JULY 9, 1903.
THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT
and fellow committeemen; Wliat of
the west? Can we once again reclaim
the congressional and state legislative
seats we once had? . .. Isn't it plain
that the path of victory does not lie
through combination with those who
tolerate our principles only that our
votes may help them to secure office?
We know where the south will be
when Wall street regains control of
the democratic party; but Is the west
ready to sound the note for an advance?"-
("The People's Party," pp.
1,-2, Independent, May 28.)
R. C. Crenshaw, R. F. D. 4, Hopkins
ville, Ky.: "If the democrats adopt
a platform along the lines of 96 and
1900 and nominate men in sympathy
with the platform the populists will
vote witli them. But if the reorgan
izes get control of the convention and
make a platform in the interest of
trusts and money combines, and place
a reoreanizer of the Cleveland type
at the head of the ticket, then all pop
ulists and democrats with .. populist
tendencies will bolt, or revolt, and act
independently. If the populists have
an organization sufficient to form a
nucleus it is more than probable that
the disaffected element would rally
around that rucleus and try and build
a party of sufficient strength to carry
enough states to hold the' balance of
power and throw the election into the
- house of renresentatives: as we tried
to do in 1832 A short platform cov
ering a few of the most important is
sues, clear cut and distinct, from the
old isms of the past should be the
policy of the populist party. If the
break comes next year, as t believe it
will, who will be the Joshua to lead
us to the land of promise? This ques
tion Is important Keep your eye out
for him." ("Kentncky Populists," p.
5, Independent, May 28.)
Mark Foster, Washington, D.-C:
"Populists, where they are numerous
enough to elect their men, can ar
ford to put up independent candidates,
but in the very many places where
ttey are only a third party, and a
small one at that, it is discouraging to
work for candidates whom they know
in advance will b defeated; yet by
selecting and indorsing the best can
didates of the old parties, the populists
could assume the prerogative of decid
ine the election every time. Then the
old parties would defer to them, and
put up their best element; for in both
the old parties are plenty of men who
personally are superior to what their
rarties in general have hitherto been.
Such men would be put up more and
more; the old parties would do the
nominating, and the populists would
do the electing, and we would have the
offices filled by men holding populistic
views. What difference then if they
are not members of the party?" ("Tac
tics for Populists," p. 10, Independent,
May 28.)
.Hugo Preyor, 74 Muirson st, Cleve
land, O.: "There is still a populist
organization in this state. I am the
secretary. We have, however af
filiated with the democratic party
since the first Bryan campaign. I do
Dot know of any populists who have
gone into the republican party; some,
perhaps one-tenth, have joined hands
with the socialists. Our future action
will depend upon the action of the
. democratic party. If that party will
in national issues favor the Bryan
platform we can indorse it; or if in
slate and local issues it will advocate
the platform of Hon. Tom L. Johnson,
who favors home rule, single tax, mu
nicipal ownership of ' all public utili
ties, who opposes trusts, combines and
traitors in office, we can support it
without sacrificing one iota cf our
principles. The financial question is
in my mind still the most important
question and until that is satisfactorily
settled, not only along the silver, but
the absolute fiat line, the country will
Witness in the future what it has in
the past panic, bankruptcy and ruin.
The present tariff holds the structure
only temporarily." ("Ohio Populists,"
p. 1, Independent,' June 4.) v
Laurie J. Quinby, Omaha, Neb.: 'I
believe that the people's party today
occupies the only rational ground be
tween the outrages imposed by the re-
i publican and gold democratic parties
ana tne insanity oi me sociauai par
ty." ("Populist Duty," p. 3, Indepen
dent, June 4.) '
just the ground on which to stand.
Those principles meet the demands
of the masses today." ("Michigan
Populists,'", P. 1, Independent, June,. 4.)
Alex Kent, Washington, D. C:
"Personally, I think tup people's par
ty as & party is dead. But all tnat
was true in its principles remains true
still, and will to the end. I do not,
however, look for. any embodiment of
these principles in any party plat
form that can possibly be born out of
present " conditions. Those in the
democratic party who are in active
sympathy with populist principles are
too few, In my opinion, to warrant
eny hope of victory through fusion in
1904." ("District, of Columbia," p. 1,
Independent, June 4.)
IT
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F. S. Merrill, S. 7 Post st, Spokane,
Wash.: "I am not much in politics
now. While I am as firm a believer as
ever in the principles advocated by the
populist party, I am of the opinion that
several generations more fools must
br raised before the people at large
will vote their own welfare and inter
ests. The populists are .not. strong in
this state; I think, to some extent for
the reason that about ' six years ago
we unfortunately elected a few bad
people to the legislature who through
their action brought the party into
disrepute. I take some reform litera
ture because T feel as, though I ought
tc support the movement; but I do
not read much along that line as it
makes me mad and interferes with my
f peace of mind to see what chunips
people are in. whooping it up for the
old parties and nothing." ("Wash
ington Populists," p. 1, Independent,
June 11.) . '' .
