The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1896-07-17
National Secretary Turner of the Populfst
Party Declares for Bryan.

of the Peoples party, in signed state
ment urges Populists to support Bry-
an for President. lie writes:
1.-The result of the late National
Democratic convention at Chicago is
undoubtedly the triumph of Popu-
lism. A large portion of the voters in
the Populist party in the South and
West were originally Democrats and
left the old party because it was DOM
mated in every National convention
by the Eastern Democrats who rep
resented Wall street and the monopo-
lists Of New York and New England.
1t became quite apparent to every
thinking man, that as long AS New
York was allowed to make the plat
form and name the candidate of the
Democratic party that the great plain
people would have no show, and that
their rights and wishes would always
be ignored. Believing this, the thinking
men among the ranks and file deter
mined to quit the old party and or
ganize new party. Hence the exist
ence of the Populist party.
1.-THE Democratic party at Chicago
simply purged itself, reorganized it.
self and came out for true Democracy
and to all intents and purposes sub
stituted the Populist platform for the
old platform that the party has been
using for years and which were die
tated and foisted upon the people by
the gold bugs of the East. Mr.. Bry
an, the nominee of that convention is
man who fits the platform. | have
personally watched his course for a
number of years and know that his
every impulse has been against the op-
pressors of the people and in behalf of
the great masses. For more than two
years he has acted with the Populisls
of his own State.
ut cannot be successfully denied
that the principles advocated by the
Populist party have captured the DEM
ocratic party and have driven out of its
ranks that element which has always
been opposed to true Democracy and
which from the beginning has been
affiliated with the Republican party,
it's natural home. All Populists in
these United States should rejoice
that their principles have taken such a
hold upon the American people that
one of the great political parties
of the nation has been compelled to
adopt those principles and nominate "a
ticket pledged to carry them into
execution. If the Populists think
more of their principles than they do
of mere party organization they will
be compelled to unite with the forces
going in the same direction, and there
by rescue our country from all the
dire calamities which we have predict
ed would befall it should the gold
standard be permanently fastened upon
us.
"As Secretary of the National Com
mittee of the Peoples party for the
last four years, | have labored in sea-
son and out Of season for the up
building of our party. love the as
sociations which have formed in it's
ranks but, while these are dear to me,
the principles of the Populist party
are much dearer. | feel that 1 would
be one of the worst enemies of the
Peoples party and of its principles
should not take the step at this time
that l believe will eliminate in the
complete triumph of every demand
made by the party. We have advo.
Gated a union of the South and West,
in order that we might bring about
the necessary financial reforms. Now
we have chance of bringing all our
hopes and desires to grand consum.
nation.
"The truth oft is that the only point
I the Populists now have to decide is
whether or not they will take Mr..
Pryan, whom every gold bug in the
country has denounced as Populist,
for our next President of the United
States or whether they will take Mr..
Mckinley, who represents everything
that the Populists have denounced
and just the opposite Of everything
that they have advocated since they
have been party.
Looking at It from this standpoint,
and feeling that in the election Of Mr..
Bryan, Populism has triumphad