The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-28

minds of the masses and force them to
arouse themselves to take quick action
We will educate the people and they
will adopt the reform ideas from their
own convictions. We will place the
matter before them and let them take
their own course in adopting it or re-
fusing to follow it's teachings. All we
want is the time and chance to work
on the people and show them the bene-
fits accruing from these reform ideas
and we will have a mighty following,
and the five fundamental principles of
the reform movement: Direct LegiSla-
ton, Single Tax, Public Ownership, Pro-
portiOnal Representation and Direct IS
sue of Money by the Government, viii
be instilled into the peoples minds and
we will accomplish the end to which we
are now working.
las regards this organization which
we intend to establish here in Topeka
I think that we ought to follow out the
fundamental principles of the Buffalo
conference. We should above all things
make it a non-partisan organization
and shold cooperate in the study OF re-
form measures and methods"
Albert Griffen-"I agree with Mrs
Diggs in all she says. We ought to
band together and follow a course of
study as mapped out by the college at
Boston. We should endorse the spirit
of the conference and take up the work
Immediately of education along all re-
form Iires. A new party will be neces-
sary in 1900 or sooner. The Republican
party viii probably not become the re-
form party. The Democratic party may
not become the reform party. There
were many members of the conference
who would join only that party which
had reforms from top to the bottom
The main point is the welfare of the
people. That must be first Mr.. VIII
nams of Boston is strong man. He
depends on the straight Democratic
ticket and there is no man whom I
could better support with absolute safe
ty and confidence than Mr.. Williams for
vice president.
There is a drift of the affairs that
tend to the forming of a new party.
That means q new party of immense
strength which will put an independent
candidate for president in the field. The
Republicans may and probably Will go
to the support of Mckinley. The Demo-
Gratis have split. The candidacy lies
between German and Bryan, and Cor
man has the better chance. If the Dem
ocrats adopt the reform movement we
will probably go with them If the
Republicans adopt it, then go with them
but if we can not do either then q, new
party will be formed and an indepen-
dent candidate put on the ticket. This
independent candidate may be Mayor 5.
NJ. Jones of Toledo, Ohio"
AlOnzo Wardall-The hour is getting
late and I will not speak long. We are
here to organize a reform club. Let US
get down to business now and organize.
We must be broad. We must get this
direct legislation before the people. We
are and must be a nOn-partisan club. A
along the line of good government. In
South Dakota we have this direct legis-
lation law as a part of the laws of that
state. Tt works well and is just what
those people want and is just what
everybody wants. 1t is a good and fair
law and we all ought to have it.
George Wagner want to be a men,
Der of this reform club but I want it to
begin doing business right away.
Geo. r. Harrison-We can not afford
to fool away any more time Let's get
down to work. 1t is right that we or
ganize now. Mr.. POmerOy has proved
that it is a. success. I move that we
proceed to organize
Mrs. Diggs-We do not want only di-
rect legislation, but we want more than
that. We want to be broad. We must
and will show to the people that these
reforms are the things which they want.
We are after good government and we
viii have it.
c. J. Evans-I want to belong to
club that will take up the study of these
reforms and bring them to a successful
issue. We should study these questions
and broaden out into a power that
would be Of a help to the people.
D c. Tillotson-We have had some
excellent speeches tonight. I want to
belong to a club that will study these
reforms and put them into practical use.
We want good government and we need
it now Let's organize and begin the
work
Complying with the suggestions of the
meeting, an organization was perfected
and the following officers elected: Pres
ident, =. J. Maxwell; vice president c.
D Skinner; secretary, Geo. B. Harri-
son; treasurer John Martin.
Another meeting will be held next
Thursday night.