Edward S. Grece, 34 Hodges bldg.,
Detroit, Mich.: "I am frank to admit
that I have not faith sufficiently con
vincing to me, to assure me that Mr.
Bryan and his supporters can, or will
be able to resist the power of money
and promises bit, advantage,'-1 office,
emolument, 'success' which the'reor
ganizers are able to make and fur-
, nish. In my' judgment the people's
party should be reorganized in; every
state where possible. The next d6ni6
ciatic national convention will doubt
less split in two; the reorganizes ob-
, taining control. ' Two democratic par
ties will not do; followers of the Kan
sas' City platform must have a place
to go. The people's party standing on
the grand principles of the Omaha
platform "and other national platforms
since that of 1892 will afford them
El tweed Pomeroy, East Orange, N.
J.: "There is not any of-the populist
party left in New Jersey; it was never
very large, but I do not .believe that a
meeting called at present would bring
together, ten men, and there is no use
trying to revive it at present; it would
be impossible. . The socialist party has
absorbed the radicals and the demo
cratic party the conservatives of the
old populist - party, , and a few have
gone republican. . Of course, I , would
be very glad to see it revived, but one
man cannot make a public movement
I think the same is true of all the
Ftates east of the Alleghanies and
probably also of, many of them west"
("New Jersey Populists," p. 4, Inde
pendent, June 11.)
Diicr. etc.
igood hatchet. - . . ."
Dept. 6, Mllford, Neb.
as they may be, taese are the facts, and
nothing Is to be gained by.- shutting
our eyes to them." ("uiontana Pop
ulists," -p. 3, Independent,. June 18.) i-
D. L. Van Meter, Welcome, Wyo.:
"In my ; pinion the most important
thing to do is to organize, and it
should be done soon. Our platform
should -be brief, clean-cut and to the
point. We need, say notning about
trusts. There's only one way to reg
ulate trusts, and that's to abolish them
by government ownership of all modes
of. transportation. The original plat
form of the : popufist party is good
enough and broad enough for all of
us to stand on. I would like to see
all the populists get together some
time this year and thoroughly reor
ganize the party, so we can have at
least a few workers Jn each precinct
in the United States organized and
ready for work next year. There has
been no populist party in, th's state
since 1898, though there are many
1 voters who believe in our principles.
The time is ripe -for. reorganization.
Let every man who believes in reform
put his shoulder to the wheel and give
the car of progres a lift." ("Wyoming
Populists," p. 3, Independent, June 18.)
S. A. Lowrance, Mooresville, N. C:
"I fear we have no people's party or
ganization in this state. ... Ridicule
has been one of the greatest means
used to . put our people back to the
democratic party. As for myself, I
can never go back to it, especially in
this state. The democrats here are
rotten to the core, with no hope of
reform that I can see, and not much
hope in the near future to get a fair
election nothing but a revolution can
do that ' I should have taid also that
another great cause of disruption In
our party was the division of the lead
ers between 'leading issues and the
national ticket." ("North Carolina
Populists," p. 2, Independent, June 18.)
S. S. Smith, Ogden Utah: (No
state organization.) "We hardly know
what to do but wait. There are just
as many populists as ever, in fact
about four times as many as there
were prior to the education we gave
the democrats "during the campaigns
of 1892 and 1896. Should the demo
crats" declare -for the initiative and
referendum and for the government
ownership of railroads, -you could not
organize the populists in an indepen
dent party in Utah, unless the demo
crats were to nominate his royal high
ness, Cleveland, to carry out their de
mands." - ("Utah Populists," p.. 2,
Independent, June 18.) - "
T. S. Hogan, Butte, Mont: "I ad
mire your persistency In adhering to
the party after its death,- but that it
is dead too dead to require burial
cannot be denied by any sane . man.
As for myself, while I vote with the
socialists, I-am taking-no public part
in political affairs. Practically all of
the active populists of Montana have
joined the socialists or withdrawn
from the field and the name of the
people's party Is never mentioned in
any serious discussion of political con
ditions. ;it Is true that in the past
three years some vigorous trafficking
has been done with the organization,
but even as a commercial commodity
it has depreciated to nil. Lamentable
Jerry Simpson, Roswell, N. M.:
"As to the wisdom of keeping up the
fight through the populist party, or
rot, in my opinion a good deal de
pends on. what the democrats do next
year. If the Bryan wing of the party
should control the action of the next
national democratic convention, I
would be in favor of joining forces
with them. -However, Ltrust'tbe best
counsel will prevail." ("Jerry Simp
son," p. 7, Independent, June IS.)
Geo. A. Groot, Cleveland, O. : "I
believe that the democratic party at
its next national convention will adopt
the republican party's position upon
the money question and will attempt
to create a fake Issue over which the
campaign of 1904 will be fought. If It
should then :t is safe to conclude that
there is no hope of relief through the
democratic party and the people's par
ty must take the "initiative in the great
work of revolutionizing the American
government at the polls." ("Ohio
Populists," p. 1, Independent, July 2.)
THE SOUTHERN MERCURY.
