The Advocate and news., 1897-12-22
More About "a POpulist Opportunity."

NAVAO ADVuO N AVPUAADV opportunity
Editor Advocate and News:--I am
much pleased with the article written
by my friend, Henry Mclean, and pub
lished in your issue Of December s. I
am pleased with It because it presents
the outlines Of plans by which the peo-
pie who now live may be enabled to
witness, in some measure, the material
ization of some of our cherished the
ories am also glad that you offer
your columns for discussion of ques-
tions Of moment to the State I trust
that we may see revival of the en-
thusiasm on social questions that pre-
vailed to so marked a degree among the
people few years since, and discus
sion Of the principles in which a ma
jOrity Of the people believe, as shown
by their votes In 1896, would seem to
be especially appropriate now.
Wherever industries of any kind are
being undertaken by the public to-day,
the result is even beyond the brightest
anticipations Of the most enthusiastic
nationalist" Our public schools, pub
lie roads, free bridges; our postoffice,
currency, police systems; our fire de-
partments and many other like branches
OF human eXertion are familiar examples
which we would not for a minute think
Of surrendering to private monopolies.
We look beyond our own shores, how
ever, to see the most advanced realiza-
tion of "Populist theories" and, strange
as it may seem to him who is so in
tensely American" that he never studies
the lives Of other peoples, we find that
the most progress has been made among
people whom we had regarded as being
SO conservative" that they were rolling
along in the same old ruts that were
made thousand years ago. Instead,
we see Glasgow with her broadened and
beautified streets, healthful tenements,
owned by the municipality, public baths,
wash houses parks, etc. Germany, Aus
tria and other European countries with
government ownership and operation of
railroads, with steady employment of
operatives at increased wages, and at
the same time cheapened transporta-
tion charges; Australia with It's splendid
success in the same lines; Switzerland
with all this, and in addition direct leg
islation, and best of all, as it appears to
some of us, New Zealand, where, in
addition to nearly all the good things
mentioned above, leases in perpetuity
are given, with small loans by the gov
ernment for making improvements, in
stead Of fee simple titles to lands.
When we see all of these things we
are paralyzed with surprise that pro
gressive America" Is satisfied to plod
along in the paths made by feudal lords
in the dark ages. Truly the Peoples
party--or any other party-"is but
Of any party principle should be care
full TO understand that he is giving sup
port to movement that must of ne
cessity leave its imprint on the his
tory of his country.
If it were possible to take an express
sion from each voter who supported the
party that is now in power in the State,
/ ann sure that nine out Of every ten
would say amen to all that Bro. Mclean
has said. They would say to see to it
that the boys at the reform school pro-
duced and prepared at the farm all that
was possible of fruits and vegetables
for the use of themselves and also in
part for the other institutions. They
would say have the girls at the indus
trial school engaged part time in some
productive occupation looking toward
the good of themselves and the State.
In short, they would say that the con-
tract system should go, and that if more
was produced at the various institu-
tiOns than was needed for consumption
a part might be put upon the market and
the proceeds used for the support of
those who were dependent upon the
prisoner, or set aside to his OF her credit
to be turned over at the time of honor
able discharge from the institution. If
these things were done no one would