The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-29
LIKE A PRIMARY SCHOOL
Rather Amusing Roll of Honor
Merit System
Which is Expected to Infuse
Enthusiasm Into
The Ranks of Free Silver Orators
Their Work to Be Under the Eye
of "the Great Men They Revere"


state chairman. William K. Ward of
this city is secretary. The Kansas
headquarters will be maintained at the
Matthewson House in Parsons, from
where the first address to the prospect
i've members of the organization has
already been issued.
The work in Kansas will follow the
general plan of the National Bureau
of Volunteer Speakers, which was or
ganized primarily in the interests of
silver and kindred subjects of import
ance.
The following letter has been issued
from Parsons by Mr. Vrooman, describ-
ing the work which the new organiza-
ton hopes to accomplish:
rms bureau is organizing, not the
voters, but the speakers and workers
IN IN every ward and township in the
struct its workers in the history of the
crime of '73 and other reform argu-
ments, but is to drill them in the most
eflclent tactics known to the science of
practical politics.
Different methods of organization
and many varieties of political tactics
were tried during the late campaign
and with greatly varying success
These have been carefully compared.
and from them suggestions gathered
that have at last crystaIized into the
National Bureau of Volunteer Speak
ers.'
THE fundamental idea is that work.
ers are to report regularly to head
quarters all the work DONE obstacles
encountered and results accomplished
While in return they are to be continu-
ously informed as to the policy, plans
and tactics mapped out at headQuar-
tiers. This interchange of information
between the workers and the leaders
enables all to work intelligently and
harmoniously-in word, successfully.
The coin we pay our workers will be
the stimulating news of the progress
of the work elsewhere and everywhere
in the nation. This breath of victory
will make workers of sluggards and
heroes of towards. For each man when
he strikes a blow will not think of the
petty result of his blow, but the mighty
result of the million blows struck con-
tinuOuSly and in concert by the multi
tudinous members of this same organ
iZatiOn.
+ Moreover, strict account will be kept
of every service rendered by each
worker and from time to time acknowI-
edgements of such services will be pre-
sented in the form of honor certificates
signed by the proper officers. Hon.
William J. Bryan is to have the custody
of the National Roll of Honor" as our
state advisory board is to have the
custody of the state Roll of Honor
This roll of honor appeals to the
strongest human instincts that have
been utilized by every successful social
or religious movement since the dawn
of history. In the first place each
worker knows that everything he does
for the cause is recorded at headquar-
ters, and is under the eye of the great
men shat he reveres. He knows that
the old custom of a dozen unSelfsh
workers, after developing Il movement
by years of labor, being cast aside by
one or two lOud-mOuthed adventures,
who have done nothing at all, but who
claim all, can not be repeated For
hoy iS he RI xxrI1i oh
all future years he can point and prove
his faithfulnesS to the cause. If he
is vain, this appeals to his vanity; if
heroic, it stimulates his heroiSm; if he
is ambitious, he sees that the way to
get place and position is to merit them
by faithful work and that they cannot
be had by cheating the rightful owners
out of the fruits of a victory to which
he has not contributed.
I'VE are organizing firstly, secondly
and lastly for work. Every man, WO-
man or child who is willing to work
faithfully and steadily for the over
throw of plutoCracy and the prosperity
of the whole people will be shown how
and where his or her work will be most
effective.
Sex and past party affiliations are of
no import. Men and women, silver
Republicans Democrats and Populists
are treated on an exact equality. Our
bureau will mix in no local fights. 1t
is larger than any faction or party, it
must be as to who can do most for our
common cause. Come and join US in
our march to victory.
There was but one John Wesley, but
by a careful system he multiplied him
self into 10000 John WesleyS, each pre-
senting the strongest arguments of re-
ligion as Wesley formulated them. We
have in Kansas scores of men with
voices and gestures nearly as impress
i've as those of our national leaders
They can reproduce the best arguments
jokes and illustrations of Bryan, Tel
Ter and Weaver in every school house
in Kansas. Our aim is to develop
power, not originality, in our speakers,
to produce vote makers, not essayists.
Glasses in practical politics are to be
formed in every ward and township.
The plans recommended by the national
bureau will be studied and adapted to-
local conditions. Young men will be
taught to get out voters on election day,
to watch and prevent Illegal voting at
every polling booth in their ward They
will be drilled to march like soldiers,
and also cheer like college students, both
during the parades and at every good
point made by the speakers. We are
organizing, not only to elect our candi-
date. but to see thatour votes are count
ed and that in 1900 the president who
is elected shall be inaugurated.
I'VE have no wealthy interests to call
on for funds. In our ranks none can
give much-but none are too poor to
give a little. We ask each TO contribute
as God has prospered him. and as the
oppressor hath failed to fleece him.
I'VE ask especially that all who have
been ground down by oppression and
injustice shall contribute something
each month to help US make this last
mighty resistless effort to destroy the
oppressor forever. We mean to find 100
men in the state who will contribute 81
a month; 200 who will give so cents
month; 400 who will give % cents
month, and at least -10,0 600 who will give
10 cents a month. This can be obtained
only by personal solicitation and collec-
ton. This is the most important work
any volunteer can do. Surely any earn
est worker can get ten friends to give
10 cents, or four to give 25 cents a month
Women can do this quite as well as
men. Every silver man in Kansas will
be called on by one of our workers dur