People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-02-14

The startling announcement was
flashed over the wires after the St.
Louis conference, that two bran new
political parties were TO be born.
On my way home from the confer
en"e, l was surprised on reaching
Cleveland, to read in the morning pa
pers, that John Mcbride, the newly
elected president of the American
Federation Of Labor, had stated in an
interview that Il expect to see a grand
union of labor before another year.
and believe we shall place presi-
Dental candidate in the field"
This confirms the belief l have al
ways held, that it is impossible for us
to secure the vote of labor, no matter
how much we may declare ourselves
in favor Of its interests. Organized
labor represents, in a measure. the
submerged tenth" 1t is led by pro-
fessional agitators, who cater to all
political parties.
| recall a campaign circular issued
by the Young Mems Democratic Club
of Boston, which was distributed all
over this state, containing the indorse-
ment of Cleveland, called the Real
Leaders of Labor" in which Mcbride
begins an open Letter with the Stat,
ment that the financial and industrial
crisis which our country is now pass
ing through, is due 10 past and not to
present legislation lie then pro-
ceeds to commend the democratic
party as offering the true remedy for
the prevailing distresscs. Since that
time it is claimed that he has espoused
the populist cause; nevertheless, he is
now glibly proposing to organize
distinctive labor party and put presi-
Dental candidate in the field.
1t is fact that the Populist move
ment IS middle class one, and therein
lies its hope. Its vote is largely in the
agricultural districts where men own
their homes or did before they were
mortgaged. These, with the business
men and more intelligent wage earn
ers, make up the strength of our move
ment. and also the brain and sinew of
the nation. Neither the very rich nor
the very poor can be depended upon to
carry out any great reform. The hope
OF the world is in those who are not
too hungry to reason, nor too besotted
with unearned wealth to see any need
for reasoning.
1t was evident to all who attended
the St. Louis conference that in
our party to-day, are two ele-
ments; one rapidly drifting
toward socialism, largely in the
great eastern cities, the other in the
south and west, Of conservative ten
denotes, disposed to make the money
question as a whole the issue on which
to win the fight in 1896.
These two elements are travelling in
opposite directions. Can we reconcile
them, and how? If our party adopts
a conservative course, the socialistic
Populists will be offended, demand a
new deal and probably coalesce with
the socialist labor party and the party
of organized labor.
In this event, the loss Of our move
ment would be felt chiefly in the
eastern states, where our hope of be-
coming the dominant party is most re-
mote. But what can be done to placate
this element?
While the national committee was in
session at st. Louis, Mr.. Henry d.
Lloyd of Chicago, who was regarded
as the representative of the socialistic
element qualified to speak for it, APP
peared before the national committee
and made most urgent appeal in its
behalf At the close of his address,
after number of questions had been
asked and and answered, l inquired if
we were to understand that in order
to get the labor vote we must incor-
porate in our platform demand for