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About The independent. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907 | View Entire Issue (July 30, 1903)
4 THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT JULY 30, 1903. KERN'S LEADERSHIP Mr. Van VorliU Eiprtuei the CenvUtlon mmtmm VMM m VSZI TT H J? tli Keorganizars Editor Independent: A meeting was called by an energetic and able young democrat, Edgar L. Maines, of Boone county, to meet in this city on July 4. Who, besides those attending, were Invited I do not know. Mr. Maines was made chairman, and upon taking the chair said the meeting had been called after consultation with a num ber of democrats known to be true and reliable supporters of the platforms of 1896 and 1900 and of Mr. Bryan The purpose of the meeting was stated, in substance, to be to offset certain in fluences working with the democratic party to subvert democratic principles and make the democratic party organ ization but little better than adjunct to the influences now in control of the republican party. The Hon. John V. l.ern, who head ed the state ticket in 1900 as the candidate of the party for governor, was present and was called upon first to pre?ent his views upon the move ment. He deplored the presence in the party of so many men, whose pur poses were selfish rather than philan thropic, and commended the effort to prevent such men from securing, by their skill in manipulation, notwith standing the overwhelming sentiment of the masses of the party, an aban donment by the party organization of the principles of the Kansas City plat form. He said In substance that the organization against that platform was, at this time, more complete and powerful in this state than it had ever been; that, notwithstanding 90 per cent of the party in the state were true to the principles, there was great danger that the party would be con trolled by a very few, who could get all the money they wanted because the purpose tby had in view was almost identical with the purpose of the in fluences now in control of the repub lican party. He commended the ef fort to form the proposed league, but was not disposed to have any rosy views about what it might be able to accomplish. He referred to the cam paign of the party in 1900, and said that under these influences there was practically no campaign on the part of the party in this state. Others spoke along the same line, and a com mittee was appointed to draft a con stitution, and the meeting adjourned until the afternoon. When the meeting had reassembled and the committee reported, pending the question upon adopting the re port, Mr. Kern again took the floor and, in a speech of about one hour, gave an outline of the manner in which Samuel E. Morss, Hugh Dough erty, James. Mur Jock and G. V. Men zies were selected as delegates-at-large by the state convention in 1900, and said that the sentiment of the convention was such that, if a minor ity report from the committee substi tuting other names for these gentle men had been made, it would have, without doubt, bean adopted. He then proceeded to give an account of the ac tion of the delegates sent to Kansas City, and how under the influence of such men as the delegates-at-large they misrepresented and betrayed the con stituency who sent them there. Mr. Kern proceeded to give instances of the baleful influences of such men upon the party, the most notable ex ample being the way in which the passage by the legislature of the rail road consolidation bill was secured; how certain men, regarded as influ ential democrats in certain localities, had worked with the representatives of special privileges, and had by decep tion induced democratic members of the legislature to support the measure that was so vicious that it needed only to bo read to know it to be so, and which was fortunately vetoed by the governor. When his attention was called to its vile provisions. He de plored the influence of such men upon the party, and called attention to what must be the result unless some such organization as that contemplated could be made. . He said the line of di vision between the people, who had to benefits from special privileges, and those to whom Fpctlal privileges had been granted mat bo made specific and distinct or there could be little hope that chn democratic party would be cr ccuM bo aictrKsful, or that dem ocratic pnr.clpK's could be preserved. A cemirJtttw war, appointed to draft a dec!ar:tlnn for the league which would mafco V.M lino of demarkation eo plain that it could not be evaded. Others apoke in a similar vein, but Mr. Kern's remarkr. were, of course, the most notable because of his promi nence in the party and known popular ity. There is no man in thh state today who can exercise tne muuence upon the party that he can. It is be lieved by those, who best know the situation, that he is the only man In the 'state who can lead a movement against the Iorss-Murdock-Dou,r"'rv-Menzies crowd to success. Those who heard his remarks were the more im pressed by them because it gave them hope that Mr. Kern would take up the gauge of battle in the interests of the people against those who represent special privileges whether out of or in the party. This meeting, and the proposed or ganization, is causing Mr. Morss (the Indiana member of the Fierpont Morgan-Standard Oil-Economic League at 13 Astor Place, New York city) no end of uneasiness. The Sentinel has con siderable to say about what was said in the meeting. I do not knowj, or care, from