The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-23
THREE OF A KIND.
Three Separate and Distinct
Political Organizations
Assemble in Delegate State Con-
YentiOn at Des MOines.
ONE PURPOSE IN VIEW.
All Are for Silver and All Ar
for Fusion.
Conference Committees Are Ap-
pointed by Each.

Des Moines. Ia, June 23.-About 1000
delegates were present when State
Chairman NJ. F. Healey of Ft. Dodge
called the Democratic state convention
to order.
All the counties were represented by
delegations. most of them equal to the
authorized number. The attendance of
visitors was small. The tabernacle was
not decorated except with a few flags.
The announcement that ex-CCngresS-
man Fred Z. White of KeOkuk, the
leading candidate for governor, would
preside as temporary chairman, was
received with cheers which increased
when a large picture of w. j. Bryan
was unfurled at the rear of the stage.
Three cheers were given for Bryan.
Frederick E White, temporary chair
man, said in part:
'Jeffersonism today constitutes the
crOwning glory of all our institutions,
as il is indeed the only barrier the Gu
mulatiVe wisdom of The ages has been
able to erect to protect free people
against the approaches of deSpOtiSn1- II
they should ever, either through ignOT-
ance. Indifference or actual cOnniVance
let go of this JeferSOniSm, but one thing
will happen, must happen, is inevitable,
and that is radical change in the en-
tire structure of the government. You
Will then have fastened upon you either
a socialism or despOtism- Judging
from the accommodating evidences on ev-
cry hand. fear that when that evil day
comes it will be a despOtism, not the
deSpOtiSm of ecclesiaSticS, not the deS-
pOtism of ans old fashioned feudaliSm,
not the deSpOtiSm of an Immediate mill
tarism, but the despOtism of money,
the most merciless, the cruelest master
of them all
What are the present conditions?
Are they just and natural, such as
ought TO prevail? None but veritable
demagOgues and reckless partisans will
dissent from the statement that the
conditions throughout our country are
not only not satisfactory, not only de-
plOrable, but actually alarming, and
becoming more alarming with the lapse
of each succeeding day.
These conditions are sought to be
intensified and made perpetual by
certain class of people who are the di-
rect pecuniaTy beneficiarieS, and While
comparatively few in number, are pow
erful in their influence. The VexatiOus
part of the problem is that the multi
tude who are the victims are afflicted
with an inexplicable Indifference, the
most remarkable part of their conduct
being their traditional immObility. The
cause of true reform suffers immensely
because a great many people rest Sc
cure in the belief that the freedom re- 4
mains unimpaired so long Is they are
not actually sold upon the block. This
monster deIusiOn has in the past from
time to time deferred and is now de-
ferring the regeneration of the pOliti-
cal life of this nation. It is this wretch
ed halIucinatiOn. supplying the powers
of comprehension among so many peO-
pie that gives the opportunities and
furnishes the license to the pirates in
our midst to deVOur our substance with
impunity. Once let the people learn that
they may be reduced to condition of
practical SerVitude while still permit
ted the use of the forms and ceremO-
malls to which they U>e accustomed in
a state of actual freedom, but which are
now empty forms and shallow, meaning
less ceremOnals. devoid of power and
harmless of purpose; let the working
classes once thoroughly comprehend
~1rra n OF NaTE
mine prices is the OmnipOtent power in
this material wOrld-the power that can
most effectually create the autOcrat up
on the one hand and the menial on the
other. that can aff1ict society at the
same time with the twO-fOld curse of
multi millionaire and pauper; once let
those truths penetrate the popular un-
derstanding. and the carnival OF the
thieving and gambling fraternity would /
abruptly come to an ingloTious end
THE interesting question then is, is it |
impossible to arouse the masses to a |
real sense of the danger hanging over
them before the danger eliminates in |
a calamity and OVerWhelmS them There |
are indeed at the present time, many |
indications of a popular awakening.
Unless we set the people down as in |
durable idiots. il viii be impossible for |
US to believe that they viii much longer |
continue to submit to the almost whole |
sale cOnfScatiOn of their earnings and !
the heartiess spOliatiOn of their political |
inheritance. The criminal opera tiOnS /
growing so recklessly bold and frequent /
the effects of their opera tiOns are so far |
reaching and disastrous that public at |
7ention is being aroused as it never was
before. and unless our people are ex-
empt from the opera tiOns of the natural
law that governs elsewhere and are
amenable to another the workings of |
which We do not understand, public in
dignatiOn will follow and the inevita-
ble outcome will be a Feadjustment of |
conditions where the JefferSOnian doc !
trine of the political equality of man |
VIII be assigned its rightful place and
the administration of justice be the !
moving- governing principle. That |
class legislation has now reached the
which viii involve the permanent de-
gfadation of the producing classes, is |
beyond all intelligent dispute, and vet
an their utter madness the beneficiaries
OF TINS legislation are planning and de-
ma nd1ng that the fields of their opera
Ilons De Wldened. With one accord, !
4hey are asking such an extension of |
license and power to pIunder that
should all their demands be granted as
the Republican party now cOntenDlates |
as It IS IN fact anxious to grant an i'm
perialism of wealth will rule this cOun |
Try such as this world never saw. with
out conscience, destitute of mercy riot
ing in the very debasement of the com
mon people, reViving the damnabIe doc
trine of despOtisnl. enforcing the cruel
ties of the ancient Pharaohs compelling
the people to make bricks without
straw
Equality in the owning of property
Is an ideal condition for which the Dem
oEFaIlc party is not cOntending. The
equality we demand is the equality of
ali cltlzens before the law. It is equity
not equality Mead for i- iT1cffra