The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-03-17
NUMBER Z.
TALK OF OUR LEADERS.
WATSON is SATISFIED WITH
RESULTS.
The Oma ha Convention Win Merely Reit.
crate the Declarations OF tho ST. Loui.
Conference.-The Platform Now Practl.
caily Before the People.
Prominent Men Speak.

Prominent Men Speak.
A Washington correspondent writes:
The echoes Of the st. Louis convention
have scarce died away ere the rank anu
file of the allied industrial organizations
have begun to discuss the possible Plo5-
idential candidates OF the National Peo-
ple's party. The convention for the
nomin nation of candidates for President
and Vice President will not be held TN
til July 4, at Omaha, and as both tha
other leading parties will have made
their nominations by that time, the Peo.
pies party will be in position to make
the strongest possible nominations for
the purpose OF carrying the doubtful
States, in which their organizations have
in the past manifested the greatest
strength. Gen. James B. Weaver of
Iowa, once the candidate OF the Green
back party for President Of the United
States; the Hon. l.. L. Polk Of North
Carolina, President of the National
Farmers Alliance; the Hon. Ignatius
Donne!ly o. Minnesota, United States
Senator Leland Stanford of Califoln..:,
7. V. Powderly, Grand Master Of the X.
OF L.; the Hon. Alison J. Streeter OF Illi-
nois, late candidate of the L. NJ. T. A.
ere few of those who are now being
discussed as possible Presidential or
Vice Presidential cand dates Of the Pco-
Pies party.
I'm my opinion, said Representative
Jerry Simpson, of Kansas, Gen. Weaver,
of Iowa, is most likely TO be the Peoples
party candidate for the Presidency. At
any rate he has up TO this time been the
man most desired in that connection.
But l would not be surprised if the sem
timent in favor Of Ignatius Donnelly as
sumed formidable proportions. He de-
veloped great strength out at st. Louis,
and the preamble 10 the platform, which
was written by him, is in my opinion one
OF the most vigorous and at the same
time most classic productions of modem
literature. The preamble has won Dun-
nelly many friends and he will be I.
prominent candidate if he desires thc
nomination. AS a matter of fact, do
not think that Weaver really cares for
the nomination, although he seems to TO
q favorite and is the man mCst talked of
among the Farmers Alliance people. I
think there is 70 question but that Prcsi-
dent Polk of the Farmers Alliance will
be the candidate for Vice President"
Representative Watson, Of Georgia,
the candidate OF the Peoples party rep
rcscntatives in the House for Speaker,
was compelled to remain in Washington
to look aft the legislative demands If
his party, and did not attend the st.
Louis convention. He is earnest in his
approval of all that was done ct st.
Louis. however, and thinks that the
various industrial organizations are nov,
fairly united on commercial platform,
and into one political party.
The result of the st. Louis eoaven-
ton, said he, has been Il revelation TO
the old-time politicians of the country.
They have been pre- iicting for weeks
how we were to meet at st. Louis, like
fighting Kilkenny cats, and then so to
pieces and retire demoralized; but not
one of their predictions has been
realized. With less friction than is en-
cCuntered in the usual national cOnven-
ton of either Of the old par
ties our people, representing a.
most score Of different industrial
und reform organizations, have met
at st. Louis ard agreed upon a platform
and declaration OF principles which ars
agreeable 10 all and upon which the fight
will be conducted all along the line and
in every State in the Union in the coni-
ing campaign. l feel greatly encour-
aged by the fact that all of these indus
trial organizations, coming there from
different parts of the country, each with
its favorite plans and principles, We're
yet able to be harmonious, to pool their
issues and to make one declaration COM
mon to all which will appeal warmly To
the reform sentiment of their country.
I regard the platform as n very strong
presentation of substantially the same
principles which have called these vari-
Gus organizations into existence and
upon which we have been educating the
people for the last four or five years, and
1t will now command the full supIo Of
the industrial organizations of all
classes. l had myself no doubt this
| result would be reached. Neither
have any doubt that the Omaha con-
vention will keep right in the middle Of
the road, nominate acceptable candidates,
and that from the official beginning OF
this movement at st. Louis We will have
a brilliant campaign, which will bring
| the people into a more thorough under
standing of the principles OF their Coy
ernment and the changes that ought to
| be made than the country has shown
since the foundation Of the Government.
| The Omaha convention will put into Of
| fetal party shape that which was agreed
upon at st. Louis by convention OF
non bipartisan organizations. But it fol-
lows, as logical conclusion, that tho
campaign put On foot at Omaha will have
to be based sui stant:ally upon the p'a:-
form enunciated at st. Louis. take it
that the Omaha convention will m ly
rei' crate the decla, ations Of the st. Louis
convention, and that our platform may
be said to be even now racticafly be .
the people.
! "As to who tho candidates OF the Peo-
| ple's party will be-" continued Repre-
sentative Watson, Il really can not say,
but think the candidate for the presi-
dency will be some man who has been
well identified with this great revolt
against the existing state of affairs, ,some
! man who has made sacrifices for it, who
I is known for the fidelity with which he
has serve in this cause; and l think it
| Is quite unnecessary that such man
should have a barrel. I think the only
| question should be: rs he identified
with us? Is he n man OF good standing
and is he a man OF broad ability. fitted
| to lead a campaign as a presidential
candidate?'
Il do not think that our success de-
pend on the amount OF Doodle that We
| can put IN the campaign. We are rot a
part Of boodle and corruption. I believe
! that our strongest plan OF campaign will
be to appeal straight and frankly 10 tho
sense and conscience Of the people and
to avoid as far as possible the machine
methods Of the Doodle politicians against
whom we have raised this revolt"
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Tho Artificial Raio HumEuy.
GENERAL DYRENFoRrH reports on ar