what source it got its -information. Language can hardly , he made too strong in the characteriza tion of the work of the democratic state headquarters in 1900. The work done there was under the control of men in and out of the committee, who did not do anything to secure the election of Mr. Bryan, and who did not want him elected. The Sentinel may shape up almost anything it pleases that embodies this fact and put the words in my mouth and I will not dis own them. But when it attempts to create the impression that silver re publicans were the only ones who talked in this meeting about the ac tion, in 1900, of the men who are now the reorganizers in this state, it is knowingly trying to create a false im pression. The Sentinel, after printing some things that it had been informed I said, came to me to know what I said. I repeated in substance wnat Mr. Kern had said, and that I had ap proved what he said. This is of little importance, and I refer to it only to call attention to the fact that the Sen tinel is very careful to cover up 'Mr. Kern by referring to him as the "previous speaker" whose wirds I said were true. The Sentinel knows, and I know as well as the Sentinel, that neither I nor any other silver re publican can do very much to make such a movement as the Jefferson league successful. Such a movement must come from the inside of the par ty, from men who have been long identified with it. Samuel E. Morss knows the power and influence of Mr. Kern in this state, and cannot disguise his anxiety and alarm about the name of Mr. Kern appearing in connection with what was said in this particular meeting. This accounts for the sub stitution, in the Sentinel's report of the short interview with me, of "a previous speaker" for "Hon. John W. Kern." It appears that the late secretary at headquarters has been trying to help Morss a littli, and he has thought he had done so smart a thing, when he originated a story out of his imagina tion, that he told it on the street be fore it was published. Now, Hawk ins is a real good fellow, and appears to be rather intelligent when he does rot branch out too much. He was, I am sure, a friend of Mr. Bryan, but it is doubtful if he knows why, or if he can give any good reason why he took such a dislike, during the cam paign of 1900, to George Fred Will iams that he designated him a "po litical yellow dog." Of course, if Hawkins wishes to assist Morss in misrepresenting me on the tariff ques tion, or any other, I shall not allow myself to he disturbed, because those who know him are not likely to ask bim to interpret the words of any speaker or the language of any writer. Of course, he thinks the democratic party will be better off without Chea dle and Van Vorhis, but when he adds U. S. Jackson of Greenfield to the number of which h thinks the party ought to be rid, he will find no re sponse except from that kind of dem ocrats who rejoiced when Mr. Bryan was defeated. What I would like to see is the democratic party place itself squarely on the side of the peorle who have no special privileges. I am not in an at titude to be able to give much assist ance, but my will Is good to do all I can to induce it to be true to the issues of 1896 and 1900. If Mr. Kern will take this burden upon himself, and make the fight that he is capable of making, the end of the Morss-Murdock-Dougherty-Men-zies influence in this state is at hand. FLAVIUS J. VAN VORHIS. Indianapolis, Ind. Iowa Crawdads J. F. Parker, Liberty Hill, Tex.: The populist party is not very lively here just now, but the principles are gain ing ground dally. It is only a ques tion of . time until it will win here. Direct legislation is the key-note of the whole thing, and it is growing more and more in favor as the days go by. Taken on the whole the managers of the Iowa democratic convention were a lot of shell-fish. If they were to come to Hutchinson, they would be captured by the small boys and sold at the rate of two for a cent for crawdads. The democratic party had assumed a positive progressive policy. It made two campaigns on that policy, and now these fellows propose to turn tail and run away from it, and abandon the fight. If they do not get licked after such ac tions there is something strange and not understood in the temper of the people. Hutchinson (Kas.) Gazette (dem.). The Iowa democrats are deceiving themselves instead of deceiving the voters. The time has passed when the intelligent, independent voters the voters that determine the issue of elec tion are to be caught with such stuff. The party that resorts to meaningless platitudes, dodges issues and at tempts to deceive the voters is invit: ing defeat and is deserving of defeat Milwaukee News. The Iowa democrats at their recent state convention voted down a propo sition to indorse their last national platform, and also declined by a deci sive vote to declare themselves in favor of government railroads in the event that "government control" should not prove effective. The party is now throwing off its mask, proving that its former protestations against the trusts and in favor of the people were merely to catch the reform vote. The leaders and managers of the dem ocratic party from its early history to the present have favored the ex ploiters of labor, notwithstanding many of the rank and file have thougnt and do think differently. The demo cratic party is sure to split wide open at its next national convention on economic questions, and there will be no other place for the liberal element to go but