New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-17
PLANS or KANSAS POPULTSTS.

Now that they have come into power IN"
Populists OF Kansas are in whrl or uncer-
tainty about the best way OF Introducing the
millennium. IL Is not that they are AZ all III
doubt rs 10 their ability TO usher In that some
what misty era: but they are confronted 10y no
end Of short cuts to II. and they don't know
inst which Of them 10 take. There IN not much
said about those two old Populist panaccas. thu
Initiative" and the referendum But doubt
less they will come into view jnsi before the
next election. when. by means CT them the Peo-
ple-with large P-will he Invited 10 enter the
Eysian fields OF unalloyed political bliss.
In the mean while the favorIte scheme seems
10 In, to drive out the hated money power and
IL il can be scared 50 badly that 1t viii forget 10
take It's money along with H. SO much The bet
Ter. Then It i proposed 10 hold Consii'u-
tional Convention. which viii prepare good
Popullst Constitution II does not appear that
any responsible citizens have asked for new
Constitution: but II It'll. thing Ike that docsn |
count The Populist leaders declare that nobody
knows exactly what the voters now think "i
prohibition. and therefore there ought 10 be re-
submission OF that question to the People with
a large T. OF course. II l. true that this method
Of getting nj the mind of the People would cost
the Stale about "a lillIlDu uOIl'ilS. Nu'l'iN. "!
making the question an ISSUE AT state elec-
ton the needed information could be obtained
without cent OF extra expense But no good
Popullst would admit the force Of that objec-
ton Resubmission is fine. moutE-iill.ng word,
not as effective perhaps. "a the Initiative and
referendum but effective nevertheless. with the
average Populis,. especially II he isn't just sure
what II IS all about. And IL il worth even Il
million dollars TO have Il chance 10 try the word
on the voters. The philosopher who wrote IA
book about the power Of words and phrases
knew what he was abont The whole structure
Of POpnlsm rests on u collection OF hlgli-soiind-
ing words and phrases that mean at once every
thing and nothing. Resnbm>sion Is good
word but really. a million dollars seems a great
deal OF money to pay for il.
What Kansas needs more than a Constitution
al Convention according to the brilllan; Editor
Of The Empora Gazette Is less windy politics
and more diversified Industries. There IS the
Kansas COW; why not develop her possibilities
One town in Kansas Is already shipping butter
to London. to It's own great profit. And there Is
no reason why scores Of other towns should not
do the same. So also Of the Kansas hem and
the patch Of ground devoted 10 garden truck.
These are very humble industries and therefore
beneath the notice Of Populist STATESMEN.
whose delight it is to 'resoue' about Eastern
"Shylocks' and "blOod-suckers" and "orae
about the "unearned increment" But they are
sure money-makers and II the people Of Kansas
would cease looking for short cuts to the men
mum and take hold Of such humble industries
they would soon find that they themselves were
an integral part OF the muchabused money
power" and might even be in n position to lend
money-wihout interest. Of coursc-to hard
pressed Eastern capitalists