Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-07-06
What Shall we QoP

Much is being said in the neWSpa-
perS just now as to what the parties
opposed to the extravagant and OPP
preSSive rule of the republican party
will do in the state of Kansas, The
republicans are doing most of the talk
ing of course--as they always do, but
the condition confronts the people
nevertheless. All who favor good
government economically and honest
ly administered are up against the
proposition.
1t has been induStriously circulated
by the republican papers and speakers
that the peoples party is dead-that
nothing is left its members but to go
to the democratic party OF to the
socialists, for even the blacklist gang
ster in the republican party admits in
his heart that no true, honest, self
respecting pOpuliSt can ever return
again to the republican party, trust
ridden as it is.
Many of the leading democratic and
a few populist papers are also echoing
this opinion and urging the populists
to go into the Bryan democracy, purge
it of its unclean leaders and carry out
the peoples party platform and prin-
ciples through the democratic name
and organization.
But the vast majority of populiSt
papers have not taken very active
part in the discussion, apparently pre-
ferring to await developments rather
than push any idea which might work
injury to the cause of the people, or
cause unnecessary friction between
the various elements who ought. to
get together in united organization
as they are already together in pur-
pose. The HERALD has been one of
this class. Not that we have not had
a very decided opinion as to what
course ought to be pursued, but we
have refrained from urging it because
in our Judgment the time had not ar
rived to precipitate the discussion.
We have, however, reprinted from
time to time pertinent remarks of
leading populists upon the subject
with view of keeping our readers in
touch with the current thought of
our party concerning this question.
The one-sidednesS of the discussion
has created general impression
among the republicans and democrats,
that the pOpulistS are really discour-
aged and seriously thinking of giving
up their organization. For that rea-
son we believe the time has come for
every populiSt to speak out his views
concerning what the future action of
the party should be.
The HERALD is very strongly in
favor of maintaining the peoples par
ty organization, for the following rea-
sons:
First. The public ownership idea,
leading tenet of our faith, has not
been taken up by tie democratic party
as whole.
Second. Organism may possibly not
control the next democratic national
convention, in which case the popu-
lists of Kansas would be left without
a party should they abandon their or
ganization.
Third. The peoples party is the
golden mean between the extreme
radicalism of the socialist and the ex-
IRENE conservatism of the democrat,
and for that reason all of the reform
elements could best unite upon its
platform to stay the blight of repub-
licaniSm.
Fourth. The rank and file of the
democrats and the socialists are not
far apart in their convictions. 1t is
only their Headers" who differ SO
widely.
We should like to hear the matter
fully discussed by the populists of the
county and for that purpose the col
umns of the HERALD are open to any
and all populists who are interested,