The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-02-05

supply Of the precious metals TINS oh.
tanned should not be interfered with in
behalf of any class or special interest
The whole automatic theory is de
pendent for its acceptance by the hu.
man race upon the fact that labor i.
the only means by which gold and
silver can be obtained, and that it is,
therefore. placed beyond human weak
ness, ignorance or disho nesty to have
any effect upon the total supply"
90 As write these lines have before
me the Kansas City Times (dem.) of
January % and clip as follows: 1.-The
election of Col. Harris to the senate
will be severe blow to the repub-
Gcans. 1t will make slandering Kan
sas bootless undertaking. Still, they
can denounce Col. Harris for not being
wild-eyed anarchist" These words,
from such a source, are very significant,
but they are no less significant than
true. Considering his record, his fdel-
ity to populism. his reputation and char
acter, and his ability to present the
principles of populism to the people of
the country, the failure of the Kansas
legislation to give Senator PETER Sec
of the work of one who has at all times
done his best under the fire of all sorts
of ridicule and abuse is striking IL
lustration of the evils of a policy which
gives the balance of power in a party
caucus to the representatives of a small
minority of those who voted the party
ticket.
The peoples party is now in its cru
cial period of probationary trial. A
wise decision as to its future course
will give it renewed life and vigor and
cause to enlist under its banner all re-
formers now in old party ranks and
constitute it the worthy foe of the two
gold standard old parties in 1900. An
unwise decision committing the party
to the fusion idea, will disorganize and
destroy the party and force its mem
beers to either become reform demo-
Gratis" or drive them into the socialist
labor party. The three principal and
fundamental issues-land, finance and
transportation must not only not be lost
sight of but must be formulated from a
strictly populistic standpoint, If it is
wished or expected to hold in line the
masses of the party's voters. On land
and transportation the declarations
of the ST. Louis platform are sufficient
ly clear and explicit.
The form of verbiage is not essential.
so that there is enunciated in no uncer-
tain tones the demands that alien, cor
porate and individual land monopoly
must be prohibited and prevented by
either national or state legislation and
that all public utilities which in their
nature are natural monopolies, should
be owned and operated by the people,
for the people.
The populist theory and party prin-
ciples on money may be summed up
and epitomized as being gold, silver
issued by the general government and
neither redeemable in either. Govern
ment banks"
But above and beyond all issues in
Importance and vital results is the de-
mand for direct legislation. Let the
declaration of populist principles be
headed by this plank:
We demand direct legislation through the
initiative and the referendum in local, state
and national government We advocate the
following principles and demands. but are
willing to submit them to a direct vote Of the
people, and to abide by their decision until the
people themselves reverse it.
If we are to have party with a
party name and party principles of our
own, let US declare our principles, nail
our colors to the mast and commence
four years campaign of education,
pledgiug our honor that we will never,
never fuse with any other party. 9th
erwise, let US catch up the clap-trap
slogan, "all silver men must unite and
stand together" and enlist under the
democratic banner for a 20-years'
squabble over the terms ratio" and
parity" ''intrinsic value" and 'sound
money" GEORGE C. WARD.