The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-06-14
OUR NATIONAL
CHAIRMAN
WORDS OF SENSIBLE ADVICE THAT
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CARE
FULLY BY ALL THE GOOD
POPULISTS.

OAA1 D4 ALL xhG WOOO
POPULISTS.
LOUISVILLE. KY. June II. 1900-To the
Populists Of the United States: Elected
the Cincinnati convention. I desire in this
manner. to thank you for the confidence
imposed In me. and to pledge my earnest
endeavor as long as shall hold that po-
sition, to the work Of extending. strength
ening and making successful the princi-
ples and organization Of our party. And
I wish to announce to you that I have
opened temporary headquarters at Louis
vile. KY, and to which place all cores
pondence intended for me should be ad-
dressed. will remain here until such
time as the national committee orders the
formal opening Of the campaign headQuar-
ters.
There is a great work Immediately before
the true Populists Of the nation, II they
wish to make their cause successful. II
they see fit they may command the polit-
icai situation completely, influence legis-
lation. and In a manner direct the affairs
OF the nation.
I know some good Populists have be-
come discouraged because 80 often defeateo
at the polls and betrayed by venal leaders
into the hands of their enemies. and l am
aware that 1 have been given leadership
In, our organization at a time when the
party forces are scattered and bewildered
-Four years ago we had two million voters
but the actions of those whom we selected
TO lead brought chaos into our ranks, and
today It would be impossible to correctly
estimate our strength. Four years OF
aeadership given to destroying the party and
weakening It's organization in the interest OF
another party, instead Of building it up
and strengthening it. have. OF course, had
their evil effects. But the complete re-
organization of the party at Cincinnati mas
swept from leadership that element which
has 80 handicapped our growth, and tooay
the officers Of this organization are all de-
Voted to the work OF rebuilding upon
Independent lines, as the founders OF the
party at Omaha, In 1892. intended.
To those misguided Populists who have
followed these false leaders into making un-
holy trades and alliances, and who now ad-
here to the fusion organization wnlcn neio
An alleged Populist convention at Sioux
Falls, and there nominated Democrat for
president and a Republican for vice-presi-
dent. I urge that we say nothing harsh or
abusive. For the most part they are sin
cere. They have followed false leaders. and
when they learn the truth they will return
to the party. After the Democratic national
convention there will be no Sioux Falls tick
ct, anu IuOS0 WHO uAv0 A0 SA0 poOS AVAA0W O>A
fusion will have to fall In line with the bal
lot-box stufnng, Crokerized Democracy. or
return to the Peoples party. The honest
element will not 60 with the Bourbon DEM
ocracy, and We should welcome them home
as prodisals returning to the parental roof.
Let us lay up no malice against them.
The coming campaign will be like past
ones-a sham battle between tho old parties.
In 1892 1t was a sham battle over the tariff
and q Democratic victory brought with 1t no
relief from burdensome tariff taxes, but q
policy Of free trade in raw materials that
1early impoverished the wool and cattle
growers of the country, but compelled the
consumers of woolen and cotton manufac-
lures to buy in a highly protected market.
In 1896 the sham battle was on the money
40estion, between coin redemptionists, the
policy of either party leaving the people still
bound. Prometheus-like, to the rock Of
specie basis while the vulturous usurers fed
upon their vitals.
This time 1t is to be a sham battle on
trusts and imperialism; and In the last
analysis. both old parties will be exactly
alike and neither will provide the remedy
for trusts, or destroy Imperialism Of capital
which makes despots Of the few and serfs of
the many.
Therefore it is more important today than
ever before that the organization of the
Independent Peoples party be preserved
and strengthened, and that in this campaign
we contend for every principle and combat
every move Of the opposition. We have no
compromise to make with either Of the old
parties: we have nothing to arbitrate. Based
nothing to fear. We stand today the happy
medium between cruel capitalism on the
one hand, and communism and revolution
on the other. We hold to a governmental
system where the rights Of all men shall be
preserved-where the socialistic principle
of cooperation shall be exercised and ad-
vanced as far as practicable in government,
and as the people in their sovereign capacity,
through direct vote at the polls. shall
elect; while at the same time, in the pri-
vate affairs Of the citizens, we preserve that
individuality and independence which COM
munism would destroy.
Recognizing these things, therefore ap-
peal to Populists everywhere for their i'm
mediate and hearty cooperation in advanc-
ing our great cause, regardless OF the ac-
tion Of other parties on any question.
There are some states in which true Pop
ulists have no organization. l wish to cor
respond with any person in such states,
at once. relative to organizing the party
and arranging for Barker and Donnelly
you have heretofore been prominent in
politics or not, II you have at heart the
success OF our cause put yourself in COM
munication with me at once.
To the Reform Press / wish to say that
upon you we rely to carry forward the
work of education. It shall be my policy
as National Chairman to do everything
possible to advance the interests Of our
press in every way. request all publishers
Of papers supporting the Peoples party
ticket, to mail regularly to Louisville, two
copies Of their papers, to be kept on file
with the records Of the party.
I wish to urge upon all other workers
In our cause to exert themselves during
this crisis as never before in the life of
the party. Lose no opportunity to speak
In defense OF our principles. Organize the
reform voters wherever you go. Spread our
literature and doctrines into the highways
and byways. and the fruit will in time be
forthcoming.
Finally. let no political reverses discour-
age you. We have In the past fallen into
the grievous errors of working for tempo
rary success at the polls rather than for sub
stantial and enduring growth. We were led
to trim our platform Of essential principles
to catch conservative" voters. who deserted
us at the FIRST opportunity; we pushed to the
front Insignificant details, like the free COIN
age Of silver, to catch the popular drift. and
neglected the fundamental doctrines Of our
party. As . result, our silver voters be-
trayed US as soon as another party made
pretenuons to favor silver legislation. There
1ore, IN the future, let US avoid the errors
Of the past and push forward with our work
o. educating the people to tho great funda-
nental Issues Of our platform, and organ
axlng the reform voters - provided IN our
tAA q organisation. not striving for evan
- ~ s sxrs 8 - e &.