Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-07
P~0PULIZING v
Our Own Paul ynndervoort Rcgencr-
atinE Texas.

atinE Texas,
New York Tribune,
Everybody will rejoice to learn that an era
OF unexampled prosperity is getting ready to
dawn upon the state of Texas. Forewarning
OF 1t comes in a dispatch from San Antonio.
where General Paul Vandervoort. who is
described as the well known populist
leader" is now engaged in painting the first
rudy streaks OF it on a wide horizon. Cen
eral VandervCort has evolved a scheme for
CoiohlZlng thousands of pOpulists on unoc-
cupieu lands in various parts of the state.
me movement is to be on a grand scale, and
VIII result-if the big land owners will only
throw open their holdings and join in it
in increasing the population Of the state by
at least 2.OOO,OD more people during the next
i've years. And the newcomers will be a
class of citizens of which General Wander
WORT says the state will have reason to be
proud In token of the earnestness and
sincerity OF the movement the general an
nounces that Ex-Governor Waite of Colorado,
OF bloody brides fame, is already on the
ground making ARRANGEMENTS for a large
number of settlers, whom lie will bring with
hiil, and that Mr.. Debs of Illinois, who col
lided with the general government a few
years ago and suffered brief but fluent mar
tyrdom in jail on that account, Is arranging
TO start the movement in Chicago. Both
these illustrious persons, it is hardly neces-
sary to say, are actuated solely by philan-
IIIOplC hiUtlNSS. VI DeDS the ulSpatcl says
he Will never go into another strike, but
Will work to give people a chance to get out
from under the yoke of oppression of debt,
which year by year is growing
heavier and heavier upon them, by
giving them an opportunity to make
homes for themselves in the glorious coast
country" By which we understand that the
opportunity will be given to- people who are
unable to settle up in Chicago to settle down
in Texas. If we may trust tradition, Texas
was originally settled on that plan.
1t is a great scheme. Great for Texas,
which is about to be populated, and no less
great for the other sections of the country
which 1t dopopulateS. In General Wander
yoOrt's opinion, the feeling in the latter over
the threatened exodus Is intense and pro-
found Since the tide of sentiment began
to turn toward Texas, he says the west and
northwest have begun to be alarmed. Il
could name prominent newspapers in those
regions" he says, which have refused to
print a word about Texas during the present
year, fearing to add fuel TO the flame which
rs already firing the hearts OF
farmers" He says the northwest is on fire
already, and Gin states where high taxes
interest, big fuel and clothing bills and high
rates of transportation keep the farmer'a
nose to the grindstone they are beginning
to turn their eyes toward Texas, where lands
are cheap, taxes low, where fuel costs prac'
ticaliy nothing. and clothing little in com
~parison, and where the farmer is close to
tidewater, where he can get his surplus prod
ucts into market without giving all away
to railroad companies" This Is Utopia, in
deed. Our only wonder Is that General Van
dervoort has not invited his 1000, 900 popu-
lists a little further into the tropics, where
they would have no taxes. need neither fuel
nor clothing, and have no bother about trans
portation rates, but could lie on their backs
all day while the nutritious banana ripened
and fell into their mouths.
This lazy life, however, would hardly
satisfy the active ~populist mind. Ex-Goy-
ernor Waite and Debs would not be fulfill
ing their mission if they were not keeping
their intellectual processes in constant
operation for the uplifting Of the downtrod-
den and oppressed. and the general bench;
of mankind. That is what they are here for.
And Texas is probably as good a place as. any
for the exercise of their peculiar talents.
II they can hive 1000 900 populists In that
large and fruitful state, keeping them con
tented. near tidewater. without taxes, and
freed from the cost OF clothing and excess
siye freight rates. so that they can keep their
minds constantly at work, improving each
other and working for a speedy and satisfac-
tory millennium, we are rather disposed 10
think that 1t will be a good thing for all
concerned. A good thing for Texas. a good
thing for the new citizens. and an uncom-
monty coed thing for the sections Of country
depopulated by the exodus, II Will also be
a good thing for Mr.. Bailey OF Texas. the
present democratic leader in congress. He
win see a great lot OF new constituents, and
will perhaps get his eyes opened to the sort
of folks he Is conserving with, Let us hope
the acheme will be successful.