The representative., 1900-12-06
A FUSION POPULIST
PAPER GETS RIGHT
HON. JOHN DAVIS OLD PAPER, THE
JUNCTION CITY,, KAN, TRIBUNE,
NOW FOR STRAIGHT ACTION.
Refers to Tom Watson as That Splen.
did Champion of the People.
From the Missouri World.

From the Missouri World.
The following editorial is copied from
the Junction City, Kan, Tribune, pa
per that has upheld the reform move
ment in Kansas for nearly a quarter of
a century, and which for many years
was the only reform paper in the state
that had state circulation. The Trib-
une supported the Bryan movement in
1896, and during the recent campaign.
Now it is for straight action. We re-
joice. We are not exultant-we are
just simply happy when such papers as
the Tribune talk as it does:
WHAT HAS FUSION COST?
Tribune, Junction City, Kan. (hereto-
fore fusion)
Last week the Tribune suggested to
it's readers that it was high time for
us as political party to take our bear
ings and try to determine where we are
as a political party and a social force
in the affairs of this nation. Pursuing
the same train of thought still further,
we are lead this week to submit the
above question for your consideration
and also some facts in relation thereto.
We suggested last week that fusion
is a sacrifice of principle for spoils. y
This was, of course, conclusion and
1t is highly probable that some Of our
readers thought the statement too
strong, and, perhaps, some thought It
altogether wrong. Let us look at some
of the facts. The Populist party was
organized in 1891, and it's national plat
form adopted at Omaha in 1892 has al
ways been considered by the best
thinkers Of our party as the ablest and
cIearest statement of our principles that
has ever been made. On that platform
we polled more votes than on any other.
What were our principles as declared
in that platform?
l. A union of the labor forces of the
United States.
2. Wealth belongs to him who Gre
ates it.
3. Government ownership of rail-
roads.
4. A national currency, safe, sound
and flexible, issued by the government
only and without the use of banking
corporations.
5. Free coinage of silver.
6. Increase of the circulating medium
up to $50 per capita.
Z A graduated income tax.
8. Economy in state and national ex-
penditures.
g. The establishment of postal saw
ings banks.
TO- Government ownership of tele-
graph and telephone lines.
II. That alien ownership of real es-
tate be prohibited.
II. That the real estate holdings of
corporations be limited to the actual
needs of such corporations.
13. The sub-treasury plan.
This is briefly a statement of our de-
mands that year. On these lines we
made our fight and won practically al.
of the Northern states west of the
Missouri river We became a national
power and commanded the respect of
the political world. Now! What has
become of those demands? Have they
ceased to be issues because they have
been crystallized into law and become
the settled policy of this country? No!
For not one of them has yet been adopt
ed in this country. Were those prin-
ciples wrong? Not at all. Every de-
mand there is In the interest of the
poor, as against the rich; in favor o:
the man as against the dollar. But we,
as national party, have abandoned
those principles. Not one of those
principles was an issue in the memor-
able campaign just closed unless it was
the demand for free coinage, and we all
know that the campaign just closed was
not fought on that issue at ALL but was
fought on the issue of imperialism
For what reason? At whose request or
dictation did we abandon these, our
principles? When old man Democracy
courted and won his pretty bride Pop
ulism) he stipulated that he was not
to take care of these children. They
were sacrificed on the altar of fusion,
all but the demand for free coinage, and
this one was condemned and sentenced
to execution at the Kansas City conven-
ton. and it's head was placed upon the
execution block, when just as the cruel
ak was about to fall, Mr.. Bryan put a
stop to the proceedings and it is due to
his influence that this child is still with
us, even in it's present disfigured con-
dition.
Can a political party thus basely de-
sert it's principles and still retain the
respect and confidence of the people?
Where did any political party ever de-
sert it's fundamental principles on
which it was organized and long sur
vive? Our desertion of our principles
was at the dictation of the Democratic
party and the consideration that we