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About The independent. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1903)
AUGUST 13, 1903. THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT 3 democrats also to revolt Then let us suppose that spontaneously and nat urally out of this situation a third par ty should spring into existence. It Is orly under similar circumstances that oineafui v.irri nartio9 ovAr ici anoear. Those were the circumstances that gave birth to the republican party in the national politics of the fifties, and to the populist party in the western and southern politics of the nineties Suppose, then, that these things should happen, what part would the paper or ganization prematurely projected at Denver play? It is not difficult to pre dict with an almost absolute certainty of verification. The paper organization would wel come the revolters, saying: "Come along with us." "We are the original Jacobs," "We date back to the Omaha platform," etc., "Don't set up for your selves, but join us." But the revolters would not join them not unless they happen to be very different from all the political revolters of the past un der similar circumstances. They would not take the paper organization seriously, and instead of joining it they would rush into the formation of an entirely new party. This might be very inconsiderate on their part, but it. is what they would do; and it would be the natural thing to do, if the wave of revolt were really produced by an upheaval of sentiment among the com mon people. Then what? Would the paper organization dissolve and go in to the new and spontaneous move ment? Most of the rank and file would, perhaps, and so would such cf its leaders as were at once intelligent tnd disinterested. But the paper or ganization would be kept up, on plu tocratic m one y, by gratters and their dupes;" its remnant Of managers and managers would raise a hue ar.1 cr for loyalty to the brave organization that had stood up for righteousness in the discouraging days of small things; and, mere skeleton though it would be, it would be utilized by the old parties as a cU'b with which to demoralize and beat bad their really dangerous en emy. Thin prophecy of future possi bilities is based upon the evidence cf I-ast experience. Under no circumstances can the Den ver organization rise above the grade of a side party; and a real fight be tween democracy and plutocracy fur bishes opportunity for the designing and more astute among the leaders of side parties to put them into the ser vice of plutocracy, as guerrillas to make confusion among the commons. It would have been the part of wisdom had the Denver conference adopted a different policy. It would have served its cause better by recommending a suspension of organized action, arid fostering among those it represented that virtue of patience, in which re formers are extraordinarily deficient, but which is as necessary in political warfare as the virtue of perseverance with which they are abundantly sup Ilied. ' The Minneapolis Journal's cartoon ist tried his hand at picturing "Har mony in- the Populist Party." An old, long-whiskered farmer sitting on a dry-goods box, bow in hand playing a "Jiarmony" on his "reform" whiskers, which he uses in place of a violin. The music rack is labelled "Omaha Plat form." Hat, "Pop Party." PAUL DIXON PLEASED. The united people's party. That sounds good. . Part of the work of the organization committee appointed at Denver, will be to bring populist harmony in the states where there are conflicting com mittees. This will be easy work now. Populists probably would never have reunited had conditions remained the same. 'The bulk of the western pop ulists were thoroughly convinced that the democratic party had been cap tured by patriotic and progressive men, while the southern populists knew, or thought they knew, that the nomina tion of Bryan and the adoption of the Chicago platform by the democratic convention was merely a politicians' trick. But conditions have changed and there is no hope now, even among western populists, that reform will be obtained through the democratic party. The Denver conference was attend ed chiefly by former fusionists. They fcot back, squarely into the middle-of-the-road. So far as we have seen their views published, they are still confident they did the right thing in 1896 and 1900. They get into the middle-of-the-road now because they be lieve in populist principles and there is no place else for a man so believing to go. Missouri World (pop.), Chilli ccth6. The conference at Denver has been held and the straight populists and mid-roaders kissed and made up. A manifesto has-been issued to tne peo fle, but no action has been as yet de termined with regard to the forma tion of a new party, although such a course was strongly urged by Senator Allen and others. H. T. Wilson, in Gage County Herald (pop.), Beatrice, Neb., July 31. HENRI WATTERSON TICKLED. The two divisions of the popuiists are now supposed to be united, and their first act is to resolve that ex perience has "demonstrated the fu tility of any attempt to secure the en actment of our principles, either through the republican or democratic parties," wherefore the time has ar rived when the "united people's party should declare itself emphatically op posed to any affiliation with either of these parties." The skies are bright ening for the democratic party when it has so far got back to its old moor ings that a populist tweedldee no lon ger recognizes a democrat as tweedle dum. Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal. ... Theodore P. Rynder, editor of the Erie (Pa.) Echo, printed the Asso ciated press report containing the address. "EVERYONE PLEASED." Contrary to the popular impression, the populist party is not dead. It so announced at Denver, adding that the factions within the party had decided to bury, the hatchet, sever relations with the democrats, and renew their fight on a platform, demanding the is suance of all money "by the govern ment, government ownership cf rail ways, telephones, and "telegraphs, and "land for use rather than speculation.' Everyone is pleased by the decision of the united people's party to flock by itself. Democratic editors assure it that its determination inspires feel ings of the profoundest gratitude, while such republican comment as we have been able to find on the Denver pronuneiamento expresses the com forting reflection that such strength as the populists have will be drawn from the democrats. But no one be lieves that it makes much difference what the populists decide to do. They no longer figure in the political equa tion. Public Opinion (plutocrat), New York. The populists, at the conference in Denver this week, resolved that all factions within the party should "bury the hatchet," and present a "united front." James H. Barry, in The Star, San Francisco, Cal. 'MIGHT ,YET ACCOMPLISH MUCK GOOD." " ; A few of the old line pops met at Denver last week and reaffirmed their tllegiance to the "fundamental prin ciples." Many of the principles advo cated by the populists are now indorsed by a majority of the members of ev ery party. Among these might be mentioned the election of United States senators by direct vote, municipal ownership, against alien ownership of land, fallibility of courts, against the subsidizing of foreign ships, postal savings banks and a reformation of tariff schedules. These are not all em bodied in, laws and a reform party n ight yet accomplish much good and not necessarily entagoriize the present or any other "do right" administra tion. Dow Busenbark, In Eskridge (Kas.) Star. Wahlquist Bros., in the Adams County Democrat, Hastings, Neb., Is sue of the 31st, said: "The effort to unite, all factions of the populists seems to have been successful, in Den, ver, this week. The conference was tot large, but enthusiastic. The fol lowing resolutions were adopted:" (Quoting the address.) "SOMETHING DOING." There is, after all, to be a third par ty in the field next year. For a time it looked as if the side issues had all been abandoned, and the voters in 1904 would be called on to choose between the two old organizations. The simple question would be, Snould the repub licans remain in power, upon the promise to hold things level, or the democrats ' be commissioned to set things to right in their own way? Some people hailed the prospect with pleasure and thought it a good sign, while others took the opposite view. But the agitators for new things have by no means been quieted. They are as vocal as ever, and, what is more, are now led by a man who in the matter of criticising established or der, regardless of what that order may be or where the responsibility may lie, has no superior in our affairs. This man is ex-Senator William V. Allen of Nebraska, for a long time one of Mr. Bryan's lieutenants, and by long odds his warmest eulogist. As a leader Mr. Allen Is wholly unconven tional and knows not fatigue, and there will be something doing wher ever his banner flie3. Men who flock to his standard will be assured of work enough to satisfy the utmost cravings of their nature. Does this movement argue that these friends of Mr. Bryan have no hops of seeing him tak independent action next year, or are they encour aged to feel that they are preparing the way for him? Evidently they are rot in the humor for another alliance with the democracy. The rising tide of what is termed Clevelandism in that party shows them that their in fluence has waned in that ' quarter. And so they have either parted com pany wltfi Mr. Bryan and resigned themselves to the feeling that he i3 going his own gait regardless of their wishes, or else, expecting that in time he,- too, will reject the return of the eastern wing of the democracy to pow- il A4tUt o frllrwJ n cr rpA.1v Cl, lucjr io gciuua I o 1 - for him. The appeal of these men is made in the name of reform a comprehensive word. The trouble now is not the low price of farm products, nor the scarcity of ; money, nor the alleged tyranny of the courts. But, as these men read the story, the times general ly are out of joint, and a new party is necessary to hold the country , to gether and save American institutions. And so they respectfully offer their services. Washington Star. Edward Clas'son, sr., editor of The Patriarch, Seattle, Wash.,- used the Afsociated press dispatches contain ing the address. He says editorially: "We view the name of United States Senator Allen in the populist confer ence with suspicion. He will have to go on probation a while longer In 'the mind of The Patriarch." Why? Can there be any doubt as to his populism? Has Mr. Clayson himself served suf ficient "probation?" A RIGHT TO PROTEST. Colonel Bryan's protest against the pronuneiamento of the reunited pop ulists shows what kind of thanks the populists have to expect for coming to the rescue of the democrats when the latter were almost extinct as a party in the western states. Had there been no fusion in Nebraska the democratic vote in 1896 and the years immediate ly succeeding would have been so ri diculously small as to put the selec tion of a presidential candidate from this state completely out of question. Of the 116,000 votes polled by Mr. Bryan in Nebraska not over 40.000 vere contributed by the democrats, yet he intimates that the populists are the debtors in the alliance. When the populists go it alone, as they say they will," the paucity of the democratic following will be uncovered. Colonel Bryan has a right to protest. Omaha Bee (rep.). At the Denver conference of pop ulists it was generally agreed to not affiliate with any old party. The only effect that agreement will have will be to give a certificate of character to those professional reformers who made anti-fusion an excuse to get close to the overflow from Uncle Mark Hanna's frying-pan. C. D. Casper, in Butler County Press (dem.), David City, Neb. ' JUST