to the new, conscientious so cialist party. Those of all parties who are engaged in some useful avocation, will find a natural home there. Long Island (Kas.) Leader (soc). . . Louis F. Post of the Chicasro Public is of the opinion that the platform adopted by the recent democratic state convention in Iowa is not a vic tory for the reorganizers. He con tends that it breathes the spirit of the Kansas City platform of 1900. About this Iowa platform there is some difference of opinion. But what more could be expected in a state where even the republicans don't know what their platform means, and both factions are claiming the victory? All this confusion and contention erowine out of the senseless verbiage of plat forms is a good text for a Dolitkrl lecture to platform makers. Platforms in these days consist chieflv of hot air, exceedingly rarefied, to a point even, where they can't sustain a very low order of political life. All that any political party sincerely believes could be expressed in a dozen or two of well worded lines. The issues could be, but are not, made clear. The party conventions seem to think they will be heard and believed for their much speaking. This is a phool no tion, and the sooner political parties get away from it, the better. Long winded platforms are not and oueht not to be read. Give us truth in the fewest words. Kansas Commoner, Wichita, (pop.) The wheat crop in central and west ern Nebraska is practically harvested; it will make from 30 to 40 bushels per acre. The corn is laid by and will make a bumping big crop. This coun try offers an excellent opportunity for profitable investment In cheap land. If interested read the ad. of Weber & Farris, and wrjte them for further particulars. The Nebraska Press Association The members were in evidence, and did their part toward the entertain ment of the visiting editors. No reg ular session was held, but all attend ed the meeting of the national body. F. N. Merwin, who has been secretary treasurer for the past eight years, handed in his resignation, as he ex pects to be absent in Washington, as secretary to Congressman Norris for the next two years, which was ac cepted, and W. G. Pure.!! of the Chief was elected to the position.-Chief, Broken Bow. M. B. Riddell, Leigh, Neb.: A so cialist is a man that I have no use for. If a man wltti gtl health is hard up in this country, it is his own fault. Nine-tenths of the laborers in public works arq bums. They . don't work hall as hard as the farmers. frfre6tt44 f COI.UMRIA v rj f irvi v rfc a m. ti r Z XI 4. OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA. I I Capital, $100,000.00 Surplus, 14,000.00 I Deposits, 1,350,000.00 OFFICEPwS John B. Weight, President 6 J. H. Westcott, 1st Vice Pres. 2d Vice Pres. Cashier Asst. Cashier Job. Samuels, P. L. Hall, W. B. Ryons, Now is the Time If you are in need of summer cloth ing, or if you have the money to spare it will be profitable for you to buy . now. Lay in a good supply for next year at less than half the regular price. One hundred per cent is what you save. One dollar now will do the work that will require two dollars next spring at the Armstrong Clothing Store. Why the great sacrifice of the test quality of merchandise? Simply because the shelf and table room is needed for the display of the enorm ous stock of fall and winter goods now arriving. It's your opportunity. Mail orders will be promptly filled. The Independent will guarantee satisfac tion or your money will be returned. See full page ad. and call or send your crder today. V anted oil Agents, in every county, reliable, ener getic men to sell on commission, specially to the ar iners and 'Ihreshers, our line of High Grade Lul rl eating oils, Greases, also i.oof, Harn and House Paints. Apply at once. Address ine woodland oil & Grease Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Notice of Indebtedness. OFFICE OF CONSUMERS' ICE COMPANY. Lincoln, Neb.. July 10th, 1903. In compliance with Sec. 136, Chap. 16, com piled statutes of Nebraska, we, the president and majority of the board of directors, hereby give public notice that all the existing debts of the Consumers' Ice Company of Lancaster county, Nebraska, amount to the sum of five thousand dollars (85,000). II. J. MILLER, President. FRANK FAIIRELL. Sec'T. MX, J . JXUJjLiJMS, m T T JT I7TT i.il. JM1A11, T t T V t Ctt'TriJDT fi'UOTlUIS. V A i'A , UII1U1U1) MiAAK. r AKKELL CANADIAN LANDS Millions of Acres of the Finest Ftrmlig and Grazing Lands Open for settlement Small taxes, cheap fuel, good climate, enormous crops. Lands sell at $3.50 per acre and up, payable in ten annual in stallments. Why rent a farm when you can buy one for less money than you pay as rent? Thousands of U. S. settlers are going. For full information apply to A. C. SHAW, Gen'l Agt., Pass'r Dept. Canadian Pacific R'y, 228 So. Clark street, Chicago, 111. Farmers, Attention! Do you wish to sell your farm? It so, send full description, lowest price and best terms. Or, if you wish to buy a farm, ranch or Lincoln home, write to or call on Williams & Bratt, 1105 O st, Lincoln, Neb. FRUIT GROWERS... TRUCK FARMERS.. INVESTIGATE THE 40Acre Tracts FOR SALE ON THE LINE OFTHE IN THE CELEBRATED Peach Belt of Alabama? This ia a rare opportunity for profitable; investment. If yoa have Idle money; a bette opportunity If you are looking for a good! home and steady Income In a healthful oik mate and pleasant environments. To get in touch, write JNO. M. BE ALL, las1! Gen'l Passenger Agent, 51. & O. B. BJ ST. LOUIS, MO.