Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-15
THE PEOPLES PARTY.
ADDRESS OF THE NATIONAL oRcA-
NIzATIoN COMMITTEE.
PLAN OF REFEREsDUM VOTE.
Question TO he Submitted with Re-
ference 10 Choice OF Date for Hold
ing Convention for Nomination Of
Presidential Candidates.

ST. LOUIS. MO-, January 1.-THE Ma
tional Committee Of the Peoples party,
which met hero yesterday. has issued an
address to the people Of the United
States, in part as follows:
'srhe fusion movement contaminated
az st. Louis in July, 1896. and the inex-
cusable treatment Of our candidate for
Vice-President in the campaign that fol-
lowed, gave rise TO suoh disanection
among the rank and Ale of the Peoples
marty as TO threaten the absolute dis
nembernient of the only political organic
zation honestly contending for the social
and political rights of the laboring and
the producing classes Of the country
az has been the purpose always OF ths
committee to be courteous to the Ma
tionaI Committee, and our supreme de-
sire has been at all times TO promote q
harmonious cooperation with said CON-
mittee. that factional differences might
be oblterated. our party prestige re-
gained. and our organization restored 10
It's once splendid estate. This committee
feels confident Of its ability TO show mat
IL Is no fault OF ours that the Natnonai
Committee Is not present as Dooy 10
day but It does not choose TO waste valu-
able time in wrangling over questions or
official etiquette. We avow X 10 be our
sincere purpose now. as ever heretorore,
to promote In every honorable way tna
reform movement on true POpuiist Tines.
and we deem the issues toe momentoue
and the dangers threatening free gov
ernment too imminent 70 allow US TO
pause TO consider personal grievances or
affronts, or to permit wounded dignity
20
Otic duty.
.Irnder present conditions. our be-
loved organization Is slowly, but surely,
disintegrating. and our comrades are
clamoring for aggressive action. Having
In vain importuned those who assumed
to be our superors TO permit us 70 AID
them I'm the grand work OF reorganhing
the PeopIe's party, that Il may accom-
plish its glorious mission, we now appeal
10 the people. the true source Of all po-
lltical power"
The Referendum Committee appointed,
IL as follows: Messrs. Dixon, OF Mis-
souri,; Tracey, OF Texas; Reynolds. OK
Illinois; Matsinger, of Indiana, and Nc
Gregor, Of Georgia.
A number Of rules were adopted Tor the
government of the party. among them a
r,,le that the National Organization Com
mittee shall submit to vote OF the
people's party any proposition when
petItioned to do so by not less than 1900
members Of the party.
on the adjournment of the Organiza-
ton Committee of the Peoples party,
the members OF the National Committee
present met at the Laclede Hotel, ana
adopted the following resolutions:
''Resolved, That We, the members ss
the National Committee present. endorse
the action taken by the ORGANIZATION
Committee, and recommend that its pro-
visions be carried into effect. believing
that such action will harmontze all DIFF
ferences in the party
There were seventy-four members OF
the committee. represented by members
present or by proxies and letters, who
favored a Joint meeting OF the National
Committee and Organization Committee III
the spring.
Fortv States we're represented In the
attendance at this meeting.
FIRST REFERENDUM VOTE.
ST LOUIS. MO, January 1.-the
Populists concluded their work In the
| city to-day by giving out the details or
| setting in motion their novel plan OK
taking a referendum vote OF the rank ana
| file of their party. Ihe question suonlie-
| ted is as follows;
"What date is your choice for holding
| \ national convention for the nomination
| OF presidential candidates-M0nday, July
| 4 1888: Friday, May 26. 1899, or Thursday.
February p, 1900g'
The ballots are similar 10 the Austria
Ian ticket. and VIII be polled by the
| local committees md Popuiist press.
Milton Park. Of Texas, chairman or tho
National Organization Committee. and
! George +. Washburn. OF Ma5sachusetts.
| member of the National Executive Com
mittee. were among the last TO leave tho
city. Both men are highly S,eased with
the prospect Of unifcation or their
party, and the prospective settlement OK
| the clamor for a new party.
A majority Of the National COMMITTEES
| have expressed themselves In favor OF an
| early conference for adjusting their diin-
| culties and outlining "A policy for l|o
The leaders OF the Middle-of-the-Ro Road
element expressed themselves to-day as
deslrous that the work Of REORGANIZATION
be conducted strictly within the party
so az to merit the approval OF the Ma
| tlonal Committee
|