The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-07-05
"A SUICIDAL POLICY.

We have before as g call Tor g Ma
tional Nominating Convention Of the
Peoples party to be held at Cincinnati,
september Bsh, 1898 The call is signed
by Milton Park. Chairman OF the
National Organization Committee OF
the Peoples party" The address is
about three columns long but the busi-
ness part Of il Is found in the following
items:
Therefore reafirming our undying
belief in q true democracy as the best
Of governments, ~proclaiming the self
evident truth that money was made to
serve money, that man is or Of right
ought TO be mater, money the servant,
not money the master and man the
slave; standing on the undeniable pro
position that the railroads were grant.
ed public franchises that they might
serve, not that they might despol the
people; affirming our conviction that
these self.evident truths and the de
malls Of them by the two old parties
should be set forth, that the American
people, honest Of heart, just Of pur-
pose, loving their country and fellow
men, may have the opportunity to
command the recognition Of such
truths, and pursuant to the command
of the rank and file of the Peoples Par
ty, from whom we derive all power,
whose will to US is law, we hereby call
the National Nominating Convention
Of the Peoples Party to meet in Cincin.
natl. Monday, September 9th, 1898, and
call upon the Populists Of such states
and territories as have not already
elected delegates to such convention to
select delegates upon the following
basis Of representation:
"For each state and territory and
the District of Columbia, two delegates
at large.
"For every 1000 Populist votes cast
at any election since 1890, one delegate
additional thereto.
"By order OF the National Organiza
tion Committee of the Peoples Party.
"MLToN PARK.
Chairman National Organization
Committee Peoples Party,
"Omaha, June 18th, 1885"
We are surprised and mortified
Surely no enemy of the Peoples Party
could strike it q harder blow than
those pretended friends Of Populism
have aimed at it. It is sickening to
see the manner in which the affairs of
the National Peoples Party are man
aged. One wing Of the go called man
ayers seems determined to do all in it's
power to help the Democratic party,
whether or not these Democrats show
a disposition to be fair, while the mem
bers OF the other wing, who know or
should know, that divided we fall, -
make the hearts of monopolists glad by
calling q convention at an unheard Of
time to nominate unpopular candi-
date for President and Vice. President.
This means nothing but division.
It occurs to us that were some leaders
Of the National Peoples Party paid by
the leaders Of the two old parties to
kill the party which is under their con
troll they could not do more than they
are doing. In essentials. there is no
unity, in non essentials, but little
charity.
The Populist Party claims to be the
party Of the people. Yet some Of the
leaders seem to have an idea that the
people have no right to rule it. This
is to serve notice on them that a day
of reckoning is coming. At their
National Convention in 96 the people
nominated q candidate for Vice Presi
dent, but endorsed the Democratic
Presidential nominee, with, as ne un-
derstand il, the distinct understand
ing that the Democratic nominee for
Vice President was to withdraw. Yet
itsseems that certain men in charge of
the Peoples party failed to have this
done. These Leaders will And out
that the Populist party is q party of
the people. and not Of leaders.
And now comes the call for q Ma
tional Nominating Convention next
September, two years before election.
This is by another band of 90 called
leaders. If they ha1e5She best inter.
terests OF their party at heart they will
withdraw the call. The great common
people don't propose to put acandidate
in the field to be shot at by the old
parties two long years before they
have aSgchance to shoot any old party
candidate Now that the party is
somewhat divided they do not propose