The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-06

ROoSNHSo
and that it is impossible to reverse this
law of nature and induce the timid,
modest, bashful, Indifferent follower to
become an enthusiastic, egotistic self
termined leader. These two classes Of
men were never created out of the same
kind Of dust. The following" class are
deficient in that peculiar kind Of sand
necessary to successful leadership and
no amount Of planning, or scheming or
theorizing on the part of Mr.. Adams or
any other reformer can ever supply the
deficit. Consequently If results are ac-
complished it must be done as the Ex-
aminer suggests through leaders.
1t is also a generally recognized fact
that partisanship will prevent thousands
OF reformers going back into any old
party with it's record OF corruption and
broken pledges who would unhesitating-
ly join any new movement looking to-
ward reform
Keeping then these two salient facts
in mind that reformers cannot be united
under any old party machine, and that
all reforms must be initiated and pushed
by leaders it seems to us that the only
logical conclusion is that if fusion or CO.
operation prevails it must be upon the
concerted motion or initiative of con-
siderable number Of leaders or national
reputation, influence and following and
1t must be in a new movement outside
OF the influences of any and all old
party machines. True reformers would
then join the movement free from all
prejudice they would have against any
old party. Silver Democrats, Social
Democrats, Patriots of America, knights
OF Labor, Silver Republicans, Populists,
Socialists and Prohibitionists could then
all join the new movement feeling that
it was political home that they had
themselves helped to build.
Another most important fact must not
be overlooked. Such new party must be
so formed and commit itself at the outset
to such methods and principles as shall
prevent for all time bossism and the
formation Of machines. A proper COM
initial to the principles of the referendum
and the ENGRAVING of this principle upon
the acts Of the new party through all
its machinery or organization from the
committees at primaries to the president
ov~fyy d. -,
party. pure democracy and it's success
and efficiency would depend in greatest
measure upon the referendum safeguards
thrown around the peoples rights in the
initial formation of such party AS
we have long and persistently contended
so in future shall we continue to oppose
fusion Of the kind usually offered or
proposed to Populists. We speak the
known sentiments of the Doctor Johnson
committee and we believe of fully four
fifths Of the Minnesota Populists when
we say fusion cannot take place under
such name, flag Or terms as shall in the
slightest degree subject Populists to the
dictation of any old party machine.
Populists will arbitrate with reformers
as individuals but not as political Or
CARNATIONS controlled by a machine
POpulists will have to do with no polit-
ical machine that does not have the
referendum safety valve attachment
properly adjusted. In future our own
party machine will be properly fitted
with the referendum, to keep it at all
times safe and clean and subservient to
the peoples wishes. Reform Democrats
and Republicans talk loudly about popu-
lar government, a peoples government
and their machine politicians and plat
form builders see to it that no provision
adequate to that end gets into their plat
forms. The Popuiists practice what they
preach and in their platform demand the
immediate and fullest application Of the
principles Of the initiative and referen-
dunn both in the making of all laws and
in the formation and control Of the party
organization. When these other reform
elements want Populist cooperation for
genuine reform let them in their plat
form and party organizations adopt the
referendum in such a way that we can
be assured that all desired reforms will
go to vote Of the people, that bosses
and politicians and Doodle cannot thwart
the will of a majority and we will not
insist that they indorse any of our al
legged fads or isms. We believe that any
movement old or new that will so in
dorsa the referendum as to practically
destroy partyism can carry the Populist
vote of the nation and no party new or
old that refuses or fails to do this can
command such VOTE Populists are not
sticklers for party but they do insist that
all reforms shall have such chances
that they cannot be defeated by politi-
clans or lobbys. Let some national
leader of either reform faction now issue
a circular letter or call to 500 carefully
selected reformers known to be willing
to submit to majority rule by strict
referendum provision and 1t matters not
whether they agree on finance, govern
ment ownership, single tax, the liquor
question or other reforms. Let these