The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-02-02
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SPIEL.
An Attempt to Prevent a Union Of
Reform Forces.
Same Tactics TO Be Employed as in 1896
Good Ground tor Belief That the
Funds Furnished Flow From Marx
Hauna's Campaign Barrel

democrats. Tie is called "Egotisticaln
Brown, and formerly lived in Emporia
but is now stopping at the National
hotel in Topeka. He is reported to
have in his possession a large number
Of railroad passes, nearly as thick as
pack OF playing cards, good over all
the lines in Kansas. As he was return
ing from a trip to Colorado, it is in
ferred that his passes are not limited
to the state.
Now who is this E. E. Brown, and
what is his business, running around
on free transportation and stopping at
frst-class hotels. He is not reported
to be wealthy. He is engaged in trying
to organize democratic clubs over the
state for an anti-fusion, straight-out
democratic ticket. He is against the
nomination of Bryan, or making any
deal with the free silver republicans or
pOpulists. Brown is a democrat work
ing for republican success next fall.
Now on the other hand TIE REPUB-
Lie is in receipt Of circulars from the
| democratic national committee, Of
which Senator James K. Jones is chair
man, and Willis J. Abbott is chief Of
the literary bureau, urging the fOrma-
ton Of clubs and the distribution and
sale Of "COin" Hsrvey's new book on
"Money, Trusts and Imperialism" all
straightforward and legitimate in
purpose.
i In the Rocky Mountain News Of Jan
uary d there is an address that comes
from J. A. Edgerton, secretary of the
national peoples party, in which he re-
/ fers to the Omaha agreement" in 1898,
a concession to the middIe-Of-the-road
pOpulists, which he says, they violated
before the ink vas dry on the agree
ment and went out and organized the
middle-of-the-rOad faction; and that
they are out for good. The address is
straightforward and has the right
ring to it.
/ 1t will be remembered that in the
st. Louis national peoples party con-
ventiOn of 1896 there was a split, and,
that at the time it was publicalIy de-
| clared that republican emissaries were
numerous and active using money Law
ishly to exploit the division of the PEG
pies party and to prevent a fusion on
! the issues of that national campaign.
They in part succeeded and the results
are well known. Mckinley was elected
and Bryan defeated. Republicans do
not deny these things and say it was
good politics"
| The editor Of this paper was in Cali
| fOEnia in December, 1898, and the mid
! dIe-of-the-rOad campaign was we'll or
gsnized there at that time, and from
| previous knowledge of the work done
there in 1896 was aware that republi-
can funds were back Of the movement.
The following account of the cam
! paign in that state in 1896 shows plain
enough the methods employed.
There was a lawyer in San Francisco
| by name of Tom Y. Gator, who was a
leader in the pOpulist movement in
California. He got the state conven-
ton to indOrse him for the United
States senate. Following this action
Of the state convention every county
convention was packed" for him. In
| the agreement with the democrats
generally the pOpulists gave every
thing away for the legislative and state
senatorial places on the ticket-alI for
Gator.
The pOpulists were very poor and
were not able to raise funds to pay the
expenses Of delegates to the national
/ -,o,-,T.g- v,,-E-- ,-.v,v-srFs~v, IN O. or,7-
A man in San BernardinO county, who
had been complained Of IN justice
court for nOn-suppOrt of his family,
somehow 10y the money put up by
local republicans, it was believed,) got
to the state convention and was made
q delegate to the national convention
by the influence Of the Gator crowd
in deroRation Of the claims Of better
men.
Several weeks before the delegates
were to start for st. Louis, Gator went
to New York City "tO see his mother"
Now, when the delegation started from
San Francisco it went in a special,
car, rugged out with bunting and
mottos along the side: California
POpulists, Road" Gator
met them in St Louis, and when the
delegation returned, all expenses were
fully paid, and plenty Of money and
good clothes were exhibited by the
poor San Bernardino county man. He
also contributed freely for populist
| campaign literature.
Comment is unnecessary. 1t was
republican goldbug money that organ