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Vol.. XV. .
Establishment of the People s Rule george Z shibley.
To the officers and members of the
peoples party.
Fellow Workers:
What is the duty of the people's party ?
The Denver conference gave an opinion
which the Nebraska populist convention
did not .Approve. Honest differences,
such as these, help to mark out a win
ning program, for by eliminating the
ppints of difference, there is reached, we
believe, the strongest possible plan of
campaign. The basis of agreement,
which every populist assents to is the
following passage in the Denver address:
"As an open door for all economic re
form, we urge the rule of the people
through the optional referendum and in
itiative." Here is a clear statement that what
ever legislation the people want will
come when they take to themselves a
veto power and a direct initiative, there
by terminating party government with
its machine rule and boss politics. The
question is, how can the people's- party
do the most to wipe out party govern
menttransfer to the people the final
power?
The answer is found in the newly-developed
system of questioning candi
dates as to a people's rule (majority rule,)
plus the nomination of candidates wher
ever both the old line-parties refuse to
pledge. This system has been adopted
by the recent joint stale convention of
Kentucky populists and the united labor
party of Kentucky. Two years ago a
less practicable system was operated
with success by the Kentucky populists.
The development of these two branches
cf third party tactics marks an impiove
ment in political methods as far-reaching
as anything that the. mind can con
ceive. First, let us trace the develop
ment of questioning candidates as to the
peoples rule in place of machine rule. '
PART I
DEVELOPMENT OF QUESTIONING CANDI
.. ... DATES . . ,
For yeari the political machine has
been growing in strength. ; This has
called for many remedies, some of which,
such as the secret ballot, have helped,
but these checks have been more than
offset by other developments. The re
sult has been that in some cities and
states practically the entire legislative
power has become centered in one man
the boss. In practically all the other
6 tat e3, and in the nation, it is in a few
men the ring.
This is the result of our system of gov
ernment party government.
' The ring and the boss are not confined
to one of the parties. The organization
in both the' leading parties is developed
to where the power is centralized very
largely. In each county and state a few
men hold the reins.
And usually their living is secured
from the power thus exercised. Even
when a party is seemingly out of power
in a community the wires are so arranged
that the dictator in the minority , party
usually secures a good living. Boss
methods have become known. In New
York state, for example, Boss Croker
ruled the city, while Boss Piatt ruled
the state. In Chicago the republican
machine has usually controlled the
county, the democratic machine the
city. - We, however, should bear no mal
ice, for it is simply the inevitable result
ol our governmental system. It is we
who control the door to boasdom. Our
efforts should be directed to effecting
the necessary changes. As to what
these changes should be is pretty fully
known. Among them is direct nomina
tions, a people' veto, and a direct initia
tive. But these are not all that is needed.
The decision aa to what issues should
come up in a campaign should not be
left entirely to Vhe men who are up for
otiice. The organizations of business
men, farmers and wage-earners, knowing
as they do, what their interests demand,
should insist that the really, dominant
issues be considered. This can be
achieved by questioning candidates.
Experience demonstrates its practica
bility. QUESTIONING CANDIDATES A SUCCRSS
Ten, years ago some of the workers for
temperance operated through a third
party, while others worked through the
leading parties, but without any sepa
rate organization. In the words of Gen
eral Superintendent Russelr.of the Amer
ican Anti-Saloon league, in his annual
report:
In the past we have allow d the liquor Inter
est to organize the voters of every, class, select
"..;...''.:. '...- : .,'..,
LINCOLN NEB., SEPTEMBER 24, 1903.
the vauuiuHies, secure their nomination, insure
their election, and then, when they were seated
at the capitol, we have gone up with applica
tions for temperance legislation, and they have
been refused by men who were sent to make
certain that such legislation would be denied.
Now, under the new movement, high-minded
citizens, who are loyal to home and flag, are
first interested and then enlisted, then enrolled,
then tr ined for action, and it has now become
possible on our part to select the candidate, in
duce him to consent to acceDt nomination, se
cure his nomination and election, and when
this has been accomplished, and reliable men,
sympathetic with our cause, are seated to the
extent of a majority in both houses of the legis
lature, we may ask what we will and the re
sponse is salutary and sure. It is right to call
this revolution by as dignified a term aa 'Chris
tian politics.' It is a change of methods which,
as the years come on, will more and more in
sure the enactment of such reformatory legisla
tion as will constantly make it easier to do right
and harder to do wrong, on behalf of the gen
eral citizenship." '
The most important part of the plan
has been that of questioning candidates.
The knowledge that this would coma
prevents, to a considerable extent, the
nomination of those who would be op
posed by the friends of temperance. It
took time, however, to demonstrate to
the machines the effectiveness of pub
licity. For example, in Ohio, where the
league was originated by Dr. Russell,
five times it appealed for a local option
law before it was successful. "At first
it was a hopeless petition," says Dr. Rug
sell, "but as the league has grown from
year to year in wisdom and strength, the
petition has become a request, and the
request a demand, and the demand a
command, upon the part of the people
of the state, until the legislature at last
bowed in submission to the royal will.
