The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-07-23
H1RMONIOUS ASSEMBLING or RE
FORM FORCES UNDER DEMO
CRANY,H RANAE


er, Wan. j. Bryan, calling on the re-
form forces of the country to harmon.
ize and make common battle against
the Republican hosts, have not gone
unheeded in one spot of this prosper
Gus country. Logan county has set
an example which can be emulated
with profit by the Democrats and
Populists in the majority of counties
of the territory. The action of the
conference committees of the Demo-
cratic and Populist parties in this city,
Saturday, effectually clears the poo
litical atmosphere and under the
broad banner of DEMOCRACY" the
reform forces of Logan county will
do their part towards dehorning the
sullen Republican bull and placing
the brand OF un6tness, incompetency
and corruption upen its sodden rump.
For almost two years THE LEADEE
has preached the doctrine of coali-
tion on Democratic lines, and the
Populists OF Logan county recogniz-
ing the justness of THE LEADERS po-
sition, gracefully acquiesced in this
papers contention. The Populists
owed it to themselves to heed the les
sons. contained in the 'injunctions of
the past and in surrendering their
party name and making concessions
they did so for the sake of a good
cause and they loose nothing either in
self-respect or popular approval.
Since the memorable campaign of
'96, the line of demarkation between
the tenets Of Democracy (and with
few except:ons) the theories of Popu-
lism has been we'll nigh indistinguish-
able. The radical wing of Democra-
cy has represented the conservative
branch of Populism and vice versa,
and removed from the proposition of
spoils, there could The little room
for joint debate between the two if
government ownership and the
initiative and referendum were
eliminated. The action OF the re.
cent Democratic and Populist ma
tional conventions. and the with
drawal Of Mr.. Towne with the endorse.
ment of Stevenson by the Populists,
has pointed out the line of Populist
duty and the men represen ting that
organization, laying aside selfish in
terests for duty in common cause, are
marching back to the old freside.
There can be but two great political
forces in this country and in the CAM
paign at hand the paramount Issues
before the country, Imperialism and
silver, can not be consistently fought
out with two parties of the same COM
plexion arrayed against a common en-
emy. The test of strength this cam.
paign is between the Republican par
ty, representing all that is hurtful to
the nations welfare, and of all those
forces arrayed against Republicanism,
battling under the ensign of Democ-
racy.
National issues have no place in
county politics, yet the attitude of the
national organization bears upon the
workings of the minor organization.
Thus it will be seen that the Populists
in registering a territorial precedent
by gracefully surrendering their name
and once more uniting with the party
with which they were identified be-
fore being driven away by the vagar-
les of gold bug Democratic president,
are merely following out the wishes Of
the national leaders.
In advocating the coalition of all the
reform forces in Logan county, THE
LEADER held that the Populists could
not conscientiously take any action
short Of Saturdays result and look for
harmonious fusion this fall. Under
the terms of Saturdays agreement the
Populists lost nothing. Their action
will be approved by the rank and file
of former Populists in the county.
The committees action means that
the reform forces of Logan county are
in deacly earnest this year, and with no
entangling cross fire tickets and with
respectable and well fitted men for Of
fee, c'ean sweep Of Republican Of
feial corruption is assured.