The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-03-15
THE BUFFALO CONFERENCE.
We have received the following inter
esting letter which speaks for itself:

Newark, N J., March 7, 1900
lgnatius Donnelly, Esq, Editor Rep
resentative-Dear Sir: Ny attention has
just been called to the issues of your
paper OF February 22nd and March 4th,
IN which you speak of the Buffalo con-
terence and my connection with it, You
nave made great mistake, and very care
leSsly read the invitation which was sent
out, as nothing whatever is said in it
that 1t is to create another new party"
1t is possible that this may be done there,
but that is not the object of the confer
ence. 1t is possible that non-partisan
organization may be formed to secure
the introduction in all party platforms OF
direct legislation and public ownership,
and this is what l, personally, rather
favor, though from the office | hold in
1t l do not intend to work for any plan
there. 1t is possible that it may result
IN an educational organization as some
wish. 1t is possible it may form an ad-
junct to the peoples party, as some WISH
or to the union reform party, as others
wish; but none of these are stated as its
object III the invitation. and you have no
right to say that the conference is for any
OF these purposes.
This will be the third OF these confer
ences, and on larger scale than either
of the two preceding, and with more
varied elements in it. The executive
committee who started and are getting
this up aim to bring together not to ex-
coed $50 to 400 men and women having
TOUR characteristics. First, their faces
must be looking forward Second, sin
cerlty. Third, ability and fourth cour-
tesy. We do not want any one there who
al ~ ~,
lstlcs, and we welcome all who have these
characteristics up to the limit OF num-
bers beyond which such a conference be-
comes unwieldy and useless
The committee of invitation, as YOU
very correctly point out, has far too di-
verse elements in it for the purpose of
forming new party, but it is just such
diverse elements that will make a confer
ference OF great value educationally, and
we feel that il such people can talk cour-
teously for week on what is the next
thing to do, that great good will come out
OF 1t, though we cannot forecast just
what: but we feel sure that even if moth
ing definite is done the education given
and inspiration developed will pay for
the effort.
There is nothing whatever in this invi-
tation which will destroy the Peoples
party, or prevent the organization OF the
middle of the-road Populists which you
so ardently desire; and it seems to me
that you ought to favor a conference of
this sort which will educate its members
and the people.
l may add that these conferences were
originally started by Rev. Benjamin Fay
Mills, and that he is on the executive
committee which is getting this up, and
with Mr. Mead of Boston, drafted the
invitation which was sent out under my
name as secretary
Trusting that you will give this correc-
ton os much prominence in your paper
as the original statement, am yours very
truly Eltweed Pomeroy.
We are glad to receive this comnuni-
cation from Mr.. Pomeroy, and take
pleasure in publishing it. Personally, we
have high respect for Mr.. Pomeroy, and
no desire to abuse or discredit him.
His whole idea OF reform is the initia-
tive and referendum, and it is possible
that his object in getting up the confer
ence referred to was to urge forward that
proposition There has BEEN however, a
general belief that the purpose OF the
Buffalo gathering was to create new
party. The call speaks OF agreeing upon
united action" There can only be
united action" through some organiza-
ton, and that organization will be a
party, whether so named or not
1t is claimed also that the majority of
those. whose names have been appended
to the call, are Democrats; and it is
urged that the ultimate object OF the
movement is to destroy the Peoples
party in the interest OF Democracy
To call 400 prominent gentlemen and
ladies. black and white, from all parts of
the country, to simply talk to each other,
and say pretty things. and then adjourn.
like the old rhyme
The king OF France, with forty thou
Marched up a hill and then marched
down again"
Conferences are OF little value except
among men who are practically agreed
upon some proposed action, but who diff
fer as to the course to be pursued. We
mean. Of course this kind of expensive
personal conferences Our whole social
intercourse is a species of continual CON
ference. A debate goes on wherever two
men or women meet; and the newspapers
are constantly full of editorials and con-
tributions discussing all the questions of
the day
Moreover, the Democratic party has
adopted the initiative and refendum and
the Republican party will probably follow
suit. When they all agree upon it there
will be nothing left for distinct party
devoted to direct legislation and nothing
else, to stand upon.
AS the initiative and referendum, with
out party to direct it, would amount to
nothing 1t would be like a man buying
a drug store with no one to tell him
which drug is poisonous and which is re-
medal. He is just as likely to kill him
self as cure himself
A mechinac can do nothing without
tools; but the possession OF tools will not
make a man a mechanic There is no