The St. Louis Republic., 1900-12-30
Middle.o of the Readers Debate All
Day Over Advances of Other
Reform Parties.
FAVOR A CHANGE OF NAME.
From "Peoplc's" TO "Populist Par
ty"-Resolution Adopted to
Amend The Omaha and
Cincinnati Platforms.

Members OF the "MiidIe-oc-the-Ro Road
| Populist National Committee and other
! leaders In various reform NOV, mcnis de-
hated all of Yesterday at the st. James
Hotel over tho advisability of forming a
combination with the Social-Democratic
and the Union Reform parties.
The tenor of the speeches made by She
committeeman WAS practically unanimous
IN opposition to the plan and in favor of
carrying on the work of the Populist party
strictly along its own lines. !, was decided
to issue an address setting forth i'll detail
the views of tho committee.
resolution. introduced by Chairman
Joseph Parker of keutuCky was adopted.
which Will submit 10 a vote of the party n
proposition TO change the name from the
Peoples party to the -Populist party"
and to effect several minor reforms in the
platforms adopted at CINCINNATI and Oma-
ma. relative TO the Government ownership
or public utilities. II derOunces the coniis-
cation OF property and physical revolution,
and calls upon the PopuliSts OF the coun-
years hence.
Some of the Delegates.
chairman Joseph Parker Of Louisville,
NY, presided over the deliberations Among
those present were Colonel Frank Rurkett
OF Mississippi: W. s. Morgan of Arkansas:
AoiiidS W. W NdGSWOTth OF lr1iiDa, COL
onel j. S. Felter of Illinois; j. A. Hopp,
chairman of the Illinois Popuiist Commit
tee; George A. Wise of Wisconsin,; ]. A
Bodenheimer Of Georgia; John NJ Peace of
South Dakota: eX-conSreSsman J.. II.
Walker OF Iowa: Thomas j. Reed of
Kentucky: j. ID. Johnston Of kentucky; J.
H. Hilles. late nominee for Governor OF
Missouri on the Populist ticket: A. C Van
Line. nominee for Governor of Illinois on
the Populist ticket: James H. Ferriss Of
Illinois. and Mills Williams of West PlaiGs,
aIo.
In the morning representatives. Of TIL,
Social-Democra;ic and the Union Reform.
party orgauiZatiu wer. heard. Professor
Heron. the SociaIS. educator of Grinnel
College Of Iowa addressed the meeting on
the plan Of combining with the Union Re-
form party. His address was appau1od
frequently. Professor Heron declared that
the reform forces of the country have
great opportunity before them and that
the Populists occupy Il strategic position.
Address of st. Loui. Men.
Leon Greenbaum of 81. Louis asked that
the Popuists join with his organization.
Mr.. Davis Of the Union Reform party spoke
along the same lines.
At the afternoon session the members Of
the Populist National Committee took up
he question preparatory TO issuing Il for
NAL statement.
l.. A. Weller OF Iowa declared that the
Populist party has always been loaded with
TOO much platform. He was opposed to the
coalition with other reformers He SAID
that he had assisted in organizing the
Greenback party. and he had seen IL as
sassinated in the house of its 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 I'D the
point made by Professor Heron of Iowa
that the Popuists occupy a strategic posi-
tion, and for that reason he was In favor Of
continuing the work. He drew comfort
from the results Of the last election and
said that the farmers are not Yet ready to
take up Socialism.
Thomas Wadsworth of Indiana declared
that he Is in favor of anything that would
benefit the people. MIR. Bodenheiner of
Georgia declared that he Is in favor Of
keeping up the fight along strict party
lines G. A. Wise Of Wisconsin was of the
same opinion. The majority OF the speak
ers favored continued struggle for the
principles Of Populism, and an address to
this effect was prepared before adjourn
ment.
Changes in the Platform.
At the evening session Chairman Parker
introduced a resolution which affected sev-
eral changes In the platform of the party
as adopted at Omaha, to be submitted to y
referendum vote. After considera bic dis
cusson IL WAS adopted. The resolution pro-
vides for a change in the name Of the party
from the Peoples Party to the ''Populist
Party. The second plank OF the Cincin-
natl platform is changed TO read: I'VE de-
Hand the public ownership of such means
of production and distribution as the people
VIII from time 20 time elect The third
proposition Is TO change plank seven by
dropping off the last three words 'of public
utilities" The fourth declares the party
IS opposed to physical revolution and con- /
tscation OF property. !
Ii declares that the fundamental doctrine |
of the party is the principle enunciated at |
Omaha in 1892. that the wealth belongs to |
him who makes fl and every dollar taken |
from labor without an equivalent is ron |
berry. and the party is pledged to such |
legislation as to destroy the system which |
makes IL possible for one man to live on |
the labor of another
A committee. composed of James A. Fer |
ris of illinois, Frank Burkitt of Mississippi |
]. NJ Pease OF South Dakota. W. S. |
Morgan of Arkansas. j. S. Fclter OF Illi- |
nois, Doctor Il. 8. Curry of West Plains
Mo-, and J. A. Bodenheimer of Georgia, |
address TO the people The |
address congratulates the members of the
party on its showing In the last election |
discouraging conditions. /
Other reform organizations are invited 70
Join In an effort to establish human liberty
The members OF the party are asked 10 \
rally and to go to work IN the organiZa-
ton.