The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-20
ABOLISH CONVENTIONS.
Missouri Middle-of-the-Road Popu-
lists Have a New Scheme.

ST. Louis, July 2O.-The middIe-of-
the-road PopulistS now have a scheme
whereby divisions in conventions can
be entirely obviated in the near future,
and repetitiOnS of the stirring scenes of
several weeks ago will be prevented
In other words, they are about to de-
Junct to the government of political
parties and can be omitted from the
programme altogether.
In the future, if a plan submitted by
committee appointed for that purpose
IS adopted, candidates for political pre-
ferment will be nominated and plat
forms for the guidance of their party
VIII be adopted by means OF the 1n1tla-
tive and referendum. At the last meet
ing of the middle-Of-th e-roaders State
Committeeman Sheridan Webster was
appointed chairman of this committee
and given power to select his confreres.
The duty Of the committee, as outlined,
was to form a plan for the future gov
eminent of the Populist party in Mis-
souri,.
Webster has now finished writing his
report, and submitted it to c. J. An
derson, an official of the state commit
tee. AS is usual with Webster, he
makes some radical suggestions and
wants the initiative, referendum and
imperative mandate universally adopt
ed. His idea is to form Peoples party
clubs IN every congressional district,
county and township in the state. In
signing his application, every member
must agree to be governed by the rules
adopted for the future government Of
the party.
Suggestions for the good of the party
can be made by any member in good
standing on the first day of each month
and they will be voted on 80 days later,
a majority vote to determine the re-
suit, a return of which shall be made
to the state committee. A proposed
change in rules requires an application
to the state committee of 10 per cent of
the club members, when it will then be
sent to the congressional district COM
mittee.
Ten per cent of the members of the
club can also make an application to
remove a committeeman or a candidate
from the state ticket. Webster's idea
is to first form a state club. If ten
members of this club reside in one con-
gressiOnal district, it shall be their du-
ty to withdraw and form a district
club. The same numerical rule ap
plies to counties within the district and
then to townships within the county.
In townships, however, only five mem
bers are needed to form the nucleus of
a club. Thus it can be seen that the
idea is to govern the party by means
of township clubs.
Each club can devise it's own ways
and means for raising funds, but the
members thereof must pay per capita
tax to the county, congressional, state
and national committees. One cent
sional and national committees, while
2 cents must be paid to the state COM
mittee. In all cases where the aid of
a referendum vote is invoked, only
those who have paid their per capita
tax will be permitted to exercise their
franchise.
The idea of the plan, as explained by
Mr.. Anderson, is to do away wit hall
wire pulling in state conventions,
where INSCRIPTIONS politicians can de-
fy the will of the people who have
elected them as delegates to the con-
vention with an implicit confidence in
their iptRRTitV