The result has been wrought out by an
entire change of methods upon the part
of the temperance people."
Thirty-nine states and territories are
now covered by the anti-saloon league,
and over two hundred persons are de
voting their entire time to the work,
while the financial support in the various
states and in the national league amount
ed in the aggregate last year to a quarter
of a million dollars. Such is the pub
lished statement of the league.
This powerful force is working for lo
cal option the initiative and referen
dum in local affairs. In every state the
league members will help to organize for
questioning as to the initiative and ref
erendum as to state questions.
Last year another organization, the
Missouri state federation of labor, be
gan to question candidates as to the ref
erendum and initiative. At the annual
meeting in January, Mr. Isaac Taylor, of
Kansas City .introduced a resolution for a
Missouri joint committee on direct legis-
OLD GUARD GLUDS.
"Why not organize the -Old Guard"
in every county, "writes Warner Starr.
,the well known populist .veteran of
Allen, Dixon county, Nebraska, "tak
ing the best men among the lea.
o the party and collect annual dues
enougn to pay campaign expenses and
have an annual- meeting with toasts,
speeches, songs, recitations, read
ings, etc. See membership roll for
Dixon county:"
"Why not, indeep. The idea Is a
worthy one, and such as could be
expected of a Domilist of Mr.
Starr's ability and zeal. Every man
who has had to do with state com
mittee work knows that when the
name of DixUn county is reached, one
instinctively thinks of Warner Starr
a man who has-worked in season
and out of the success of populism. To
him belongs the honor of originating
the idea of organizing "Old Guard"
clubs. Not only that, but he has shown
his faith in the plan by organizing
the Old Guard of Dixon county
Here is the roster:
"We, the undersigned, believing
in the principles of the people's
party, and desiring to extend its in
fluence and promote its growth, here
by agree to unite ourselves into an
organization to be known, as the "Old
Guard" of Oixon county, Nebraska.
"This organization to be governed
by rules to be adopted at the first
annual dinner by a two thirds ma
jority vote, and the members to be
non-assessable. , :
; , i t'TlM?, ;first anjiu& . dinner wilju be j
huuu, wo purpess ci "Hie a snail ds 10
interrogate all candidates for legislative
propositions upon the subject of direct
legislation the referendum and the in
itiative and to secure the pledges of can
didates on this proposition, and such
other legislation as is demanded by the
Missouri state federation of labor, and
to make public such information, to the
end that the next general assembly may
be composed of men who may justly con
form to the wishes of the toilers in se
curing "equal rights for all and special
privileges for none."
This program was adopted by the
Missouri state federation of labor one
I-if At
year ago last January. The writer,
when the system came to ' his no tice,
realized something of its value, and,
officing in the same building with their
anti-saloon league, soon learned the full
value of questioning candidates. I at
once began sending to the annual con
vention of each state federation of labor
a copy of the Missouri resolution, with
changes suited to the conditions. Soon
the system was adopted by organized
labor in Massachusetts, New Jersey,
Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Colorado, Mon
tana, and, I believe, Washington. In
California, where the convention had
been held, the officers of the organized
labor questioned candidates.
In Kansas the labor leaders questioned
candidates through the Kansas federa
tion for majority rule. In Texas, also,
they questioned through a federation of
this name. In Illinois, North Dakota,
and in Nebraska a referendum league
was organized, which questioned candi
dates. In California a direct legislation
league was organized, which questioned
candidates. -In Colorado and Michigan
an existing direct legislation league did
the questioning. In Washington the
state grange instructed the master to ap
point in each county where the grange
existed a committee to question candi
dates. -
The national .federation of majority
rule assisted by preparing an address
and questions and publishing, the same
for most of the states, and without
charge. Funds for postage were applied
where necessary.
Election returns showed a majority
in KAVAn lprrifilat.urA anrl in naarlv varv
-0 - U W. V.VAJ ,
oai0 yun vu uiuic ui iuo ciaio VuirvcLl-
tions of a leading party was reversed.
This demonstrates that parity conven
tions novlonger determine the issues.
For example, in Missouri the Repub
lican state convention refused to pledge
to submit a constitutional amendment
Dixon County Populists
Point Out the Way.
held at some central point on 20 days
notice, waen 50 persons shall hav9
signed thi3 raembcrship roll and
subscribed 50 cents membership fee
each.
(Signed.) R. C. CAULK, WARNER
STARR, H. WOODWORTH. C. E.
WRIGHT, R. CONNELI , Y.-C.J OUGH.
CHAS. STEWART, G. W. BORG, W.
H. ELLIS, JOHN BORG, F. C. STEW
ART, BEN BALER, GRANT AUBAi
J. F. KELIHER, JOF1 p'
J. B. SMITH, S. J. HERFEL, JOHN
HERFEL, O. C. TUTTi ...
