The advocate., 1895-11-20

OplnROnI ana Cne whole organization lS
to be abandoned. OF course every
Populist knew the whole story was a
lie from start to finish, and that it had
not the shadow of a foundation to rest
upon; ;but thousands Of fools all over the
country believed the silly tale, and will
be very reluctant to change their
minds. 1t was the knowledge that the
story would have this effect that caused
the agent Uf the association at Indian
apolis to send it out. He knew it was
false, the editors of the great dsilies
throughout the country knew it was
false, but they knew there were thou
sands of fools who would believe it,
and they therefore gave it prominent
place and embellished 1t with conspicu-
GUS headlines. The little "me.too"
papers will be publishing it as impol-
tsnt news for month yet.
Of like character IS the tale from
Ohio that the Populist vote in that
State had fallen off $1,000 since last
year, whereas the truth is it has made
substantial gain, as it has every
where throughout the whole country
with the possible exception of Ken.
lucky. Kentucky POpulists made the
mistake of adopting free silver as the
main issue in their campaign, and this
distinguished them so little from the
free silver element of the Democratic
party that they lost their following
just as they will do wherever this pol
icy is adopted.
Concerning the disbandment of the
party the NOpcO1VormiSt, among other
things, says:
Last Friday the Indianapolis Nelos contained
q column article detailing how the Populist
party of Indiana was dead, that all the officials
we're resigning, that the leaders had absn-
doned the organization, that no ticket would
be nominated next year, etc. The substance
Of this article was telegraphed by the Asso.
ciated Press to every daily in the union, and
affectionately-W eagerly and unctu-
ously.composed obituaries were the results in
innumerable sanctums. To US here the publi-
cation in the NelUS caused no surprise, and
would have called for no special notice In this
quarter, as IL was merely an enlarged repeti-
tion Of the old party chestnut that "Populism
is dying out" But this week an avalanche Of
Lot int all
over the union, inclosing the dispatch based
on the NetoS article and clipped from the
daily papers Of the places where the writer's
reside These naturally expect and demand
Of the NOne0nfOrmiSt some explanation Of the
matter.
The only basis for the story, says the
No0cOnformiSt, is the fact that the
Secretary of the State committee has
resigned because there is no provision
to pay him for his services and he can
not afford longer to give his time to
the office. Continuing it says:
1t is certainly something new in politics
that the resignation OF 3 committee secretary
works the dissolution of a political party.
Ordinarily such an occurrence would excite
no more attention than was evoked by that
gnst which lit on the ox's horn. The secretaries
Of Democratic and Republican committees
have often resigned without causing any
worse result than q three.line item in local
paper. But when q secretary or some insig-
ni6cant chairman Of some local committee In
the Peoples party chances to hand in his
resignation, 1t becomes momentous affair
fraught with worldwide Importance, to be
heralded over the country by the lightning
wires and spread before the world in display
type under asshy headlines
Really we haven't the patience to treat the