The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-06-01
WHARTON BARKER'S VIEWS
Concerning the Kansas City Meeting.

We have received advance proofs of
The American, Mr.. Wharton Barker's
paper, giving his views of the results of
the recent gathering at Kansas City. We
are sorry we cannot quote the whole ar
ticle, but it is several columns in length.
and we are therefore only able to give
a few brief extracts.
He says: ~
So in any event it is provided that the
voice of the rank and file of the party should
be needed. The rank and file must rule
the convention, not the convention rule the
rank and file. If the convention attempts
to ignore the will of the rank and file, at
tempts to rule and dictate, refuses to obey.
seeks to once again wed the Peoples party
to fusion then in such conventions the
straight Populist delegations who may be
given admission by the Butler national com
mlttee Will refuse to sit and will arganize
a straight Peoples party convention in
which the will of the people will be done.
So the convention in which such straight
Populists take part, be it the convention
called by Senator Butler or be they forced
to go outside and organize new, will meet
not to dictate nominations to the rank and
f1le. but record nominations made by the
rank and file through referendum vote: pro-
Vided, always that the rank and file be so
organized into precinct clubs that such a
vote may fairly be taken to be representa-
tive of the wishes of the mass of Populists.
If the POpulists do not organize into such
clubs, if they show no desire to rule their
own party, then they must be ruled by con-
ventions, then the Peoples party, like the
old parties, will be subject to the sway of
bOssism, be prone to its interests it's
principles and the welfare of it's followers
sacrificed for the advancement of it's lead
ers. and if Populists show this inertia, this
Indifference, then we confess we see little
hope for their party. But the opportunity
tc rule their own party is open to Populists;
the organization committee while deeming
it impracticable to abolish the convention
system instanter and as recommended by
the Cincinnati convention without disorgan-
iZing the party, holding that the convention
system of party government. evil as it is,
cannot be wholly abandoned until the pre-
Cinct club system OF party government is
got in working order and the ballot laws
of many Of states that make it neces-
sary for parties to go through the formality
of holding conventions and there nominat-
ing candidates to obtain places on the Off
cal ballots unless they choose to abandon
their party rights and go on the ballot by
petition are changed, and while deeming
1t unNlS6 Tor straight POpullStS TO Ignore a
call of Senator Butler for national conven-
tion, but the course Of wisdom to send
straight delegations to such convention took
pains to keep this opportunity OPEN The
Plan of action agreed upon. and while call
ing upon straight Popuists to take part in
national convention, preserves to the rank
and file the opportunity to rule their party,
name the candidates of their party by direct
vote through the precinct club. Populists
may let this opportunity slip, they may let
their party die. but they can seize that op-
portunity by organizing precinct clubs, they
can save their party from the devitalizing
effects Of bossism. If the rank and file do
not seize this opportunity, and they are
again betrayed in 1900, let them blame not
their leaders whom they tempt with the
power to betray but blame themselves.
In this, however, there are some most
able and earnest true-blue Populists who
do not agree with us, who argue that In
their sections of the country the club sys-
TEN has been run into the ground, so long
tried and so often the effort made in club
organizations proven a sheer waste OF time
that Populists cannot be induced to or
ganize clubs, though they will line up at
the polls. This is said to be particularly
true of Arkansas; and Populists of Arkan-
sas 1t was argued, should not therefore be
deprived of a voice in the naming of the
Peoples party national ticket, as they
would under the Cincinnati plan Of organi-