The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-12
How DO popuiists Like II?

How DO Populists Like IL?
We shall find frequent occasion here
after to ask Democrats of the country
how they like the work of the conven-
ton at Sioux Falls: the body that was
intended 10 set the pace for them. and
DO the work which they could accept
with what grace they might or reject
ct their peril. The pertinent present
question Is addressed to real Populists;
20 men who have stood by the Peo-
pies party in the past and believe that
How do they like 1t?
The platform contains. indeed. most
Of the nostrums OF government which
have been their admiration and pecu-
liar care. But these are so overlaid
with cxtraneous and foreign matter as
TO give no longer definite and clear-cut
issues Fusion has done Its work here
as well as in the selection of the ticket.
Nobody cared particularly about prn-
ciples. for they are not merchantable
articles. and fusion belongs to COM
mercs. Therefore everybody could
have what he liked; and the platform
credited to the Peoples party advo-
Gates paper money and free coinage,
surrender OF the Philippines and mu-
nicipsl ownership, murder and anarchy.
There are choice bits in this pottage
that must choke even the docile Pop
ultst.
How co they like the ticket? The
head OF It In. indeed, a Populist at heart,
though he Is more nearly today a thor
oughgoing Social Democrat We can
not think Of any tenet of the Social
Democracy that MIR. Bryan would not
accept II he thought II expedient But
the man disclains membership In the
Peoples party. He has refused stead
lily to call himself Populist He is
olasscd as a Democrat, simply because
that organization is believed to carry
more votes with IL. as II is certainly
better manned and disciplined. As far
as name Is concerned, and in this case
II u decisive OF the future existence OF
the Peoples party, Mr. Bryan win have
none OF II. He stands for latter-day
Democracy. Every man who votes for
him votes that the Peoples party, to-
day no more than an empty shell used
by those In control Of II for corrupt
trades and combines shall go out OF
existence. How do Populists like thatY
How do they like the candidate for
Vice president Charles A. Towne Is
neither Democrat nor Populist lie has
always called himself Republican and
owns no afslistton with either OF the
other parties except for personal gain.
He represented the Republican party
In congress. Not satisfied. because he
was not advanced IN honors over the
heads OF older and wiser men, led astray
also by the fantastic theories of Teller
and other sllverites. he ioined the sill
yer Republicans, faction which he
and they though, then would reach
dignity and power Since then he, like
Mr. Rry an. has shown no resource but
a facile tongue Twice he has been de-
fested In his home district as a eandl-
GATE fer congress. one OF the easiest
districts In Minnesota for an able man
90 carry against the Republicans. Again
like MIR, Bryan. he has politics for his
ocCupa ton and has managed to make
himself comfortable. But he would
soorn the imputs,ion Of being a popu-
list, HOW does the Peoples party like
having such candidate thrust upon ~
In 1895 the Populis,s made the fatal
mistake Of surrendering the party name
and organization to take up a candi-
date In sympathy with their views. The
alliance bred a crew OF men with keen
brains and hungry appetites. who de.
terninsd to perpetuate 1t for personal
aAv~ntsSa They have sold the party.