Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-03-14
THE EAST AND THE WEST.
What Were Once Called Western Vagarics
Arc Now Boldly Advocated by Many
Leading Eastern Journals.


extreme radicalism of the eastern
democracy. 1t does not seem to be
recognized that, while western demo-
Gratis are timid about espousing radi-
raj policies for fear of alternating the
eastern wing of their party and pop
ulists seem afraid to advocate their
more radical principles for fear that
they might thereby embarrass their
democratic allies, the prominent dem
ocratic politicians in the east are
boldly advocating public ownership
Of public utilities, while the leading
and most influential Bryan newspa-
pers in New York and other eastern
cities are outspoken in their advocacy
of radical populist principles and in
sistent in their demands that the dem
ocratic national convention shall en-
body these principles in the national
democratic platform.
From the columns of the Noncon-
formist / clip the following synopsis
of the remarks made at the recent
meeting of the populist national COM
mittee by Mr.. T. NJ. Patterson, of Col
orado. Bryan democrat and editor
of the Rocky Mountain News:
'T NJ Patterson, of Colorado, ar
gued forcibly in favor of holding the
convention at the same time and place
with the democrats and silver repub
Leans. He wanted this done to pre-
vent any possibility of such troubles
as were encountered in 1896, because
of two vice presidential candidates.
He was fearful of placing club in
the hands of. Mr.. Bryan's enemies in
his own convention. The vice presi-
dency, he continued, is the one great
and serious menace to harmony. 1t
is the only stumbling block that can
prevent Bryan's election. Bryan and
Caldwell he said, would constitute an
absolutely invincible ticket. The only
thing to prevent the nomination of
this ticket by the fusion parties, in his
opinion, would be it's nomination first
by the populist party. Eastern preju-
dice against populism, he said, is deep
seated and ineradicable. The day the
populists nominate Bryan and Cald-
well, he continued, the subsidized
press will set up the cry that the pop
ulist party has set the pace, has made
| it's ticket cut and dried and will
force the democrats to toe the mark.
OF the result of this hue and cry he
was fearful"
| Aside from the fact that Judge
Caldwell is an eminent jurist, who
cannot be accused of entertaining
wild vagaries," or foolish and imprac-
ticable theories, it may be noted that
eastern democrats do not entertain
any prejudice against populist prin-
ciples, even if they are prejudiced
against the peoples party as an indie
pendent political organization. Let
us see if these assertions are not well
founded in fact.
Take the state of Massachusetts
Last fall there was state election
in that state and the state platform
adopted must be accepted as an official
utterance of democratic principles in
Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts platform not on
ly reaffirmed the Chicago platform in
whole and in detail, but it also de
clared for and demanded government
ownership and operation of all rail
roads. In addition to this startling
and radical departure from eastern
conservatism, the platform favored
direct Legislation by the initiative ant
referendum, the election of the Uni
ted States senator's by direct vote OF
the people and the enforcement of al
eight-hour workday, the abolition O.
| 10 10 life n
bers of the judiciary and the public
ownership and operation of stree
railways, waterworks and other mu
nicipal business enterprises. And upor
that platform, containing, as it did
many of the most radical of populis-
principles, the Massachusetts democ
racy increased their vote and carried
the city of Boston.
Now take New York state: In New
YORK City, Mr.. Croker and other Tam
many magnates are firm in advocacy
tiles and are and have been doins
great work in that direction. TIL,
New York journal, with its more thar
100000 circulation, and the Verdict
Mr.. o. =. II. Belmont's paper, editet
by Alfred Henry Lewis, are bold,
and vigorously advocating all the pop
ulist principles adopted by the Massa
chusetts democracy and not only SC
, but are outspoken in their advocac.
of much more advanced and radica
policies.
Thus. in an open letter to Mr.. Bry
an, published about three months age
D the Verdict, writing of the comin
campaign advised Mr.. Bryan to NEE
the republican mill owners threat O
4 shutting down in case of his election
= as they did in 1896, with this:
Remind the working folk of thi
threat made once and to be mad
again. Tell them to heed and fear
D not. Say to them that a Democrat
congress will have election with yo,
; Assure them that the government
first effort shall be the building of il
own plant wherewith to cast its gun
and plates, and make its powder, an
: forge it's shells, and construct il
ships, and weave its cloth, and tan il
= leather, and manufacture its arms an
: uniforms, and kill its beef, and can il
; food; and generally speaking
everything produce everything
4 needs call for, from the goads in til
hands of the teamsters to the gold O
the shoulders of its officers. Say t
them-and exc to the threatenin
u f