The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-30
IN TIE middle Of THE ROAD
IS WHERE THE GENUINE, SIMON
PURE POPULISTS PRO-
POSE TO STAY
NOT TO FUSE WITH ANYBODY
Was the Decision Reached at the
Close of the National Commit
tee Meeting at st. Louis
Yesterday.

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 29.-Members Of the
middle of the road Populist national
committee and other leaders in various
reform movements debated all of today
at the ST. James hotel over the advisable
ity Of forming combination with the
Social Democrats and the Union Reform
parties.
The tenor of the speeches made by the
committeeman was practically unant-
nous in opposition to the plan and in
favor of carrying on the work Of the
Populist party strictly along IT'S own
lines 1t was decided to issue an ad-
dress setting forth in detail the views Of
the committee.
About ninety members of the national
committee were present in person or re-
presented by proxy. Neither Wharton
Barker nor Ignatius Donnelly was pres
ent; the latter's absence was caused by
Illness
NO COMPROMISE.
Mr. Barker, In calling the gathering to
order, made a short address in the course
Of which he said that the conference was
called for the purpose of considering the
future policy of the middle of the road
ers, who stand for no compromise. He
believed in enforcement from both the
old parties, and declared that the fight
should be carried forward without any
compromise. Mr.. Barker said he had Is
sued the call to representatives of all
branches Of the Populist party, but that
the Fusionists had ignored it entirely.
The time was ripe, he said, far a great
political battle and he desired to ask
the representatives of other reform move
ments to stand with the middle of the
readers.
Prof. George D. Heron, Of GrinnelI,
bo ho al 70 6a
ent, then spoke as the representative of
socialism. He declared that tho real
issue in this country lis a clear. cut con-
fict between industrial democracy and
capitalism, for the old political absolu-
ton brought down to date The only
way to obtain liberty, he declared, Is
through Industrial democracy.
Representatives of a number of the
different reform movements were listened
to today in the presentation of what IN
their opinion, was necessary to bring
about the reforms needed. A recess was
taken until two p. m, when the discus
sion was resumed by the Populists.
TOO MUCH PLATFORM
L. A. Wheeler, of Iowa, declared that
the Populist party has always been load
ed with too much platform. Tie was
opposed to the coalition with other re-
formers. He said that he had assisted
in organizing the Greenback party and
he had seen it assassinated in the house
Of friends. He declared that the labor
party and other reform movements have
been killed in the same manner and he
did not favor going to them.
Joseph Hupp, of Chicago, took up the
point made by Prof. Heron, of Iowa,
that the Populists occupied a strategetic
position, and for that reason he was in
favor of continuing the work. lie drew
comfort from the results of the last cleo
ton and said that the farmers are not
yet ready to take UP socialism.
Thomas Wadsworth, OF Indiana, declar
ed that he is in favor of anything that
would benefit the people. Mr.. Boden-
heimer, Of Georgia, declared that he IS
in favor of keeping UP the fight along
strict party lines. G. A. Wise, Of Wis
consin, was of the same opinion. The
majority of the speakers favored a con-
tinued struggle for the principles of pOpu-
lism, and an address to this effect was
prepared before adjournment
NIGHT SESSION.
At the night session Chairman Parker
introduced a resolution which affected
several changes in the platform of the
party as adopted at Omaha to be sub
mitted to referendum vote. After
considerable debate it was agreed to.
The resolution provided for a change in
the party name from 1.-THE Peoples Par
ty'' to 1.-The Populist Party" The sec
ond plank of the Cincinnati platform is
changed to read:
1--WE demand the public ownership of
sNch means Of production and distribu
ton as the people will from time to time
elect
The third proposition is to change
plank seven by dropping off the last
three words: "Of public utility" The
fourth declares the party is opposed to
physical revolution and conf1scation Of
property. 1t declares that the funda-
mental doctrine of the party is the prin-
ciple enunciated at Omaha in 1892, that
the wealth belongs to him who makes
it and every dollar taken from labor
without an equivalent Is robbery, and
the party is pledged to such legislation
as to destroy the system which makes
it possible for one man to live on the
labor of another.
A committee composed of James A.
Ferris, of Illinois; Frank Burkitt, of Mis-
sissippi; J. M. Pease, of South Dakota;
w. S. Morgan, of Arkansas; J. S. Felter,
of Illinois; DR.. E. s. Curry, of West
Plains, Mo, and ]. A Bodenheimer, of
Georgia submitted an address to the peo-
pie. The address congratulates the
members of the party on its showing in
the last election, notwithstanding: dis
couraging conditions. Other reform Or
ganizations are invited to join in an eff
fort to establish human liberty. The
members of the party are asked to rally
and to go to work in the organization. :