The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-07-01
CAMP MEETINGS.
How the Populists Conduct Them
in the South.
Hints to Minnesota's Peoples Party Commit-
tees-How to Pay Expenses.
lTom Watson's Paper.1

AG Cne request OF Col. Carey J..
Thornton aud many others about how
to conduct Populist camp meetings, I
write you short article on the sub
ject In order that other communities
may be encouraged to have them dur
ing the summer after the crops are
laid by.
There is no doubt in my mind that
the rapid progress made in Texas by
the Populists is due to these camp
meetings, and if they do the work so
effectively in Texas why not in Geor-
gia? The leading Democratic papers
of the state, like the Dallas News, the
Houston Post, the San Antonio Ex-
press and the Ft. Worth Gazette say
the state is gone in spite of Hades
and rise in the creek. These social
reunions of the people, assisted by the
press and the best speakers in the
state, like Jerome Kerby, Milton Park,
Stump Ashby, Judge Jenkins, Ex-
Lt-Gov. Barnett Gibbs and many 9TH
ers did the work. Counties that are
solidly Populist very little work is
done, and these meetings are always
iOAO LII oOAOHS OCLOOI COuublCSs
Camp meetings and hard work has re-
duced the brutal Democratic majority
o. 1000, down to 10000 according to
their count-including the thousands
Of negro votes bought with Democrat
lc money. Nearly all this increase OF
the Populists' vote was brought about
between 1892 and 1894
Now word about how to have a
camp meeting. First, secure good
central location for 1T least two or
three counties where there is enty
Of wood, water and shelter. in case Of
bad weather. Hold the meeting at
least three days and advert Sc it thor
oughly in the papers and posters. Our
committee will have full sheet posters
print ID in five colors and appro pirate
cartoons. The work will be done by
the Sound Money Company, at Massil-
ion, Ohio, and their prices are low.
Secure the best speaker, in the
state, and pay all their expenses, as
few men in our parry CT. AFT rd to
leave their private business and pay
their own expenses. lJ Is not right to
ask them to make sucn a sacrifice. AS
Mr.. Watson says: 1T is mighty easy
to grunt, but IT makes fellow tired
to chop wood, or words to that eff ct.
WdUCu UuC oCtCI I
months to raise money to pay all cx.
penseS without taking up a collect
il it can be avoided, though many peO.
pie who can not be reached by the
committee would cheerfully contrib
ute something.
One source of revenue to the COM
mittee is the sale Of their refreshment
privileges. First-soda, lemonade, GIN
ger ale and other1ight summer drinks;
2nd-Icc cream, fruits and confec-
tionares; 3rd-lunch stand, sand
wches. barbecued pork. mutton, cold
chicken, coffee. etc. Out west fire.
pay the expenses. Or course that de-
pends on the location. Secure the
best brass band you can afford, and
the band must be under the control Of
the chairman Of the committee and
when he says music it must come to
keep the crowd lively and enthused.
Secure some campaign songs and set
to popular music aud organize choir
Of at least % voices. The books can be
had by the dozen through some Popu-
list editor for $1.2O dozen and cx-
press. The best book l know Of Is
published by Vincent Bros. Publishing
Company, Indianapolis, Ind. These
popular songs, like Good bye old par
ty, good bye." sets the woods on fire
and you can almost see Populism drop
ping off the trees and smell it in the
air. Music has the same effect as good
soul stirring song at religious re-
vival.
People residing some distance from
the camp ground should have covered
wagons or tents and bring along cook
ing utensils and provisions enough to
last as long as they desire to stay-in
other words, a Populists campmeeting
is very much like an old fashioned
Methodist camp meeting.
Three speeches day is a general
rule-one at II O'Clock, one at 3 or 4
o'clock and one at night, or an expert
ence meeting. Men are called on to
tell why they are Populists and what
caused them to leave the old parties.
These experience meetings do lots Of
good toward getting weak kneed
Democrats to go with us.
Be sure to have good order and put
the best men in your county on the
camp meeting committee.
l would be glad to see these camp
meetings held in every county in Geor-
gia this year. Let's fight them, boys,
until the Plutonian regions freeze
over and then skate with them on the
ice. Yours for the fight.
WM. Z. CHRISTOPHER.
MOntezuma, Ga.