The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-01-11
ADDITIONAL EDITORIAL
DEMOCRATS AND poPUItS3rs

DEMOCRATS AND PoPULIsrs.
The whole question Of the outcome
of the great political battle 81 1900
turns on the question Of what the Pop
ulists will do. II iaIT
We find the following In recent tele.
gram. to the st. Paul Globe 1Dem-
ocratic)
LINCOLN, Neb.. jan 5-One III the most
important political conferences nin William
J. Bryan's career was conducted here this
evening. 1t was not a mere coincidef1ce
that the national Populist committee met
here today at the same time that, many
Democratic leaders of national importance
were in the city to confer with Mr.. Bryan.
The affair 'was:s'the result Of studied
!, effort on the part of Mr.. Bryan and his
political advisers and the results will show
! it is the formal opening of his presiden-
tial campaign.
Among the Populist national leaders here
were Senator Marion Butler OF North Car
olina Gen. James r. Weaver of Iowa; #
M. Patterson, Of Denver; J. w. Breidenthal
Of Kansas; W. H. Bray, of Oklahoma; Col
Roselle, of Missouri; w. H. Robb, Of Iowa,
and Mr.. EdminSten of Nebraska
The Democrats in the city, besides Mr..
Bryan, were former Gov. Hogg, of Texas;
Clarence Darrow, of Chicago; Gov. Thomas.
OF Colorado; j. A Reed of Kansas City;
Norman S. Mack, of Buffalo, and others
equally prominent.
1t was nearly II o'clock when Senator
Butler and Gen. Weaver strolled into the
big committee room and surprised Mr..
Bryan in earnest conversation with former
Gov. Hogg and Mr. Mack The conference
related to the national campaign, and the
question of the Populist national conven-
ton indorsing Bryan and the running mate
selected for him. II there was any objec-
ton to the plan it was not stated spe-
cifically 49,. ~
Gen. Weaver declared that the Populists
must be given the second place on the tick
ct, and this sentiment seemed to be- gen
eral among the Popuist delegates No
statement was made by Mr. Bryan on this
subject and he was not present during
the greater part of the conference.
At the conclusion of the conference the
state committee of Democrats. Silver Re-
publlcans and Populists antfouaced that
their convention would be held at, Lincoln
on March 10, for the election Of delegates
to the national convention to name can
dldate for president. This sis regarded
mere as indicating that the conference look
ing to the Endorsement OF Bryan by the
POpul1sts was a success ~!
Both Democratic and Populist, delegates
seemed to be of the same opinion as to the
fopullst convention naming Bryan for pres
ldent. but there is an undercurrent of SEN
tlment tnat seems to presage the same kind
OF hight that took place four years ago
Win reference to the second place on the
ticket
Democratic leaders did not express them
selves on this point very clearly and the
Populst national committeeman noted this
fact.
1t will be observed that the so-called
Populists who were present at this
conference are the same old set Of men
who sold us out to the Democracy in
1S96-Butler, Weaver, Patterson. Ro-
selle, etc.; and it will be observed that
they were ready to give up the PEOPLES
party and merge it with Democracy if
they could get the second place on the
ticket! AS the president has no
duty to perform but to preside over the
senate and draw his salary it does not
seem to us that the fact that he had
once been Populst would be a suffic-
lent recompense for giving up the ex-
istence of the Peoples party as sepa-
rate political organization, especially if
tAe nominee was to be selected from q
list of men like Butler, Weaver, Patter-
son. ETC. -. ~ sts:
1"tssad 4
1t would not look very we'll to place
on the tombstone of the Peoples party:
Died Of merger with Democracy.
but we gothic presiding officer of the
senate'' gu M
This would be a very lame and i'm !
potent conclusion to the last 20 years Of |
labor by the reformers of the United |
States; it would be the mountain in
labor bringing forth a mouse; it would |
be
The ocean into tempest tossed -~
TO watt feather or to drown fy."
l. D.