The Caucasian., 1897-05-27
Hon. job n Davis,
Formerly Populist Member of Congre
Fifth Kan. district.


Fifth Kan. District
l see by the lapers that some
super-holy men, styling themselves
"Middle-of-the-road Populists," have
issued call for conference, or
conspiracy, or something of that
sort, to be held at Nashville, Tenn.
on July 4th, 1897. Nobody objects,
probably, at first sight, to that if
things were as they seem. But are
they7 Let us see.
Q) These suYerlatively holy meh
desire to use the Populist organiza-
ton to forward their schemes, and
to give them respectable standing
with Che common people. l do not
think that that is right. 1t is taking
our lightning to illustrate their
thunder. 1t is theft. The last Pop
ulist National convention thorough
ly organized the party for official
action, by the election of officers to
perform official acts, to direct the
action of local organizations, and to
call conventions, conferences and
meetings of national character.
(2) The Populist National officers
are supreme in their sphere of &C.
ton, under the laws and instruc-
tions of the party. They should not
obey the commands of any other Or
ganiz ation, no matter how bright
and dazzling the livery it wears or
the name it bears. And, in my judg-
ment, Chairman Butler has shown
both his wisdom and patriotism in
refusing to call this conference on
demand of q self constituted clique,
which is striving to become a rival
and hostile organization.
90 Some of the hackers of the
movement bear names that have not
been forgotten since the services
they rendered the Republican party
in the campaign of 1896 Take the
name of Vandervoort, for example.
His meetings in Kansas last fall
were attended mostly by Republi.
cans. And, in every way Republi
cans showed themselves delighted
with services he rendered them. Il
they did not pay him, he was, evi
IDENTIFY, upjustlv treated Then take
the case of Watson. Vandervoor'
and his CO workers were uproariou:
FOR Tom Watson. And, so we're tb'
Republicans with lip praise. Any
thing to divide the Pops, Sc eme th'
spontaneous policy of the entire
crowd. Watson's politics w.r'
mainly personal, against Sewall ant
for Watson. Sewall was a banker
That was bad. We all felt it to b
so. Watson's chief political CON
panion and political advisor, We
the yresid. mt Of the Brunswick Ma
tioual bank, Georgia. That, o
course, was lot b I'd. Who ever sal
sol Nobody. Whyi Because mos
men are broader and more liberal
minded than Mr.. Watson. Messrs
Washington, Jefferson, Henry, ct al
were slave holders, yet they earnest
ly conteuded for the rights of man
kind. This proves that q man
principles and patriotism may some
times reach tus beyond his diree
personal interests. Mr.. Watson, n
doubt, will admit that even ban
president may sometimes be ps
, triotic and trustwortb; for example
Mr.. Reed, of Brunswick, Ga. The1
if the bank president, why not th
{ stoekholder, sometimes.
In my opinion, Mr.. Watson is NJ
broad and liberal enough for a sal
: political leader. And, the other fe
Z low, in my opinion is unsafe and III
D reliable. The Nashville conferenc
e in my judgment, is . eonspiras
p against the Populist party in the il
2 terest of our enemies. And my b
q lief is positive that all good Pop
( lists should avoid taking part in it.