The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-01-04
PLAlNWORDS T0PoPULISTS
Organize Clubs Mt Once and Put the
Peoples Party 0A a ThOrouxh
Working Basis.
Philadelphia American.

Philadelphia American.
/ Without work, self sacrificing work,
the plutocracy that denies to men an
equality of opportunity, that makes our
people a prey to the extortions of mono-
poles, railroad and Industrial, that saps
the vitality of industry, hinders the
growth of our nation in wealth and pow
er and undermines the very foundations
of the republic by establishing rule of
money in place of a rule Of men cannot
be defeated. To overthrow this pluto
cracy is the aim Of Populism, the hope of
Populists. They know that in the event
of the triumph of the Republican party
in 1900 the plutocracy will be still further
ensconced in power, they are equally GER
tain that in the event of Democratic
victory the interests of plutocracy will
not suffer. The past history, the present
position of both parties teaches this.
There is nothing to be hoped for from
either. To the interests of the pluto
cracy both are welded, in the councils of
both money makes itself felt
Into the manner in which the Repub-
lican party serves the interests of the
moneyed oligarchy or the way the Dem
ocratic party, If intrusted with power,
and even though true to it's platform so
far as establishing free silver coin
age, could be depended upon to play into
the hands of this same oligarchy it is not
necessary to enter here, for what we
have to say in this connection we direct
to true Populists who are one and all
firmly convinced that the plutocracy has
not more to fear from the triumph of
the Democratic than of the Republican
party. Suffice it then to say that the
plutocracy has little to fear and much TO
hope from party that though determin
edly opposed to restricting the issue of
notes by national banks is favorably in
clined to grant the extension of the
note issuing power to all state banks by
repeating the prohibitive tax on state
bank currency, an extension that would
. llost probably reeulsr in the suspension
of specie payments and the creation OF
, just the kind of currency, an ire
, deemable bank currency, that the pluto
! cracy desires the most. And the repeal
of the tax on state bank notes, though
not demanded by the Democratic con-
vention of 1896, and the placing of all ls
sues of paper money in the hands of the
banks is urged by such Silver Demo-
Gratis as Senator Chiffon, of Texas. Nor
has plutocracy any reason to look with
alarm upon the triumph Of party that
cannot think of government ownership
,, of railroads because it would be an ex
tension of paternalism and that con-
siders customs duties that tax the man
rather than the dollar, the income of the
poor man much heavier than that of the
rich as the best of taxes.
So do straight Populists feel that the
Democratic party, If put in power, would
play into the hands of the plutocracy
even more effectually than the Repub-
lican. Therefore it is that they feel If
the plutocracy is defeated in 1900 the
Populists must defeat it. Populism must
come up or plutocracy will stay up. This
is the situation as it presents itself to
us, as Populists who are not of the fu-
sion kind feel it. And hopeless situa-
tion we do not regard it by any means.
But to Populists we want to say just
this: If you would make successful re-
- %bo nh nfc ~ nj,
cracy you must organize at once for en-
ergetic and systematic work. And to be
effective this organization must reach
the people, it must reach into every
town and township; in every voting pre-
cinct must the soldiers of Populism be
enrolled and organize themselves into
precinct club.
This is a work that falls upon the
rank and file, work that they must do
without assistance, work that must be
done if the Peoples Party is to be put
on a firm footing and the plan for party
government laid down at Cincinnati a
plan to take the direction Of party policy
and selection of candidates out of the
hands of party bosses, and place such
direction, such selection, in the hands
of the voters where it belongs, be given
effect. Upon the precinct club the whole
plan of party organization approved by
the Cincinnati convention rests. Until
these clubs are organized and Populists
enrolled, the people cannot rule in their
own party, let alone the nation.
Some one queries: It is an immense
work to organize precinct clubs and en-
CONSUMPTION CURED