People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-03-17
BRYAN ADVOCATES FUSION
FOR THE 1898 CAMPAIGN.

" ~ = IL
William j. bryan in the New York Journal
While it is always difficult to
secure harmonious cooperation be-
tween distinct and separate political
organizations, there are times when
this co operation is both Wis and
necessary. In the campaign OF
1896 the Democrats, Populists and
Free Silver Republicans united in
demanding the immediate restora-
ton of independent bimetallism at
the existing ratio of Is to |, and
they agreed in declaring that the
money question was of paramount
importance at that time.
The question now arises, should
these three political organizations
act together in the congressional
campaign Of 1898?
| answer without hesitation. Yes.
Those who answer no must as
sumo the burden of proving first,
that cooperation was unwise in
1896, or second, that conditions
have 81 changed as to make unwise
now what was wise then. The de
feat that befell the allied forces does
not prove Cooperation at that time
to have been unwise, unless it can
be shown that some one party would
have been more successful than the
three combined.
Cooperation does moi contem-
plate the aband nment Of party or
ganization or the surrender of any
politica principles; nor is co-opera-
lion defended on the ground that
the platform of the three parties are
identical. Campaigns generally turn
upon a few issues, sometimes upon
one, and events do much to de-
termine which issue shall most
absorb public attention.
If the Democrats, Populists and
Free Silver Republicans were agreed
upon but one question, that question
might be important enough to
justify cooperation although the
parties differed on all other Subjects;
but those who advocate the union of
The principal reform forces against
the common enemy, can point not
to one, but to number of reforms,
which are demanded with equal
emphasis by Democrats, Populsts
and Silver Republicans.
First-They are unalterably op.
posed to gold monometalIism.
Second-They demand the i'm,
mediate restoration of bimetaIlism
at the present ratio by the indepen-
dent action of this country.
Third-They oppose the retire,
ment of the greenbacks.
Fourth-They oppose the issue of
paper money by national banks.
Fltth-They oppose the issuance
OF interest bearing bonds in time Of
peace.
Slxth-They favor the income tax
as a means of raising part of the
revenue necessary to administer the
Federal government.
Seventh-They favor the aboli-
ton of trusts.
Eignth-They are opposed to
government by injunction.
Ninth-They are in favor of
arbitration as a means of settling
disputes between labor and capital.
Here are nine issues which are
not only important in themselves
but are now prominently before the
people. Are not these reforms
worth securing? These questions
were submitted to the people at the
last election, but they were not,
settled, and will not be settled until
they are settled right.
The Republican party is trying to
commit the country mrre thoroughly
to the gold standard. Even now it
is endeavoring to secure legislative
Endorsement of the policy Of paying
all coin Obligations in gold. It
pretends to be much concerned
about national honor and the public
credit. The leaders OF the party
know that the debtor, whether a
public debtor or a private debtor,
meets all the requirements of the
law, moral as well as statutory, when
he discharges his obligation accord
ing to the terms of the contract.
They know that all through the war
the government and private debtors
as well, paid coin obligations in
gold, although gold was worth three
cents on the dollar less than silver.
And yet these leaders would accuse
Abraham Lincoln OF dishonor
rather than incur the displeasure of
the Wall street magnates, who now
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