The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-08
CAN'T GET TOGETHER.
Senator PETER Says There Can
BE No Real Fusion
OF Reform Elements in Kansas
Until All Unite
Under One Common Name and Drop
Party Names Such as "Populist,"
Democrat" "Silver Repub-
Ecan," Etc.

Asked today for his opinion of the
Social Democracy clubs being organ
lied in Kansas and for his views per-
tanning to the socialistic clubs being or
ganized in southeastern Kansas, ex-
United States Senator PETER said:
1T has been said that the organiza-
ton of these clubs will interfere with
the Populist party. This 1 do not be-
Heve. 1t does not mean a new party.
1t does not mean the uprising of dan
gerous element. IT does not mean the
amalgamation of forces opposed to Pop
ulism. 1t simply means the organiza-
ton of additional branches which will
aid the party in it's march of progress.
In these organizations the danger
does not lie. The danger to Populism
lies in the tendency of the party to go
backward instead of forward. BY this
L mean that there is today in Kansas
a large proportion of the Populists who
are willing to make a permanent alli-
ance with the Democratic party, there
by sacrificing their own principles and
assisting in the upbuilding of many
doctrines to which we are unalterably
opposed. They would give up all to the
Democrats. This L believe to be wrong.
while I favor a union of all the
forces of politics opposed to the pres
L
consent to giving up the principles for
which our party stands and surrender
ing bodily to the opposition. 1 am WILL
ing to sacrifice the name of our party
but L want the others to do the same.
If the Democrats and PopulistS and
other elements desire to unite, let us do
so under a new name, but let us shrink
from surrendering bodily to the enc
my.
1.-The need of one great party COM
bining all the force of the opposing
voters was never more apparent than it
is now. Crazy with success and the
accompanying upward tendency of
prices, the Republican party with it's
almost military discipline, will be more
formidable than ever, for now it is the
last refuge of the class interests that
have brought all of our worst troubles
upon u.s.
conversation, Mr.. PETER showed the
reporter for the Journal an editorial in
the Advocate this week.
There said he, you will find an ex-
preston of my opinion on the subjects
which we were discussing"
The editorial indicates a new position
for Mr.. PETER, in as much as he sug-
gests national conference to organize
the new party which he proposes. Mr..
PETER says:
Union ought to be the battle cry of
| all refOrmers. Let the people rule. AS
| the Abolitionists, the Free Sellers,
y
| bodies united with Democrats and
| Wings to form the Republican party in
1856, and as members of various farm
and labor organizations combined with
Republicans and Democrats in 1892 to
form the Peoples Party, so now ought
Democrats, Republicans, Single Tax
ers, Nationalists, Populists and all 9TH
er persons who are opposed to the pol
icy of the last and the present admins
trations to unite in one great body un-
der a new name and creed of our own
choosing, and together as one man
make war upon the common enemy.
This is the only way to secure the full
vote of the opposing elements; for no
1 one of the existing parties can get any
where near all the votes of other par
| ties. But if all are brought together in
| one body, then each member will sup
| port and defend it.
Such a union, the Advocate thinks,
| could be effected through a national
| conference of accredited delegates. The
| work might be begun in a state-in
| Kansas, for instance. Kansas POpulists
! were first in the field. The name 'Peo-
| ple's Party was first used in a state
| campaign in Kansas in 1890. Should the
! Populist state central committee re-
| quest a conference with like committees
! of other political bodies with a view OF
! ultimately, bringing about permanent
| union of all the reform forces, it would
| be a good beginning"