The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-12-05
ConQ11uoner Comment.
Extracts From W. J. Bryan's Paper.


The Future of Fusion in Nebraska.
In response to request for al express
sion of his views on the political situa-
ton in Nebraska. Senator Allen writes
an open letter. The senator says:
l have always denied and now deny
that there is fusion between the demo-
Gratis populists in Nebraska. There
has been cooperation for some years
between the two parties and probably
this will continue for another year,
but there has never been fusion.
There is not the slightest probable
.ty of a disorganization or disruption
Of the populist party. 1t is as we'll
solicited and as completely organ
lLcd as the democratic or republican
party, and, no doubt, it will continue
SO i'll the future. If the democratic
party should return to Clevelandism,
there will be three tickets in the field
in 1904, for no populist will accept Mr..
Cleveland, or anyone holding his polit-
ical views, as a candidate for the presi-
dency
Look for much larger populist
vote in Nebraska next fall than we
nave had for some years. | think the
tate election signifies nothing so far as
it may be reclloned as basis for fu-
ture calculations. The populst vote
is IN the country; it is ditiicnlt to get
out; the republican vote is in the cities
and towns and of easy access to the
polls; it was all out this year The
weather on election day was adverse to
polling large opposition VOTE Many
populsts unfortunately are of the opin-
ION that the opposition being the ma
iority, it is not necessary for them to
go to the polls; they seem to think I.
battle can be fought and won by stay
ing away from the field of action.
They will recover from this and see
the necessity of casting their ballots.
Doubtless damage has been done by
the persistent attemps of some demo-
Grass to disorganize and destroy the
populist party and absorb it's member
ship. This has been taken by some
populists to mean that there is a pos
slbility of dismantliug the organjza-
tlon and turning it over to the demo-
Gratis. In this, however, they are mis-
taken. The democratic and popuiist
parties do not agree on many essential
points of political faith.
The democrats believe that it is
strictly essential to redeem govern
ment paper money in some kind of coin
to give it force and value, while popu-
lists believe as a rule that Il govern
ment note based upon the taxing power
OF the nation and strictly limited In
quantity is as valuable as medium
OF exchange as gold or silver witho ut
any specific provision for its redemp-
ton in coin. Populists believe in gov
eminent ownership of railways, tele-
graphs, telephones, in the establish
ment of postal savings banks. in the
initiative and referendum and in the
naturalization of all natural monopo-
hes. Democrats believe in none of
these.
And thus it will be observed without
gong furthur into details that there
is a well defined line of demarcation be-
tween tie two parties. which will not
permit them to be brought together.
The teachings of the populist party
nave done much to enlighten the pub
llc on political questions. An enlight-
snment which the democratic party
could not or wouldnot have produced
in the same time. These differences
must OF necessity keep the two parties
separate, while locally they may oper
ate along certain agreed lines. The
faith OF the populist is too clear and
strong and too well founded to permit
him to be absorbed by any other or
ganization. The populist party will
continue to live and grow stronger
year by year. Very truly yours,
WILLIAM V. ALLEN.