Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-11-30
SECRETARY CURRAN ISSUES ADDRESS.
Says Campaign Of 1902 Commences Now.

IL mas oeen tie naOlt OF the fusion man
ayers, for several years, to let the work dror
! after election, until time to call another
convention. BY that time, on account of this
neglect, the organization had deteriorated to
such an extent that an immense amount OF
work was necessary to strengthen the weak
places and bring it again into good working
condition.
'We were handicapped by these conditions
during the recent campaign, and l am deter
mined it shall not occur soon again. After
consultation with many Of our best people,
have determined to reopen headquarters in
Topeka and commence work on the organiza-
tion at once.
"The need is not for reorganization, but for
more and better organization. The best men
in The party must be brought to the front to
plan and execute. More workers must be en-.
rolled. New methods and a more thorough
system must be adopted The ties that bind
reforners together are the strongest and truest
in all political life, and they must be drawn
tighter than ever IN the dark days that ale sure
to come.
"Our party has been, in the past, the party
of education, ami it will continue to be so in
the future. 1t is proposed to keep this work
up in systematic manner. Onr best writers
will prepare literature on special topics. Ev-
cry class of labor will be given chance to be-
come thoroughly posted on economic questions,
so that when the time comes, he may vote in
telligently. The country press will be mate
rally assisted. Every encouragement will be
given to the metropolitan newspapers which
uphold the cause of the people. These are the
presented properly and read periodically, will
enable any man with independence of thought
to vote ntelligently
"The campaign just finished has been an
exceptionally clean one, and leaves but teel-
ing of respect for the opposition party man
ayers, but wish to serve notice on the Repub-
lican bosses now that the campaign of 1902 is
on, and we shall try to make it considerably
hotter than the last. We have no excuses to
make. The fusion forces polled over 163, 900
votes in the face of campaign which was cal
culated to buy, bully or bamboozle every voter
who could be bought, bullied or fooled.
change of 5000 votes, CT one-fourth of one
per cent. of the total vote, would have given
us the governor and state ticket; and had it
not been presidential election wherein mis-
takes of policy weakened the Democratic cause,
we would have carried Kansas hands down.
'There is little use speculating over the
causes of our defeat The Republicans made
their canvass OIL prosperity, and and it was
certainly in evidence. The reformer who had
made money in the last two years regarded
Bryan as an experiment-the dollars in his
pocket were sure things, and, though he was,
and is still, Populist, believing in Bryan and
all the principles which he repres ants, he vote
for Mckinley al the dictation of Odd Man
Good Enough and odd Woman Well Enough
two prrsonages who had all to do with the
elec Oh OF he Republca' ticket. Rumors Of
an impending panic were in the air, and, like
Hamlet, they all wondered long whether it is
better to endure the ills we have than fly to
orhrs tat we know not Of. Enough chose
the former to defeat Bryan, even in places
where they loved him best.
"The nerve of the Populists, however, is as
tonishing. Letters from all over the state in
dicate that there is as much fight in the Peoples
party as ever, and, though there are many
confusing and confused situations which time
alone can straighten out, one thing stands out
bold and clear: Our people will never give up
until that for which they fought has been given
them. We were right when the party was
formed, and we are right now, though tempo
rarily defeated. Those who have sacrificed
before will sacrifice again-those who have
fought before will fight again. Some Of the