The herald., 1898-01-17
PEOPLES PARTY SPLIT

The middle-of- -the-road Populists have
organized a new party which they have
named peoples Party" There has been
a. breach in the ranks of the Populists
since their st. Louis convention of 1896
This convention nominated Mr.. Bryan
for president, but objections were made
to Mr.. Sewall, who was defeated for the
nomination of president by Tom
Watson, middle-of-the-road Populist,
by vote of 7S5 to 615. The nomination
of Watson was condemned by many (and
majority of the rank and file of the
Populists) as poor politics and as i'm
periling the election of Mr.. Bryan, while
the followers of Tom Watson became
embittered against Mr.. Sewall and indif-
ferent towards Mr.. Bryan.
During the following campaign this
breach became wider and wider; severe
criticisms were given and taken by the
two factions and they have never COM
promised their differences.
The formation of new party is the
outcome of the fight at st. Louis over
Sewall and Watson and the subsequent
detection of the middle of -the-road Pop
ulists.
Just what effect the birth of this new
party will have upon the old organiza-
ton, which has hitherto shown consid-
cradle following and developed national
strength, is, at this early day, impossi-
BILE to foretell, If the followers of the
old party maintain their organization,
the result will be divided forces and the
reforms for which it has been working
for these many years will suffer accord
ingly. The old party has grown to ma
tional importance and numbers among
it's members men of national reputation
and among it's rank and file many con-
servative and influential citizens who
are actuated by the highest principles of
citizenship. 1t is extremely doubtful If
these leaders and these men will join
with or follow the new party. At the
same time it must be conceded that a
new party under the leadership of Tom
Watson will take considerable strength
from the old party.
The members of the old party who are
opposed to Watson and who can see
nothing new or better in the new organi-
zation, will be confronted with a condi-
ton that will demand their serious con-
sideration. BY the disruption of their
party neither faction can hope to secure
control of the legislative branch of state
or federal government, by means of
which it expects to promulgate it's cardi-
nal doctrines of government, or in fact
to elect it's nominees to important
offices. With two contending Populistic
tickets in the field, neither will have the
slightest show for election as against
either the Democratic or Republican
tickets.
Under these circumstances it behooves
the conservative and sensible members
of the Peoples party to consider well
and decide upon the best available
means of securing the reforms which,
as party, they demand.
The Democratic party holds to many
doctrines in common with their party
and it demands many of the reforms for
which their party has fought. Strong
in numbers and firm in principles, it
stands today as the chief exponent and
the only hope of a government of the
people and for the people, and while it
does not seek to allure the members of
any other party within its folds. it well
share with it's members the honor of re-
deeming a common country from the
Hannaites.