Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-01-28

world. as the wolrd goes. They
CONSTITUTE the socalled cranks
of society in the estimation of the
average of business men. These
are the men that have started
the movement, and have so far
had control Of it largely.
The other class that goes to
make up the Peoples Party is
the great middle class Of society,
and especially the farmer. The
latter are Populists because Of
the hard times of late years.
They have felt and known that
something is wrong about the
affairs of the nation, and looking
about for information they find
that the socalled political crank of
the first class is right in his
theories.
Thus the philosopher and the
middle class have finally consoli
dated or evolved into a new
political paaty. Here in Mime
nesota We have grown so numer
Gus as to constitute respectable
minority of the voting popula-
ton.
But now that we have become
a political parity, a graver prob
lem confronts us, to wit: The
management Of a political party.
Here is where are party faces
d crises. 1t is one thing t0;.gi-
tate. and create public senti
ment. 1t is another thing, and
requires different talent, to unite
that sentiment into q harmoni-
GUS and efficient organization Of
Il political party so as to carry
victory at the polls. It is one
thing to recruit soldiers and drill
them in the use of arms, but it
is quite another thing to com
mand that army against q skill
full enemy. What the Peoples
Party noWneeels and needs badly,
is Sl1illful and competent polite
al generals. Without such the
Peoples Purity is simply mob,
that a much smaller and well
drilled political party will, and
can, beat in detail.
Now understand we do not adj
vocate bossism in any political
party, least Of all in the Peoples
Party. But we must have lead
ers that Can be trusted to man
age the affairs OF the party in
a party in q general way. And
to these LEADERS the rank and file
must yield cheerful obedienceand
support. There is no other way
to success. Suppose in the a late
war that the generals of armies
could have been challenged by
every subordinate as to the rea-
sons for their movement? The
result would, and must have
| been disastrous and inevitable
failure. There is another ele-
ment necessary to the success
Of q new political party at the
polls which many Peoples Party
men do not seem to understand.
and that is financial aid from the
rank and file. It takes money to
run campaign. A purity I'M Of
flee can assess its office holders
for expenses Of party machinery.
A new party is not in Office and
the rank and file must contrib
ute the money to carry on the
party. We say very freely
for we are not seeking office, and
care not if we do offend some
Peoples Party men-that unless
the rank and file Of the PEOPLES
Party are willing to contribute
money for the purity, willing to
sacrifice something to win, the
party will never win, locally or
generally. And really it ought
not TO win. Let US illustrate
what we mean by. reference to
this county. In 1894 the Peoples
Party put up county ticket Of
representative men. The ticket
fought not so much to be elected
to Office as for the principles Of
the party, that is, not so much
for their own interest, as in
cause of general reform. 1t
cost each about $4,000 apiece be.
sides q good deal Of time to most
of them. Some of them at least