Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1896-07-18
THE POINT TO DECIDE
VIEWS OF THE SECRETARY OF
NATIONAL PEOPLES PARTY.
says Mclxinley's Election Means Il
Triumph of Classes Against
the Masses.
Washington, July III. H Turner. sec

Washington, July III. H. Turner, sec
retary of the national peoples party has
issued the following statement:
The result of the late democratic ma
tional convention is undoubtedly the mi
umph of populiSm. a large portion of the
voters in the populist party in the south
and west We're originally democrats, and
left the old party because it was domi-
mated in every convention by the eastern
democrats. who represented Wall street
and the monopolists of New York and
New England. 1t became quite evident
to every thinking man that, as New York
was allowed to make the platform and
name the candidate of the democratic
party. the great plain people would nave
no show. and that their rights and wishes
would always be ignored.
Relieving this, the thinking men among
the rank and file determined to quit the
old party and organize a new parry.
Hence the existence of the peoples party.
The democratic party has purged it
self, reorganiZed itself and come out for
true democracy, and to all intents and
purposes substituted the populist platform
for the old platforms that the party has
been using for years and which Were
dictated and foiSted upon the people by
the gold bugs of the east. Mr.. Bryan is
a man who fits the platform. | have per
sonaIly watched his course for a number
pulse has been against the oppressors of
the people and in behalf of the great
masses. For more than two years he has
acted with the populiSts of his own state.
II can not be successfully denied that the
principles advocated by the peoples party
have captured the democratic party and
have driven out of its ranks that element
which has always been opposed to true
democracy, and which, from the begin
ming, has been affiliated with the repub-
lican party at its natural home,
All populists in the United States
should rejoice that their principles have
taken such a hold upon the American peo-
pie 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 or
sanization they will be compelled to
unite with the forces going in the same
direction and thereby rescue our counJry
from all the dire calamities which we
have predicted would befal it should the
gold standard be permanently fastened
un0n us.
AS secretary of the national committee
of the peoples party for the past four
years. ! have labored for the uplifting OF
our party. | love the associations which
| have found in its ranks, but while these
Hil { ttdi ~ me llle IlllltlpltS Oh the I'Dl-
UliSt party are much dearer. | feel tnat
would he one Of the worst enemies of the
peoples party and of its principles shonld
il not take the step at this time that | lie
leVe Will eliminate in the triumph of
every demand made by the party. We
have advocated union of the south aGd
west. in order that might bring about
the necessary financial reforms Now
have chance of bringing all our hopes
and desires to a grand consummation.
THE truth of it is that the only point
we now have to decide is whether or not
we will take Bryan, whom every gold bug
in he country has denounced as a popust.
for our next president, or whether they
will take Mckinley, who represents eN-
erythins the populsts have denounced
and just the opposite Of everything they
have advocated since they have been q
PARTY.
''I.oOlling at it from this standpoint.
feel that in the nomination of Mr.. Bryan
populsm has triumphed, and when | say
DOpHliSm | mean the great common D@o-
ple-tie masses have triumphed against
the classes: and should Mr.. Mckinley be
elected. the classes have triumphed, the
English gold standard has been perma-
nently fastened upon the lines of industry
in this country, and there will be nothing
left for us but serfdom, that Will undo}bt-
adIy bring on a bloody revolution in the
near future.