The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1900-10-20

County, Idaho: A time has come in the history
of Our party when it becomes necessary for all
who earnestly believe in the principles of the
Peoples Party as set forth i'll the Omaha plat
form, to stand together for the preservation of
our political organization abandon it to a class
of political adventures who have attached them
selves to our party for the express purpose of ad
vancing their private political fortunes Tn order
to fully understand the danger which now con-
fronts us as political organization we need onv
to pass in review the history of Our party during
the last six years. In 1894 the Peoples Party was
the second strongest organization in the State and
cast within a few many votes as did the Repub-
lcan party. From 1894 to 1896 all the condi-
tons were favorable to the growth of Our party
and it is now generally conceded that at the op-
ening of the campaign of 1896 the Peoples party
had voting strength largely in excess of either
of the old parties. This fact must have been
known to the leading members of Our party at
that time but for reasons with which the advance
ment of our principles had nothing to do the
manipulators in our party arranged a fusion with
the Democratic party and from that day to the
present time the process of disintegration has
been rapidly progressing within ranks In
1896 plausible excuse was given for fusion at
that time, it being urged that the election of Mr.
Bryan to the Presidency of the United States
would insure some of the reforms which par
ty advocated. The promise was then made by
the Democrats of this State that in all political
matters they would treat the Populists with fair
ness and equality but the history of subsequent
events clearly establishes that the fusion arrange
ment was altogether iii the interest of the Demo
cratic party. 1t is unnecessary to here recount
the various acts of perfdy and bad faith perpe-
trated against the Popu1ists by the Democratic
party aided and abetted by the so-caed members
of the Peoples party. In 1898 another fusion
was attempted in which the Peoples party was
given little or no consideration and the result
split in our own ranks Passing over that pc.
riod and coming down to the present time we
cannot view the present condition OF our party
without feeling that it is the prey of mercenary
politicians and the victim of system of politics
which has no end in view other than the getting
of Office
On July the T7th the Peoples party met in
PoCatello in convention and there nominated and
put in the field straight Populist ticket BY
that convention was passed a resolution to the
effect that in any changes that might be made III
the ticket the name of no one nominated by the
Democratic convention held at the same time and
place should appear upon the Popul1st ticket
But scarcely had the convention adj journed before
certain alleged Populists, conniving with Demo
Gratis, attempted to defeat the expressed purpose
OF the convention and for two months the most
shameful and unprincipled negotiations were car
RED on at Boise between a few men assuming to
speak for all the Popu1ists of Idaho and the Dem
ocratic State organization, looking to barterlng
away the principles of the Peoples party ana
the franchise of the members thereof. 1t was on
y through the interference of few honest mem
Defs OF Our party that the resolution OF the con
Ventlon was sustained. But even now the sltua
ton is most deplorable and cannot but hum1l1ate
every member of the Peoples party who has
proper respect for the organization and sincere
oelet in the principles which we advocate Oul
ucket as it will now appear on the ballot IS Ou
the shattered remains of the ticket nominated d
the POCatel1o convention. Our nominees tor GOV
ernor and Justice of the Supreme Court have
been practically forced by the pressure of dlshon
est politicians among us to withdraw their name
and this incomplete ticket is now all that there
Nit to represent what in 1896 was the stronge9
political party in this State. These facts mus
clearly indicate to every intelligent man ana "o
wan that the consequence of fusion has Deen "
almost utterly disrupt our party, and 1t may d
elually clear that unless some steps are taken
.uestroy the fusion tendencies encourage by a cel
sa'n element in our party fusion will ultlnatel'