Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-20

OF Lee.
DIES MONIES, Aug. 1e-The middle-of the
road populists held a state convention here
today which was largely attended, about fifty
counties being represented. A. w. c. Weeks
OF Madison county presided. A. L. Kicker Of
JohnsoO county, who was made temporary
chairman. spoke as follows:
few take all that the many produce, is
the direct outgrowth of the competitive sys-
TEN. 1t is useless to apply palliative
to this condition Heroic treatment is de-
mandei. Nothing short Of the absolute de-
struction OF the competitive system as au-
piled to those things which are in themI
selves essentially public utilities or public
necessities will relieve society from the
load under which II is at present struggling
The competitive system is at variance with
the laws OF God the tenets Of Christianity
and that very liberty which we hold sacred
above all things else, and no reform party
care not by whom championsd, or how
aggressive may be its campaign, can ever
succeed In holding the SURFACES Of the peo-
pie unless ii recognizes this fact
The convention held in this city May 2l
state central committee, deliberately and
seemingly willingly. abandoned the princi-
pies of the Omaha platform, gave up the
name of the party, adopted the name of
democrat, and by this act became absorbed
into the democratic party. 1t is use ess,
therefore, TO expect a continuation of the
battle from this organization The much
vaunted Chicago platform, IN not ons line
or sentence makes an open and direct at
tack upon the present economic system. The
attitude of the democracy in Maryland and
other states has convinced me of the futiity
of expecting even modicum Of relief from
the democratic party.
We united with the democracy in 1896 be-
cause Of the nomination Of Bryan, who
lacked only the name to make him a pop
ulist, and the democracy had taken a step
in advance. Bryan is not now the demo-
cratic party as he practically was in 1886.
A partisan press tells US that prosperity Is
returning. DO not be deceived. So long as
capital has II in its power, by combination,
to .evy fixed charges upon Industry pros
perity to the great industrial classes can
never be more than chimera, a wil,-o'-the-
wisp, a phantom of the imagination, for
when the absorbing power of capital is con-
santly increasing. no temporary revival In
business can change the certain and fixed
result. Ii is the capitaliStlc system which
must go, and to relieve this condition and
to change this system, the Chicago demo-
cratic platform offers not one thing. Its
one cure-all is the free coinage of silver.
The free coinage of silver viii increase the
volume of money and raise prices but will
destroy no trusts, no monopohss, will in
nous absorbing powers; In fact, could they
but realize It, IT would increase them. Free
silver will destroy the power of no railroad
king. nor vii. II in any degree lessen the
bTrdensome tax which our railroad manage
ment has placed on commerce. Free silver
will not deprive a single land baron of his
succeed upon the single silver issue, for its
inadequacy to relieve society of its stricken
far-reaching must be the reform, the banner
OF which will gather TO ii the countess
numbers of the oppressed Never again
shall we consent to compromise with pluto
craCy. and from the dark night of the
present system of consuming greed, of ag
gregated wealth. and of cruel injustice, we
will turn to the dawn of a brighter day,
when the commonwealth of the people Will
prevail
The district caucuses selected the following
members of the state central committee:
C4ripf CHI Ttr,,N-
Second district. A. W. Kicker, Johnson;
Third. blank: Fourth, L. H. Weller. Chick
asaw; Fifth, DR., c. W. Writ, Benton; Sixth,
Jacob Lowenburg, Wapello; Seventh, A. w.
c. Weeks Madison; Eighth, R, c. Wickes,
Decatur; Ninth, L. H. Griffith, Cass: Tenth.
James stratton, Palo Alto; Eleventh, j, c.
Emery, Sioux City.
PETER SPEAKS.
The feature Of the afternoon the ad
dress of ex-senator PETER. He said in part:
If recent discoveries of free gold mines
should prove to be as valuable as present
appearances indicate, the silver question
may soon be wholly eliminated from repub-
lican discussions, except, perhaps as to those
persons whose individual interests are AT
stake. Silver republicans want more metal
.ic money. and they would probably be sat
isfied with gold if there is enough of it.
1t is proposed that the populist party shall
do two things-limt the range of our dis
cussions TO the silver branch of the money
question and ally ourselves with the demo-
cratic party. These are the propositions on
which we are divided. / am opposed TO both
of them. ! do not wish to see the peoples
party merged in any other existing organiZa-
tlon, and especially in one too old to be
usefu,. Nor am l willing. without warning
and protesting. TO see it made the foot bali
of politicians and bartered away for spoils.
would be willing TO abide by the conclu-
SONS of a national conference Of delegates
duly appointed and accredited fairly repre-
s6nting all the Clements among voters who
are opposed 10 the present gold standard
high tariff regime. But until that can be
enough for me. The alliance with the demo
cratic party in 1896 only for the cam
paign: Now, though we may not be quite
ourselves again and in our right minds we
are free 10 determine our affairs in our own
way as party and a. individual men.
1t may be urged that the democratic party
has changed its policy in respect 10 the
coinage ratio. ! deny 1t. The platform ut
terance is merely dec.amatory-inserted to
men of the democratic party have not been
and are not now tenacious about the ratio
Its candidate for the presidency and his
associates on the ticket, would. as ] verify
believe, consent TO any compromise that
would secure the unlimited coinage of sill
yer. No benefit would accrue to anybody
but money changers and Spectators from
Increasing the coinage ratio, and popusts
see no reason why money that is good
enough for common people is not equally y
good for uncommon people.
There is nothing in the democratic plat
fern. or in that party's policy which is IN
any way responsive 10 the pressing demand
of the working classes. the coinage OF sill
yer and an income tax are the only matters
about which the democratic and populist
parties are even approximately in accord,
As to all matters which populsts regard
as fundamental and as of surprising i'm
portance, we are not on,y not in accord, bu,
are positively opposed TO each other.
STATE TICKET NAMED.
The following state ticket was placed In
the field: -..
Governor, Charles A.. Lloyd Muscatine
county; lieutenant governor d. L. Perkins,
Lyons judge supreme court J. A. Lonburg
Wapello; superintendent instruction, Will
liam Blain, Marion; railroad commissioner
L. II. Grifith, Lee. gIa7
The following members Of the national
committee were appointeda A. W. c. Weeks,
Madison county; L. /. Reed. Muscatine, and
J. S. Bebee, Lee. 30
A protest signed by ]. Belange, chairman
OF the populists who have combined with
the democrats for free silver, was sent 10
the convention todsyg butEwss denied CON
sideration. The protest called upon all pop
ulists to join with the free silver democrats
this year in an effort TO advance one of the
theories OF the populists.
The platform reaftrms the ST. Louis and
Omaha platforms; declares for direct legis-
lation; for sufficient amount of sound and
flexible money" for the issuance OF money
10 state county, township and municipal
governments, the principal to be paid back
TO the government at per cent per annum
without protest. the said money to be