The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-11-30
A GREAT ARTICLE
PLAIN WORDS TO POPULIsTs.
The Organization Of Peoples Party
Clubs the First Thing to Be At
tended tO-Either That or Let Plu-
tOcracy Own the World.
(The Referendum.)

(The Referendum.)
Without work. self sacrificing work,
the plutocracy that denies to men an
equality Of opportunity that makes our
people a prey to the extortions of mo-
nopolies, railroad and industrial, that
saps the vitality of industry, hinders
the growth of our nation in wealth and
power, and undermines the very founda
tions of the republic by establishing
rule Of money in place of rule Of men.
cannot be defeated. To overthrow this
plutocracy is the aim of Populism. the
hope of Populists. They know that in
the event of the triumph of the Republi
can party in 1900 plutocracy will still he
further ensconced in power, they are
equally certain that in the event of
Democratic victory the interests of
plutocracy will not suffer. The past
history, the present position of both
parties teach this. There is nothing to
be hoped for from either. To the in
terests of the plutocracy both are we'd
ded, in the councils of both, money
makes itself felt.
Into the manner, in which the Repub-
lican party serves the interests of the
moneyed oligarchy or the way the Dem
ocratic party, if intrusted with power,
and even though true to it's platform. so
far as re-establishing free silver coin
age could be depended upon to play into
the hands of this same oligarchy, it is
not necessary to enter here, for what we
have to say in this connection we direct
to true Populists who are one and all
firmly convinced that the plutocracy has
Democratic than of 49, the Republican
party. Suffice it to say then that the
plutocracy has little to fear and much
to hope from party that, though de-
issue of notes by national banks is IA.
vorably inclined to grant an extension
OF the note issuing power to all state
banks by repeating the rrohibitive tax
bank currency, that the rlutocracy de-
sires most. And the repeal of the tax
on state bank notes, though not de-
manded by the Democratic convention
of 1896, and the placing of all issues of
paper money in the hands of the banks,
is urged by such Silver Democrats as
Senator Chiffon, of Texas. Nor has
plutocracy any reason to look with alarm
upon the triumph of party that cannot
think of government ownership of rail-
roads because it would be an extension
of paternalism, and that considers GUS
toms duties, that taxes the man rather
than the dollar, the income of the poor
man, much heavier than that of the
rich man, as the best. of taxes.
So do straight Populists feel that the
Democratic party, if put into power.
would play into the hands of plutocracy
even more effectually than the Republi-
can,a Therefore. they feel that if the
plutocracy is defeated in 1900 the Popu-
lists must defeat it. Populism
must come or plutocracy must stay
up. This is the situation as it presents
itself to us, ,as Populists who are not
of the fusion kind.
And hopeless situation we do not
regard it by any means. But to Pop
ulists we want to say just this: II you
would make successful encroachments
of plutocracy you must organize at once
for energetic and systematic work. And
to be effective this organization must
reach the people, 1t must reach into
every town and township, in every vot-
ing precinct must the soldiers of Popu-
lism be enrolled, and organize them
selves into precinct club.
This is work that falls upon the
rank and file, work that they must do
without assistance, work that must be
done If the Peoples Party is to be put
on firm footing. and the plan for party
government laid down at Cincinnati, q
plan to take the direction of party pol
icy and selection of candidates out of
the hands of party bosses, and place
H~A~AA NAASSSAOAAS ouSA CCAOCI1OA Al SuC
hands of the voters, where it belongs,
be given effect. Upon the precinct club
the whole plan of party organization
approved by the Cincinnati convention
rests. Until these clubs are organized
and Populists enrolled the people can
not rule in their own party, let alone the
nation.
Some one queries: It is an immense
work to organize precinct clubs and en-
roll the Populist voters of every voting
district? Undoubtedly it is, but it is
work that must be done II the Peoples
party Is to triumph, and through its
agency the defeat of the moneyed oligar-
chy be accomplished, and rule of men
instead of money, Of the people instead
of plutocracy be established for all
time. This Is grand work, and to
accomplish it will take great effort, The
question is, are Popuiists courageous
enough. patriotic enough to make such
effort? II not they will not triumph
over plutocracy. they will not succeed.
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