The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-23
Conditions For Her Acceptance
of the Albaugh Invitation.
Discusses the Probable Disrup-
tion Of Democratic Party.
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.
It Would Dominate the New PO-
liticaI Combination.
Composed of POpulists, Demo
Gratis, Socialist Republicans.

Mrs. Annie Diggs might. if things SO
shaped themselves that they suited her,
accept Mort Albaugh's invitation to
enter the fold OF Republicanism. but it
is not likely that the conditions will
suit her. for Mort is not in the habit of
changing the creed of his political
party.
Mrs. Digs does not get at all excited
when talking over the Albaugh invita-
ton, but it takes her a long time to
get up to the pitch and to make an
answer in any way direct In speak
ing of the present situation and the
position of the Populist party, Mrs.
Diggs said:
The Democratic party at Kansas
City a year ago was swayed by the
capitalistic forces predemina ting with
in the party. That element was against
the nomination of Mr. Bryan. They
gave us the barren victory of the con-
ventiOn with the purpose in view or
sending us to defeat. / did not think
this at the time, but subsequent events
have caused me to fully believe that.
If that be true it will be utterly useless
for US to go into another Democratic
convention and a new candidate and a
new platform be subject to defeat by
the same element.
Now then, the next best thing to
happen would be for the national DEM
ocratic party to become disrupted and
for the split to be SO serious and so
thorough that it would no longer hand
out any promise to the people now in
the Democratic ranks. The split should
be such that those people represented
by George Fred Williams, Mr.. Lentz,
Mr.. Bryan, Mr.. TOWne and Mr.. Altgeld
and others would find their cause ut
terly hopeless, and would therefore
seek the work to be done through other
party instrumentalities. Combine the
Populists of the country with the So
cialistic element of the Dem ocratic
party. and there would be a combina-
ton unentangled that would draw
from the Republican party persons of
like belief.
1.-The essential purposes of such peo-
pie who would go into the party would
be to apply public ownership to public
utilities, such as telephones and rail-
roads and the monetary system Of the
country, making a real public owner
ship of the moneys according to Mr.
Bryan's idea that the right to issue
money lies only with the people. The
great contention as to money is by
whom it shall be issued and controlled
1t is now q system of corporate con-
an entire Social Democrat I believe
eventually all large public enterprises
should be controlled by the public, such
the mining OF coal
''Abra ham Lincoln said the country
could not long endure half slave and
half free L believe the country can
not long remain under half private and
half public ownership The public
health demands. here in Topeka, that
the public be well served with ice, and
the council is trying to regulate the
price Of ice. Unless the public owns
the plant 1T has no right to fix the
price. but the n manufacturing Of ice is a
business not wholly private"
We'll, what do you think Of AL
baugh's invitation2' was asked, as a
means to get back to present political
happenings.
That's a matter that does not inter
est me- The mere partisanShip has no
interest for me. If in the future the
Republican party should seriously I'M
dertaKe to do these things that I be-
lieVe in, then I should certainly be in
tereSted in the Republican party. 1t
would be as impossible and as illogical
for me to accept Mr.. Albaugh's invita-
ton as 1T would be for me to go to
an electric light plant if I wanted a
dress made
''Win you stand by the Populist ticket
at the next electiOn?''
Il don't know which party I will
stand by. but the present outlook is
that the Populist ticket in the field will
be the one that will suit me and the
Populist party will be the one to try
to do what I believe in
who do you believe will be the
nominee of the Populists?''
I believe the Populists will be out
with one of the best tickets as to per-
sonnet and platform that we have ever
had
What do you think of G. b. Hoff-
man for GOVERNOR
IT think that Mr. Hoffman would
make a fine candidate. He is a good
speaker and a thoughtful man. Mr..
w. J. Babb. of Wichita, would be a
good man. He is a leader in the pub
lie ownership idea. Mr. Edmund Tay-
Tor is another good man, who would
make a strong candidate. The men in
the state house now are doing good
work. as good as the Populists could
do it. but 1t is the education of the
people we must look AFTER