The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-14
Urges Populists to Stand By
Joint Electoral Ticket.
OF TRAITORS
Some So-called Leaders Are
Trying to MisIead.
Their Action Only Results In
Helping the Republicans.

All members were present with the
exception Of John S DOre of California
After hearing reports from mem bers.
and especially from H w Reed of
Georgia, who spent several days with
Thomas E. Watson. the committee de-
cided to issue the following manifesto.
To the Peoples Party voters of the
United States:
Our national committee INDUCED in
the hope that the action of the Peoples
Party in national convention in subOr-
dinating the interests Of the party to
the success of the vital issue involved
in this campaign would be met by
equally unselhsh devotion to a COM
mon interest on the part of the Dem
Ocrauc party. and that all the friends
of silver should present a solid front
against the minions of greed by sup
porting one ticket, the truly cO-Opera-
tive ticket, Bryan and Watson. But
this hope being disappointed, there
were but two courses left, one of which
must be adopted.
F'irst-To run a straight Bryan and
Watson electoral ticket in every state,
which. on account of the failure of the
Democratic party to support this
ticket would have effected the same re-
suit in this campaign that would have
followed the nomination of a straight
Populist ticket at st. Louis, the cleo
ton OF Mckinley and the triumph of
gold 1t is true the Democratic party
would be responsible even to a greater
extent than ourselves for such q result,
but to permit evil to triumph on such
grounds would convict us as well as
them of a lack of patriotism and mar
row partisanship that would deserved
~ forfeit to US the confidence of the
American people. Two wrongs never
make a right. When our devotion to
the welfare of the people falters be
cause of any failure on the part OF
the Democratic party, then indeed Will
we have lowered our standard and
proven ourselves false to our own
tea chings and repudiated our own mot
to of country first and men and party
second. The brave, enlightened voters
who constitute the rank and file of the
Peoples Party are incapable Of such
base betrayal of their country as would
result from division in the ranks OF
those opposing the machlna liOnS OF the
confederated money power Of the two
continents against the homes and lib
critics Of the American people and
would repudiate any action on the part
of their leaders opposed to united eff
fort at this time as they repudiated the
old parties for treachery to their in
terests.
The other course left open was to do
everything in its power to unite the
voters of the country against McKin-
ley and to overcome the obstacles and
embarrassment which, if the Demo
cratic party had put the cause first and
party second. could be accomplished
only by arranging for division of the
electoral vote in every state possible,
securing SO many electors Tor Bryan
and Watson and conceding 50 many to
Bryan and SeWal. At the opening of
the campaign this. under the circum-
stances. seemed the Wisest course for
your committee: and 1t IS clearer TO-
day than ever that it was the only
safe and wise course if our votes were
to be cast and made effective for the
relief of an oppressed ana outraged
people. Following this line OF pOucy.
your committee has arranged electoral
tickets in three-fOUrths of the states
and will do all in its power to make
the same arrangement in all Of the
states
BY every opponent of the gold stand
ard giving loyal support to these joint
electoral tickets, the Peoples Party VIII
not only secure in the electoral college
for Bryan and Watson several times as
many votes as we could have possibly
secured by making a straight fight, but
we will secure the defeat Of Mckinley
and the gold standard which should
now be the greatest desire of every cit
izen who believes in the principles OF
true Democracy as taught by Jefferson
and of true RepubncanlSm as repre-
scented by Abraham Lincoln. By this
arran cement we can unite a large ma
jority on our joint electoral ticket The
hope of the money power and trusts IS
to divide US.
They either have secured or will Sc
cure the services of every man that
money can command, to breed dlssen-
siOns and divisions The danger lies in
the possibility of a certain portion Of
the rank and file of the Peoples Party
being mlSteQ DX SO-CalleQ leaders, VINO
for reasons best known to themselves,
or for want of reason, are advising Vo-
ters to rebel against the joint electoral
tickets and put up separate electoral
tickets or to withhold their support
from the Joint electoral ticket Some of
the Democrats Of the revenue stripe,
who are not yet Weaned from the flesh
pots of Egypt but are sticklers for reg
ularity, and are nOminally supporting
Mr. Bryan while secretly and in every
undetermined way are trying to accom-
plish his defeat, are advising against
the joint electoral tickets and failing in
this, then advise Democrats to scratch
Peoples Party electors and already a
few sO-called POpuist leaders are ad-
vising the rank and file of our party to
strike back by refusing to support the
Democratic electors on the joint cleo
tOral tickets.
This is a trap set by the gold bugs
who are rejoicing that q few honest
men have fallen into it. These reports
today are the only ones that buoy up
the hopes Of the Republican managers
and the Democrats and Populists who
are thus engaged in doing what the
sold men most desire Therefore we
appeal to every POpulist who may have
been misled by such mistaken or false
pleas of pretended loyalty to the Peo-
pies Party into refusing support to such
Joint electoral tickets. to stop and con-
slider the results of such conduct and
refuse to be Influenced by either mis-
guided or corrupt men
There are but two sides IN the conflict
that is being Waged in this country. On
one side are the hosts of monopOlies
the money power. great trusts and cor
pOratiOns who seek the enactment of
laws to benefit them and fmp0verish
the people On the other side are the
farmers, labOrers. merchants, and all
others who produce wealth and bear
the burden Of taxation. The one repre-
sents the wealthy and powerful classes
who want the government to plumber