The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-02-24
KEEN RIVAL FACTIONS
Into Which the Reform Press AssO-
citation is DIVIDED Simultaneous
ly in Session.
Each Claiming to be the Peoples Party'S Onl
True Friend-Conspiracy and
Deception.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Feb. 23.-The reform
press association met in annual convention
in this city yesterday, about 300 delegates
being present. Among those In attendance
are Paul Vandervoort of Omaha, presi-
dent of the association; Jacob s. Coxey,
of Ohio; Frank Burkett, of Mississippi,
and Cyclone" Davis, of Texas. National
Committeeman George F. Washburn, of
Massachusetts,, is also present but took
no part in the proceedings The appoint
ment of committees and the annual add
dress of President Vandervoort occupied
the morning session, and the feature of
the afternoon meeting was the election
of Frank Burkett, of Mississippi, as
president for the ensuing year.
Vandervoort said in part:
I'VE have passed through a most event
full year. The struggle for the life of our
party has been the hardest in the history
of the organization. All of our papers
have suffered On account of the mistake
We made at ST. Louis, many have sus-
pended and our great campaign OF educa-
ton side tracked and our literature
useless. When we last met We Were all
aware that Il deep laid conspiracy to ruin
our party and destroy the reform move
ment had been inaugurated, had secured
control of our party machinery and Of
nearly all of those whom we had elected to
their deviish skill in manipulating events
and men they have never been able to Sc
duce or destroy the power and influence
of the great body of the reform press.
Some have been deceived and led astray
but they are opening their eyes to the true
situation and will rally as one man to
the defense of our sacred principles when
the slogan sounds for the great campaign
of 1900. If the Democratic party had Won
the fight there would have been no re-
forms enacted, not even free silver, and
all the power md it's machinery and all
its ofiice-holders, high and low, would have
been welded to absorb cur party.
We will lot allow name or platform
to be stolen by any band of bandits on
the face of the EARTH for in 1900 we will
hold the first convention if we have to
meet Jan. /. We will stand by the plat
form announced at Omaha, but l hope
We will make the chasm SO wide and deep
between our party and the Democracy that
the separation of the sheep from the goats
VIII at once commence. Che ye this
day whom ye VIII serve dishonored
| treacherous false, corrupt ballot box stuff
ing Democracy or the true faith, no whose
principles we have converted half the ma
ton and scared the balance out of their
wits. The Republican party boldly an
nounceS the doctrines believe destruc-
| tive of our nations best interests and fatal
| to its prosperity. 1t has thrown off the
|
| must be made to put the people to sleep
| and break the ranks of the aggressive foe.
| This we predict will be an international
| agreement i'll favor of free silver. This is
| the sop that will be thrown to the discon-
| tented masses and it will avail about
much in bringing about prosperity the
enactment of a new tariff law, differing
| 30 per cent in its provisions from the pres
ent law. The silver panaCea will add some
| %0,Co0,000 annually to the money volume Of
| the nation; it will employ more labor,
| which Will be a benefit, but it will not solve
| the problem of employing all the idle labo
| or starting up the diSmantled machinery
| More than half the vote of the Democratic
| party did not care one iOta for free silver.
| The very leaders who controlled their con-
| vention and ours had demonstrated time
after time that they were false to that
| principle. 1t was a Shrewd move to save
| the Democratic party and to retain control
! of the solid South. And its object is twofod
| to resurrect corpse and bury our party
| in the place of it's putrid remains. We will
| never consent to make another campaign
with that question as the vital issue. Our
| thunder would be stolen by the Repub-
| HCanS and we would be stranded by the
roadside with the disorganized, broken
| down, spawned wreck of the Democratic
party. If We continue to retain silver as
| one of our cardinal doctrines We should
declare in favor of the true and normal
ratio held by two-thirds of the nations of
| the earth-151a to l. We are unalterably
| opposed to the retirement of the green
| backs. The national banks should be de-
! prived of the power to issue money. This
| would release and put into circulation the
vast sum held in reserve, the banks would
| be unable to contract the volume of money
and would have no selfish reason for
! squandcring millions to control elections.
| We must bring about a political revolution
| at the ballot box, remodel the gCN eminent
| the American MAN. resume the SO(er-
| eign power of issuing money and compel
| the bankers to run a legitimate banking
business. Let the people rule and not the
banks, but let us continually agitate that
/ 1900 is the time to hold national constitu-
| tional convention and secure the rights Of
| free government. taken from us by cor
| porations, combines and tursts.
| "Other nations employ their idle labor
| This nation cannot afford to let her people
| starve for want of work. 1t is cheaper to
| employ them than aid them by charitable
| contributions. Public works should be paid
| for by issuing money until the per capita
| is the same at the close of the war. II
a full legal tender for public and private
| debts, it will not depreciate.
| The anti-fusion middle-of-t the road ele-
| ment gave hearty support to President
| Vandervoort, an uncompromising anti
| fusionst, and the meeting is decidedly of
| the middle-of-the-road complexion as
| shown by the proceedings.
| President Nandervoorts recommendation
| that National Chairman Butler be de-
| posed received with loud applause
| from all parts of the hall.
| An invitation was voted to the reform
| papers of the country to join the associa-
| ton. There was considerable opposition to
| the motion, on the ground that only papers
| of pronounced Populistic principles should
| be accepted as members of the association
committee appointed to revise the
| bylaws and constitution so as to give
the president and secretary authority to
strike from the rolls any member of the
| association found advocating the cause of
| other parties.
| President Nandervoort declined to ap-
| point committees, saying he preferred to
| have the convention name them joseph
| A. Parker, of Louisville corresponding Sec
| rotary of the association, was appointed
| secretary and treasurer by the executive
| committee, vice A. Roselle. of Missouri.