-Elsewhere in this issue we publish
the informal call of Hon. J. A.'Edger
ton, secretary of the fusion populist
national committee, for a consultation
meeting at Denver, July 27.' We have
received a personal invitation 'to at
tend and shall do so if circumstances
permit We are glad to see this" step
taken, as it indicates a desire for1 ac
tion along Independent lines bylllbose
who hitherto have been wont to rely
on old party , promises and alliances.
Time has shown the mistake of fusion
with either of the old parties, and riow
those of. both wings of the, populist
partyoatj . honorably bury their .; past
differences and line uo, together .for-. a
united struggle, for .1904,
We hope every Texas populi?t wtyo
tan will attend this Denver meeting,
as upon It much will ; depend. - , ,
Though the meeting is to be infor
mal and unofficial , and ,not restricted
to populists, it Is hoped that the mem
bers of the national committee of. both
the fusion ists and the middle-of-the-roaders
will avail themselves of the
opportunity to hold a joint conference
and agree.rupon a line of action which
will bury, all past differences and sol
idify the army of dissatisfied voters in
this country. -
The Mercury will be pleased to hear
from any of our Texas brethren who
may. contemplate attending the meet
ing and if twenty or more can be
found who will attend, we will make
special arrangements for, them. This
action we feel will. receive the hearty
indorsement of every , man who loves
his people better than his party, who
U disposed to grant honestv of opinion
to those who differ with him. who be
lieves In and will labor to bring about
unity, harmony and solidity among
the oppressed all over the land, Mil"
ton Park, in Southern Mercury , June
THE MISSOURI WORLD. .
- J. A. ; Edgerton, secretary of the ,
people's party (Sioux Falls organiza-r,'
tion), has issued a call for a national '
cr nference of reformers to meet at .
Denver, Colo., July 27. Mr., Edgerton
stnaa nnf lacita tha noli at SflM'fltnrv
hut mordv ) an Indlvlilnall Thfl
meeting is. not to be an official, one, ""
but-simply an informal conference.
We presume Mr. Edgerton issued , the '
call , upon consultation wh others,
tut whom he consulted we do., not j
know. The first we l;new of the call
was when mention of it was made 'n
thfl nreas disnatches.. Mi. EJserton
invites, fusionists, mid-roaders,., .ad
vanced democrats, lovers of liberty, to
r.rtpnd thfl rnnfprrtif p. ',
We do not anticipate a very, large.
attendance for tne reason tnat, it is
not official, and for the further reason ,
that the location is rather to one side. '
.While, the invitation to mid-roadcrsr
and reformers generally is no, doubt
in the utmost eood faith. , it 'is Prob
able the meeting is intended mere for '
a consultation of western populists '
than anything else.
Much good may come from the con-,
ference. There will be no doubt an
attendance of mid-roaders and I the
movement of the two wings, of the
party : toward consolidation may.' be
hastened along. But Mr. Edgprton's
call does not take the place of an offi
cial meeting of the two national com
mittees. What is needed to be done
i oVi 4- finm la n sffl n 1 ; ran ri lYi r Yt
the party. The ' fusion and mid-road '
commiuees snouia ne caiieu io mr.vi
at the same time and place, and these
committees should tale such action as 1
will speedily give us one and only one
rational organization. As one of our
correspondents said a few weeks ago, "
1 We are burning daylight" The 1904
campaign is near at hand, the ' work
tbat should be going on is delayed by
the continued existence of two separ
ate and conflicting organizations of
the people's party. ' - ,
We hope for good from the confer-'
opinion the calling of that conference
makes it all more necessary for speedy '
official party action. Dixon & Lank
ford, in Missouri World, June 24.
EDGERTON'S CERTIFICJATE.'
, I hereby certify that at a regularly.,
called meeting of the people's party '
national committee . held at Kansas
City, Mo., July 3 to 6, 1900, the fol
lowing motions were duly , made and
adopted: ' 7 , . J. , . -
1. 'gloved, That in the ,eventof ,a ,
Vacancy on the national vtlcket;. the
rrina nhairman" ta nnihrwir.pH tn rail
tl)e committee together."
2. 'Moved, That , the chairman or
vice chairman be authorized . to call
the committee together."
; 3. "Moved, That the committer now
adjourn,- subject to the call of, the
chairman or vice chairman."
I further certify that the adoption'
of-the second motion was for, the pur-
pose of covering a defect in the first
motion, it having been pointed out in
discussion that the first motion only
empowered the vice chairman to act
in case of a vacancy on the national
ticket The second motion was meant
to make this power general. This was
confirmed by the third motion.
I further certify that the said vice
Chairman, Hon. J. H. Edmisten of Ne
braska, at the, direction of the national
executive committee, exercised , this
1jWCI UJ tailing bi, . iuii uai.v.ii v-iii-
mittee to meet in the city of Chicago.
on August 27, 1A00; that the commit-,
tee so met and that the legality -of
such meeting was recognized -, by '
present and participating In the
meeting. J. A. EDGERTON, .
Secretary People's Party Nat'l Com.
Denver, Colo.
Karl Marx Edition, July 23, 1903.