The representative., 1901-11-21
A REUNION.


West. It is not necessary to continue to
discuss whether the endorsement of
Bryan was the best thing to do. That is
matter that is in the past. 1t is the
future we must look to.
We believe that today the sentiment
among Populists everywhere is for in
ticket is concerned.
This much can certainly now be
agreed upon.
A strong reform sentiment is building
up in the great cities. Organized labor
in the cities is becoming alive to the fact
that their labor unions are no longer
powerful enough to cope with the united
capitalists and that they must look to
the ballot for protection.
The Peoples party should be ready
to take advantage of this awakening of
the oppressed and the friends of the
oppressed in the cities. But a divided
party canont do it, at least not so we'll
as united party.
There has been no disagreement
among Populists on principles. On prin-
ciples we are as united today as we
ever were. Our division has been upon
the question of policy.
All the time that the organization has
been growing weaker and weaker by rea-
son of division as to policy, our. prin-
ciples have grown stronger and stronger
with the people. Four times the million
votes for our ticket in o2 are ready to
vote our ticket whenever we become
united and hold out a reasonable hope
for national success.
What say you Populists of the West !?
Are you ready to reunite with your
brothers of the South?
The reformers of the East and North
are waiting for the united action of the
two Populist strongholds the South and
the West. To say nothing of the new
sentiment in the great cities, there is a
strong reform sentiment in the East and
North. Minnesota, Michigan and Maine
have been nearly as strong for reform as
the West and South. The reform move
ment is not sectional, it is national. But
much depends on the united action of
the West and South.
We have given the subject OF what is
the best thing next to do for the ad-
vancement of the cause of the people
our best thought, and our judgment is
there should be immediate unity of ac-
ton of the two Populist organizations.
Order should be brought out of confu-
sion. A new national committee should
be chosen to take the place of the two
conflicting national committees, or the
two committees should be consolidated
and act as one committee.
This can be done within a few weeks.
The reunited Peoples party can guide
and direct the great reform sentiment
that exists among the people.
The West can be reclaimed from the
Republicans next year and the South
wrested from the Democracy by 1904.
With Labor with us in the great cities,
sweeping national victory may be OBJ
tanned
This is no idle dream. Did not the
reform vote of '88 grow to six times it's
number in 1902?
| Old party ties are not half as strong
as they were in ga, when one million
three hundred thousand men voted the
Populst ticket. 1t has been seven years
since then and all this time people have
become converted to the doctrines of the
Omaha platform.-Paul Dixon in Mo.
World.
Paul DIXON is a Populist in whom
all Populists repose great confidence
This is certainly stirring appeal for a
reunion of the two wings of the old
time Populist Party. 1t will find the
hearty endorsement of all Populists. All
alike realize the necessity of some kind
of reunion. 1t is plain that reformers
must act together as unit and vote one
National ticket or meet defeat indefi-
nitely. In 1892 the builders of the
Omaha platform declared both old par
ties corrupt and recognized no man as a
reformer who was not Populist. To-
day the situation is somewhat changed.
The declaration concerning the two
old parties is still true, both are now
more corrupt than in 1892. Corruption
has grown as wealth has been concen-
trated in fewer hands. There is greater
need today of an aggressive virile re-
form party than there was in 1892.
Populists are compelled to face two
somewhat new propositions. Fusion to
great extent destroyed public conf
dence in the Populist Party. Fusion ar
rested growth of the party because new
would-be recruits were uncertain
whether they were joining the Populists
or Democrats when they joined the fu-
sion movement This uncertainty still
exists and many of US believe it can
never be overcome. Thousands of
Northern Populists went back to the
Republicans rather than be forced into
the Democratic ranks.
On the other hand, the radicals, the
mid-roaders, realizing their loss in num-
bers to fusion and to Republicanism
have many of them joined the Socialists.
For over FIVE years this patriotic little
band Kept the fires of Populism burn
ing and kept open house for the desired
return of the fusionists. Few, how
ever, have ever come back. Most of
them are today Bryan worshipers and
Bryan's slogan still is, Il am a Demo-
crat."
This waiting for the return of the
prodigals has become tiresome and with