People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1898-01-14
S. @. Sparks, Blue River, oregon.

s. O. Sparks, Blue River, Oregon.
The writer hereof has been a sub
scriber to the P. P. P. for some time.
In fact have given freely of my limi-
ally. And presume, should be BRAN
ded, middle of roader.
If you see lit to grant one of the boys
little space in your valuable paper,
he will promise your readers not to
make any nominations for president.
We believe such matters should be left
to the people to be settled in their res
pective primaries.
II the Peoples Party believes in d.
rect legislation, let them demonstrate
that fact by making an application of
the same principal in nomination of
candidates. There is too much valua-
BILE time wasted in wrangling over the
question as to who is the proper and
most fit man for the standard bearer of
the Peoples Party.
If the friends of reform would only
stop this everlasting, Internal, internal
warfare, and get right down to honest
effort in bringing together the vast
army of reformers (the divided) forces.
1t would be at least an indication that
reason and common sense, had taken
up her abode in the reform cause.
There is one question, and very per-
tinent one too, which must be answer
ed before reform comes to our distract
ed country. It is not as to who shall
be the Moses to lead the great host to
victory, but the question is from
whence cometh the great host Show
an aggregation of voters whose num-
bers can not be overcome by any other
party-and you can depend upon them
raising up leader for the occasion.
Let us not drive away reformers
whose cooperation is essential to the
success of the Peoples cause. What
does it signify whether they have trsv-
aled the middle of the road, or whether
not. There is . popular song whose
refrain is Think it Over" And if we
are to profit from said refrain, by
thinking it over, we can reach the
common sense conclusion and fact,
that if this Peoples Party are to be
successful at the polls, they must
gather together an army of some 6,oOO,-
900 votes. These are facts, that re-
formers must face and solve. We will
take the 100000 votes the Populist
polled in '92 and '94.and it will leave
4,OOO,O 900 short. True, then what's to
be done?
There is no question as to the reform
element being great enough to carry
our next national election if they can
be brought into one harmonious body.
So now comes the tug of war. How
are we to bridge over the barriers
which separate these reform elements
Shall we shout middle OF the road and
persistently crib all who attempt to
gain the road? Or shall we go to
work and widen the road =? Let us
turn sappers and miners and do little
needed road work in order that there
may be room for the 100000 recruits
necessary in order to tree the coon.
There should be no still hunt about
the matter. Let every man who be-
lieves in reform resolve himself into
committee of one, and demand that
instead of nominating convention to
nominate a presidential candidate that
conference of all reform parties and
forces be convened, and an orgsniza-
ton perfected. whose force will make
the old parties tremble. United we
stand, divided we fall, is as true today
as of old. Bring the reform elements
together, place direct legislation at the
mast head, and victory will crown our
efforts.
Don't set in the middle of the road
and shoot Watson, Barker, Donnelley
and Norton, but get up and go to work
and make it possible for a leader to
lead to some purpose and success.
The Initiative, the Referendum and
the Imperative Mandate, is the plat
form upon which the people can be
united.
Let us not bubble over party names,
but give us results. Broaden the road,
and clasp hands with whatsoever may
come to travel therein lest we get lone
some and discouraged on the way.