbi
LniUcrs. PMIalrlphia, Pa.
TlloMH C. SE.'.Rl 'll, Ei l'resc'cnt National
Aw-nofMrer... l"Wla.lclt.Ma. Pa.
C. II. WIU.IAMf ON, Prudent National Apple
Shipper.' Aw'n. Quin.7. III.
THEOlMlItK MAItntrRU, V. P. American Eco
nomic Am'n, Paltimore, M1.
0SROKNE HOWES, rocy RoarJ ofrire Indcr-
ih-rTlter. t!.w!on, Jlai.'.
WM. FORTUNE. Prtildint Indiana htaU: Hoard
of 1'r.mmcr.. ln'iiinaiM.li, In-1.
JAMES G. HAMILTON. Scc American B.-ct
Snzar Co., Na..3ii .trcet, Nrw Y nrk.
L. HRADEORD PRINCE. Pre.id. nt New Mc.ico
Col ece of A.Tl.nlture an 1 Mchanic ArU,
EiKrimcnt Stntio;i. Santa I'e. New Mcilco:
At.KAAMiER H REVEU., PrcJ-i'int A. II.
RevcllCo..Chi.aw. 111.
fHIRI.FH liri.lil Rl. Pre.il.-nt Elirfn Nat'l
V as.'i. o. t hicar'. III.
HENRY I.. T.iDDAKD, EdiUir '-Mail and
E ipn-..", New York Cit.T
AIHII.PII (K-HS, PuMi.her N. Y. Timr"aail
l'h'ia-lclphla ' ll.Tr ". N'w York.
CIMRI.EH H. GRAfTY. Mr. The rihimnro
..."nn. Dnctor Tlic A..'oii c.l Prci.,
Pa!tm..-e Md
COl,. IIVRKY S. NEW. Edilor and TiiMldicr
liida-aj. li Joiirn.l". In iia-.a l-.l.
CIMI'.I.KS A. DAVIS, rditor and I'uidi.hcr
T.i.1 ArUlril. r". New Vt.rk Ci..
JJMFM M. CARTNEY, Trca'. an i Grn'l Mir.
J.,t.niil:-t-' ll..:nc Ki,!.d lo-crn-.l'..lial l-.ai.c
fpr, -. flu' I'hilvl. h.l'.a. la.
( Illill:s KIRI'IIIK'FF. t.lit. -lira Vf",
. 1 ,.rk l in.
S E. M.iKE i're.:,!!-! IMIiOf I'ldianiJ.-ii.
-.Sc.r;it-1 '. In.l'.fnt-''i,. I'.d.
CII M FS 'I liOIN.i. M.in- Editor ' Fnxi-
nccrinl Mituitc-". New V . .1 k ".tv,
S AMI El, MATHER. Ir. Ore, eicv.lml Ohio.
his interr'st-'. and only by harmony and co-operation b)-twnn nn.
ital and Labor can tho United States maintain its Commercial
supremacy.
The League will alo, at an early date, issue an illustrated
publication printed in various languages, to be devoted to the in
vetigati n, discussion anil study of these (jn stions, with tho ob
ject of overcoming the v.cions influence of the t-oHalist press.
C'Thix i an e of ilhixtralUmx, and picture tell a ttory to every
human thou h .")
All pub'ications of the League will b rent free to the leader
of thougut, prominent Labor mcu. Ministers, Employers and
workmen throughout tho United -tates.
Tho Press Committee of the League will snd to newspapers
throughout the country these publications and carefully prepared
artie'ea. Already over !W important papers have agreed to pub
lish same.
t hrmigh these sources the League can rench the masses with
facts and figures touchir g their interests, aridoprosing -ocialistic
ideas, to tach them that if wo are to continue to lead in the
world's industries and keep mrican Labor ami Capital remnn- t
crativHy employed, it must be through the organization of itiJ-js.
try into liirg'' units aad directed b the bet talent. 1
Surely I he effectiveness n educational work was clearly and I
forcefully shown in the Nat ionl Campaign of 189 , wlin the issue '
was the uoid Mnimani as ugainst. me Miver liito i. rite margin
of victory by the Republican party was very small, and it narrow
ly e-eaped defeat.
Only by the literature that was sent out by the Republican
party mid ausil'inrv organiz itions. educating them to the danger
iu the election of Bryan, was tliecountry savetl from that disaster.
I take pleasure in ei "losing a prospectus of the Leagun, which
may give you better information as to its aims and purposes. I
a'so enclose a partial list of the men prominent in commercial and
professional life, who not only endorse tlr Le igue and support it by fiuancial aid, but have con
sented to be members of the Board of Editorial Associates, and will contribute articles on Tital
social (questions of the tlay, relating particularly to Socialism, Capital and Labor, the Trusts,
Co Oreration. Taxation and other topics widch have a bearing upon good government.
'1 he Lcatrue in Its work is supported entirely by voluntary subscription from public spirited citizens. It
Is not an organization for pay or profit. Alt we desire to do Is to pay the actual and legitimate expenses, such
as printing, postage, clerical assistance, etc., and the expenses are kept down to the very lowest possible
amount.
1 enclose Butiscrlption blanks, such as are being tilled out and sent to us by individuals, banks, business
organizations and others who believe the work of the League should be sustained. It would be very gratifying
. J
r '
