The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-29
The State Central Committee Fund.

The State Central Committee Fund.
The recent appeal of Hon. F. c. Gibbs,
chairman of the state central commit
tee of the Peoples party, and the able
articles on same subject by Hon. H. V.
Poore and H. A. Swain, both members
Of same committee, emphasizes the ne
cessity of an early and vigorous organ
ization Of the Peoples party.
The plan proposed by the St. Louis
conference was to remedy just such a
condition as was displayed by those ar
ticles Of the above named gentlemen.
1t is only by such plan as was out
IL will be possible to revive the conf
dence and faith of the rank and lille,
that will assure them that an organiza-
ton is in effect and operative, that will
preserve the life and integrity of the
party, that a set of officers will be placed
in charge Of the state organization who
will account in a public way for it's
receipts and disbursements, unlike the
record Of the Peoples party League Of
recent date). With this system of hon
esty and good faith before the people il
seems certain that the plan known as
the National Chartered club plan will
furnish sufficient revenue to place sew
eral thousand dollars in the treasury,
to do active, systematic and aggressive
work in a camnaign
Let the state organization adopt the
same plan as the Michigan state plan.
which charges cents per month for
each member in each club (no club paw.
less than % cents per month or $500
per year, payable semi-annually in ad-
vance. This, for instance, in the Twin
Cities where there are $40 precincts,
would net 100000 at five members to
each club. 1t is made an inducement
for the club that one of it's members will
be selected as Judge of the election
board to represent our party as long as
their club is in good standing.
This would leave the club, for in
stance in St. Paul. this year of 1898, to
serve at two elections this coming spring
when the judge for four days work re.
ceives $4,000, and the clerk for one
days work $500 to $500. This would
make profitable business transaction
for the member who would be elected
to act as judge to pay in the $500 dues
OF the club to the state club treasurer,
out of his prospective salary for this
service, which would amount in round
numbers in st. Paul for both elections
$4,000 for the judge and $40 to $14 for
the clerk of each election precinct. There
is no man but would most cheerfully
pay into his club $500 to $500 for the
privilege of being selected for this re-
sponsible position. This would make a
fund coming in all the time, and relieve
the state central committee Of the bur-
den and expense of attending to their
meetings. 1t is wrong and an imposi-
ton on those men who give their time
freely to expect them to pay railroad
fare and hotel expenses, and assess
Quoting a campaign which is for the
general benefit of the whole party. It
is only when some systematic, compre-
hensive, honest and cheap plan can be
devised which will cost little to MANY.
but will amount to a large amount in
the aggregate, that we can make a sue
ceSSful campaign Think It over friends
and come to our state meeting with
some ideas to present that will accom-
plish good rather than criticise that
which will be offered Give the state
central committee chance to do some
work and we are sure to have it done.
We hope besides that the appeal made
by Mr.. Gibbs for 1000 Populists to chip
in $1.00 each, will be responded to until
he will have double that amount. MANY
hands make light work.