CHASE, GUY DUTTON, all of Allen
Nebraska.
This harmonizes with and adds
greatly to the effectivenes of a plan
now being considered by the Denver
conference organization committee,
foi the purpose of enrolling the name
of every populist in the United States
Until the committee plans are com
pleted, however, nothing will bet
ter pave the way than Mr. Starr's
plan of having an "Old Guard" organ
ized in every county. The social fea
tures of such a club are well worth
the effort and expenses of organiza
tion. And when the Denver confer
ence committee begins Us work of
enrollment the 'Old Guard" county or
ganizations will form the nucleus for
they will be composed wholly of men
wno are not afraid to stand un and
be counted as supporters of populism.
Hurrah for the "Old Guard" of Dix-
oc county." Where will the next or
ganization, be.made? , ; 'v ; 1 . ,t ' ; , . r
No. 18.
for majority rule, but the questioning re-
uucu m a picuKO irum uie repuuucKu
leaders and many of the candidates.
The democratic state convention pledged
itself because organized labor demon
strated its power to defeat the party
should it refuse. In California the re
publican state convention refused, but
election returns showed that fifty of the
seventy-four successful candidates were
pledged. In Montana, too, the republi
can state convention was reversed, and
likewise the democratic state convention.
In the house the vote for the amendment
was practically unanimous, and it secur
ed more than a majority in the senate,
but lacked the necessary two-thirds, due
to the feet that half the senators held
over.
In Colorado the democratic state con
vention promised to submit an amend
ment, while the republican state conven
tion refused. But the questioning of
candidates resulted in more than a ma
jority in the legislature, yet not the
necessary two-thirds. The same thing
occurred in North Dakota. In Michigan
and New Jersey the officers of organized
labor failed to question candidates as
instructed. .
This remarkably successful first year's
campaign by organized labor and the
Grange was in the face of a most terrific
opposition by the monopolists. They
realize that the people's veto and direct
initiative will completely terminate their
special privileges. Yet with all their
power they failed in Missouri and, Mass
achusetts, whose legislatures have submitted-constitutional
amendments, and
they would have 'failed in most of the
other states had it not been for the hold
over senators.
This year the monopolists will be al
most powerless. Last year's questioning
of candidates by organized labor in sev
en states and by the grange in one state
was but the first trial by this class of
organizations. And everywhere a - late
start was made except in Missouri. Fur.
thermore, since election day overwhelm
ing reinforcements have come in, while
the value of. questioning candidates as
to majority rule has become established,
the issue has been simplified, and the
system itself that of questioning candi
datesis much improved.
This warrants us in saying that this
year the monopolists will be almost
powerless. Some of the details as to the
points enumerated are as follows:
: ; II
BEINFOBCEMENT3 FOR QUESTIONING CAN
DIDATES AS TO MAJORITY RULE."
A. ORGANIZED LABOR.
At the annual convention of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, with a mem
bership of nearly two million wage-earners,
the following resolution (No. 121)
was introduced by First Vice-President ,
Duncan, favorably reported, and unani
mously adopted: -
WhBrpflu, For ten years the American Federa
tion of Labor baa be'en-declarlngthe need for an
increase of power in the voters, to be attained by
the adoi tion of the referendum and the inlti-
ative, that is (1) by extending the veto power of
the voters so that it shall include not only the
changes in the written constitution, but all lesser
changes in the law.s. except the usual appropri
ation acts and measures immediately necessary
for the preserve ion of the public peace, health
orsafetv, and (2) by clothing five or eight per
cent of the voters w ith a direct initiative; there
fore, - ;
Resolved, That the twentysecopd annual con
vent Ion of the American Federation of Labor
reaffirms the demand of the order for more po
litical power in its members and in the people
at large, and to this .end demands a people's
veto, the direct ballot to be called for by not to
exceed five per cent of the voters: and a direct
instiative by not to exceed eight per cent; and,
Resolved, That the qnestloning of the legisla
live candidates as practiced by the state branches
of the American 1- ederation of Labor with gt eat
success in Massachusetts, Missouri, Illinois, Cali
fornia and Washington, is herewith recommend
ed; and,
Resolved, That in order to secure unity of
action in national affairs, the legislative or
specially appointed committees of the several
bodies in the American Federation of Labor,
including the local and central unions, shall
constitute committees to co-operate with the
American Federation of Labor executive coun
cil for securing and using a direct initiative and
a people's veto.
This means that something like four
teen thousand unions can be called into
the campaign should any of the parties
refuse to pledge for majority rule.
A more extended Drotrram for nuo.
tioning candidates was presented to the
American Federation of Labor from the
state of Washington. Delegates Gordon '
A. Rice, Western Central Labor Council,
Seattle, and T. V. Copeland, Tacoma
Trades Council, presented resolution No.
t
