The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-06
THAT NEW DEAL.

The Majority Rule League Is the cap
ton Of very able and interesting edi-
torial written by Frederick Upham Ad-
ans for the April number Of tho New
Time and to be found in another column
Of this issue Of The Representative.
1t furnishes further evidence that our
ablest and most progressive reform
writer's are seeking some way by which
the reform movement may receive all
the benefits and advantages of fusion so
called and at the same time escape the
evils of fusion.
While fusionists have been called pie
hunters, Office seekers and names Of
similar import, there are many honest
and sincere reformers in the ranks Of
all parties who without thought Of Office
have believed and still believe a union
Or cooperation Of reform forces absolute
is also undoubtedly true that many as
pirants for office have favored fusion
moro for success in winning the offices
than for the success of genuine reform.
Men actuated by such motives are IN
worthy OF our consideration and should
have nc influence in the councils Of any
true reform party. They do not stand
for principle, they stand for office, they
are the fellows who argue that a part
OF loaf is better than none, advocate
one step at time, that POpulists should
we should trim platforms for harmony
and that when once in all reforms will
come. This kind Of fusion and the ad-
vocates of such fusion make us tired.
We feel ashamed to call them brother
Populists. But there is an earnest de-
sire among fusionists actuated by honest
motives to find some safe and feasible
method by which the thing may be
successfully done. Mr.. Adams has sug-
gested one method and in the last issue
of The Representative under caption
That New Deal we suggested another.
These two methods are submitted to
our readers with hope that they may
contain some suggestion that will lead to
action and desired results.
Tho leading reform papers of the ma
ton are giving this question of how
to get together careful consideration.
The able but somewhat pessimistic
editor of the Hartford Examiner COM
ments an Mr. Adams scheme as follows:
Mr.. Adams seems to lay great stress on
the sentiment: eff the people want gov
eminent in which they can rule, they must
first form a party In which they do rule. "
This leads us to suspect that Mr.. Adams
hasn't a very intimate mountaineering
with "the people" If he had he would
realize the fact that the great mass Of the
people don't bother themselves at all as to
what kind of government they have The
only part of the people interested are those
who take issue with the powers that be,
and who are striving to change conditions.
And but few Of these can be induced to do
anything in the way Of organization, and
nothing at all If left to themselves. They
even must have leaders to plan the work
of organization and then labor necessarily
to keep it alive.
This ought not to be so, but unfortunate
ly it is. And being we must make the
If Mr.. Frederick Upham Adams would see
his plan of salvation acted on he must make
his appeal to the leaders Of the reform
forces instead of to the forces themselves.
OF course there is no assurance that the
leaders will adopt it, but it is sure as
death that the followers will do nothing
with it.
To us it is as plain as day that there is
no hope for the economic salvation of
these United States until all whose aspira-
tons are alike shall act together to de-
throne the system that now holds sway,
but there are so many conflicting convic-
lions among those VINO have the doing of
this as to the way of doing it, that we de-
spair Of ever seeing it done. 1t may come
In the course Of generations, long after the
actors on the present stage have passed
behind the curtain of eternity: but with
the lack of sagacity as displayed by our
leaders of the present day there's no hope
to be INDUCED in of our living to behold
the suspicious beginning of the end Like
the pagans of old who were "wedded to
their idols our leaders seem to be we'd
ded TO their isms.
While we cannot indorse the s'Ex-
aminers" pessimistic expressions of des-
pair we believe that in this criticism of
Mr.. Adams scheme of redemption there
Is much wisdom and sound sense, wis
dom as it seems to us born of experi-
ence among men and in the schools of
adversely, long and patient waiting and
many hard knocks.
In the consideration, of any such plan
Of cooperation there are, several axio-
matte truths that must not be overlooked.
One OF these is the truth overlooked by
Mr.. Adams that all movements of such
nature among men must have leaders,
that leadership is gift Of nature, that