The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-26
POPULIST PLANS.
Conference of Leaders at st.
Louis Will Be Interesting.
Three Diverse Elements Will
Contend for Recognition.
SINGLE SILVER PLANK.
One Favors This, Another Green
backs With Other Remedies
Socialists VIII Insist on Plank
Ten or Secede.

CHICAGO. Dec. S6.-1 mere was a ldEBo
gathering Of local leaders of the Peo-
pies Party today to consider attending
the national conference of the leading
members of that organization which Will
be held in ST. Lonis on Friday and sat
urday. The conference promises to be
one of the liveliest political events Of the
season and as a consequence there will
be a large Chicago contingent present
Taking the Chicago contingent as a basis
of representation the conference will be
participated in by several hundred lead
ing members OF the party, coming from
nearly every state in the union
Among the leaders who have signified
their intention of being present are Sen
ator Peffer and Jerry Simpson OF Kansas,
Chairman Maxwell Of the Illinois state
central committee, Congressman Lafe
Pence of Colorado. Senator Kyle of Da-
kota, George Schilling Of Milwaukee.
Governor Lewelling Of Kansas. lOm
Watson of Georgia and others promi-
nent in POpulist politics The confer
ence may result in some radical changes
in the party programme.
Three diverse elements will, it is ex-
pected. be found in the conference, and
/ each will seek to make its own views a
part of the party creed in the next ma
4 tional campaign The conference being
4 an unofficial one. cannot formulate a
4 platform or declaration of principles, but
/ It's deliberations and conclusions will
/ doubtless have great weight and viii
have much to do with shaping the future
4 course of the party
There is first a large and prominent
/ element in the party headed by Chair
man Taubeneck himself, which favors
the concentration of the party strength
/ upon a single plank on silver. II IL ar
gued that the Omaha platform was too
Scattering: that Il advocated too many
! reforms at once to be effective and thai
a more effective contest would be wagec
on a single issue
The advocates of a solitary plank argue
that it would bring all the western
mountain and pacific states under the
Populist banner, and also capture many
Of the southern states. This idea will be
advocated by western delegates anC
many Of those from the south
There is another element which, while
as strongly in favor OF free silver as the
former faction, IS inclined to urge othe
measures of relief as we'll. This elemen
desires the adoption of a national platform
taking four essential ks-money
/ land trans pOrtatlOn. taxation. The mrs
plank embOdies the free silver deciara
ton and also demands the creation Of
green back currency as well. It's de
mands as to land and transportation ar
those at present made by existing plat
I Tended and the single takers find room
for their favOrite theory.
The Socialistic group will form tn
third element 1t viii in fact be a Chi
capo production and viii be backed b
the flower Of Chicago Socialists Thi
element has but one demand, and that
viii insist upon. That IS plank ten.
other words. if the Populist party o.
poets aid and comfort Of the Socialists
must declare that all means of produ'
ton and distribution of commodltie
must belong to the people
The champions Of plank 10 will b
r willing to support free silver or will az
. cept the views of the second elemen
provided plank 10 is also recognized.
will thus be seen that the socialist
group stands in position to aid eiths
! Of the other factions in consideration {
the recognition of its own beloved prlE
ciple.
The outcome is which will
awaited with interest If plank 10 is n
pudiated, it is limited that the sociaiis
Z will in all probability sever their come
ton with the party.