WHAT IT HAS. That address to the people, issued from Denver, really seem to have the ring of old-time populism Norfolk (Neb.) News (rep.). ' ... ' The Semi-Weekly Times-Democrat, New Orleans, of the 31st, contained the full Associated press reports horribly mangled as to names, a fea ture of the southern end of the Asso ciated press. NEBRASKA COMMENTS. Aside from comments of Nebraska papers printed elsewhere the following is a condensed summary of what a rumber of the country papers said: Progress (pop.) Holdrege; Asso ciated press report with address in full. Democrat, Hastings: If the dis patches quote ex-Senator Allen cor rectly, it only proves how easily men of Mr. Allen's prominence go astray. He is quoted as saying in Denver last week that beyond doubt Mr. Cleveland will be the democratic candidate for president in 1904 and that he will be elected. It just beats the band how much men know at times, and their information seems to be exclusive. We understand that Mr. Allen was accom panied to Denver by ex-Governor Toynter and perhaps between them trey have concluded that Mr. Cleve land is necessary to the success of fu ture Allen-Poynter plans whatever they may be. It may be well for real democrats to bear In mind the Allen Poynter prophecy. 1901 is not 60 far distant, ,and it may develop that these gentlemen have besn talking through their hats. The Western Newspaper Union , leady print report contained . the ad dress in full, with the annoying typo graphical error "July 4, 1898," instead of 1892 an error due to the Associated press. Leader fnon.). Trenton: the address in. full. New Era-Standard (pop.), Kearney: Leading populists from nearl every state in the union met at Denver on July 27 for the purpose of organizing and mapping out a line of campaign. The impression had been given out that the object of this conference was to organize a new political party. Not so. Populists are not tired of their platform there is no reason to change their principles. So this meeting had for its purpose concentration of forces and united action. A committee was sppointed to prepare an address to the itMjpio The greatest snthusia? m and the best feeling prevailed. The "bid Guard" of populism were there ready for the fray. The committee appointed to draft an address prepared one with great care. It will be found in full on the sixth page of this paper. Read it carefully, and you will see that the principles are populist from begin ning to end. Clipper-Citizen (pop.),' Lexington: Last week a conference of populists was held at Denver, the object being to reunite the factions of the people's independent party and agree upon some line of action. The meeting was harmonious as a whole. The confer ence adopted the following address to the people, as Its expression of prin ciple. (Quoting in full.) Democrat (pop.), Osceola: The pop ulist conference held at Denver, Colo., last week did just about what every right thinking member of the people's independent party believed would be done. 'The attendance was all that could be expected upon such a short notice and very nearly every western and many of the southern states were represented. Besides preparing for an organization to carry on the work trom now until next February, when the national convention will be de cided upon, the conference appointed a committee, whose business it was to prepare an address to the public. 1 he report and . the address we print here in full. It has the right ring and every voter in the party should fall in line with its sentiments. Beacon (pop.), Broken Bow: Ev ery good populist enjoys a feeling of relief that the cloud of fusion has at last rolled away. For seven years we have been groping in darkness, and disintegrating in numbers. Now our party-is as separate and distinct as othei'partles, and pledged to perpetual abandonment of fusion. 'The way is lipw clear for a forward movement. The bugle sounds the call and there is no longer any occasion for hesitation. Every man who has been a populist, fall In line, and we'll win a sweeping victory in both county and state this ff.ll. Democrat, Crete: The Denver meet ing was attended by a few of the has beens and their labors brought forth c very small squeak. It would have teen more in harmony with the fit ness of things, had they adjourned and advised the waiting brethren to take sides as suited their tastes best. The time is not ripe for another departure. Courier (pop.), Minden: Many people, including a greater part of the republican press, are ill advised, as to the object of the Denver confer ence. It was conceived and based up on an intuitive conception of future political conditions. It was not In tended to supervise methods. for pres ent political action, but was merely a rrelude to the 1904 campaign and na tional in its character. The commit tees appointed are to act in conjunc tion with present national committees for a thorough organization. There teems to be a desire to revive pop ulist principles and to meet "this de sire was the object of a populist con ference. Fusion in national affairs was disapproved. And the Bee, Star and Journal construe it to mean that all populists are enjoined from voting for Judge Sullivan should he be the nom inee of the two parties in this state. They would like to have it that way, ihen they would have a sure thing of putting their railroad man, Barnes, cn the, supreme bench,, but their as pirations will not be gratified. Every tiue populist-will vote for Sullivan rather than Barnes and in doing so are not violating or sacrificing any pop ulist principle. Headlight ..(pop.), Stromsburg; a condensed abstract of the address, with economic demands in full. THE OMAHA PLATFORM. The pops got together in their con ference at Denver and fell hack on the Omaha platform as their rallying" point. They insist on money made by the stamp of the government legal tender, no matter what the material, gold, silver or paper; on government (Continued, on Page 14.) ',