People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1897-05-28
The National Conference.


based on straight mot fusion) populist
votes of record, as promulgated by the
committee appointed by the National
Reform Press association at its Mem.
phis meeting held February 22-24, 1897.
This national delegated conference
is not intended to make war upon any
loyal official nor member of the peo-
pies party, but for the purpose of uni
flying the party all over the nation.
Every populist in the nation knows
that there is widespread confusion
among populists, as the result of the
last national campaign. Those who
contributed most to the building up
and pushing forward the principles of
the party were stunned and democrat
lied at the outcome of the St Louis
convention, and the unparalleled con-
fusion that reigned through the cam
paign, and now they refuse to turn
a wheel until the future policy of the
party is authoritatively declared and
specifically stated.
The peoples party started out to re-
establish a peoples government. If
the principles enunciated in the Omaha
and st. Louis platforms, were crystal
lied into law, all the intelligent people
admit that, the object sought would
be accomplished Unfort unately the
methods of party organizatiog...aa sAf
procedure hitherto practiced pfAl9Azs u
ed the possibility of success. Thou
sands of clear headed, intelligent re-
formers realizing this refused to ac-
| lively aid in the movement.
The machinery of the democratic
and the republican parties is adjusted
purposely to take all power out of the
rank and file and place it in the hands
of few officials, who, being clothed
with autocratic power become party
dictators, while the non. office holding
members become party slaves. The
peoples party by adopting the same
machinery found themselves handicap
ped and helpless at St. Louis
1t is useless to deny these facts, and
it is silly to expect intelligent and
honest refOrmers, to again enter or
push vigorous campaign, until the
machinery of the party is so adjusted
as to place and keep the control of the
party in the hands of its non office
holding members. In fact it wi not
be copies party until this is done
nor will it ever be able to establish a
peoples government unless its party
machinery and party procedure exem
pity the workings of such a govern
ment.
The application of the initiative and
referendum and imperative mandate
in our party government and procedure
will accomplish this great object, while
every other plan proposed and tested
has proven dismal failure. We have
the referendum in successful operation
now in amending and adopting state
constitutions and of the interpretations
of cities and towns After more than
a century's experience it has proven
adopted the system, or notifications of
it, aud in every case it has proven sat
isfactory, and the trend of the times
everywhere is to enlarge its applica-i
ttx if'a eESShv - we not profF h-1 tt :
In fact no such thing as govern
ment of. by and for the people can
exist without the application of the
initiative and referendum and impera-
tive mandate in all matters of legisla-
ton and tenure of Office. The Mercury
challenges any one to demOnstrate the
contrary. Our position being impreg-
nable it follows that those who favor
peoples government must and will
align themselves with the peoples
party as soon as it adopts these princi-
pies as the governing force of the
party's procedure. Those who prefer
autocratic government in or crt of the
peoples party will use every influence
at their command to defeat the objects
of the Nashville COZ ference.
The N. r. P A. drew the line by de-
claring in favor of the application of
the initiative and referendum and inn
perative mandate (which is a peoples
party platform demand) in the gov
eminent of the peoples party. Every
populist who desires the success of the
prime pies of his party will aid in max
ing the Nashville conference a success,
pie eaters who recognize populist vot-
ers as trading capital, will fight against
it The day for deception and fraud
has passed, the hour for the establish
ment Of a government OF the people
approaches, and nothing demagogues
may do or say can prevent the success
of the Nashville conference, if the peo-
pie desire to establish q government of,
by and for the people, and the Mercu-
ry believes thev do
Upon this rock the Mercury stands
and nothing party bosses may do or
say can drive it from it's position until
the conference speaks.
Populists everywhere should see that
party officials from precinct chairman
to nat onal committeeman take the
necessary steps at once to select repre-
sentatives to this national conference
Where the party officials fail or refuse
to act, the live populists in the ranks
should take the matter IN hand and see
that proper action is taken and proVis
ion made for representatio
Traitors and traders to TIE rear
Let The people be heard '-Gouthern
Mercury.
Nature Study for Public SclAOOls.
Nature study, or seeing familiar
things in a new light, ia valuable
factor in education. How many peo-
o e can explain, so that a child can I'M
derstand, why water puts out fire; why
some young squash plants bring their
shells out of the ground on the backs
and others do not, or show the differ
ence between q leaf bud and fruit
b,,d ~ %ba apnfa mr. tell from WhRnca