Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-07-13
An Invitation to Populists Who Have
No Home TO Return to the Repub-
1icdH Pdrty,

In the Topeka Advocate, the official
organ of the Peoples party of Kan
sas, under date of June %, Mr. John
Curran, secretary of the Peoples par
ty state committee, makes public an
nouncemenU, presumably acting for
the said committee, that on August
/ of this year the Headquarters that
his party has maintained in Topeka
since the close of last years campaign
will be formally closed, and gives, as
his and the committees reason for
such action, the following:
''These and many other signs show
movement of greater or less 5proDor-
tIons toward the Democratic party
The invitation of the Democratic
party to join their ranks is only re-
iteration of many Individual invita-
lions, and there are many who claim
1t Will be generally accepted If the
refusal of the Democratic committee
toladopt the union idea is Endorsed
by the rank and file, there will be
nothing left for those who insist on
working with them but to join the
Democratic party. IL is the
sentiment of "a majority of the PoDG-
lists to join the Democratic party,
then, indeed, have no business here"
The above statement of Mr.. Curran
is generally accepted as IA practical
announcement by the. Peoples party
state committee that the organization
has gone out of business; and it might
be well in this connection to quote
from Mr.. Geo. p. Locke, vice-chafr-
man of the Democratic state central
committee of Kansas, and chairman
OF the organization committee of the
Democratic national committee. Mr..
Locke says:
THE last campaign demonstrated
the fact that Kansas is back in the
Republican column. and back there
TO stay. 1t now has Il majority that
cannot be touched by any anti-conbi-
nation which can be formed When
the Democrats rejected the Populist
union party scheme they did it for
two reasons. One was, that fusion in
any manner will no longer be tolerat-
ed by the Democrats; and the other
was in hope that the Populists would
have enough pride left TO go ahead
ana keep up their separate organiZa-
tions as best they might"
In speaking further of the Demo
cratic invitation to the PopulIsts TO
join the Democrats, Mr.. Locke, says:
In inviting the Populists into the
Democratic tanks We made the dose |
us bitter as possible, for we do not |
want them in. If Kansas is to be a
republican state, which there is not /
the least doubt it will be for wears to !
come, the fewer there are in the Dem
Ocratlc party in case the national par
ty should be successful, the better it
Is Tor those who are in it. We have 4
not given uD hope of a national sue
cess, and then those who remain true
raj 10 fa in
VIII have front seat at the pie coun-
Ter. We are selfish enough not to
want to divide up with any outside
a crisis has been reached with those
who have labored to build up the Peo-
ole's party. The Peoples party state
committee, through its secretary, Mr.
Iurran, practically advises that they
DIN with the Democracy. Yet, the
determined stand taken by many Pop
lists county committees, and indi-
-idual protests heard everywhere. in
opposition to this proposed transfer
o the Democracy, proves conclusively'
hat the rank and file of the organiza-
ion will not acquiesce In this move !
lent.
Conditions, not only in the country ,
I large but particularly in Kansas. :
ave changed very materially since =
he days when this organization was !
bundled with so much enthusiasm and
lch promise of success. The very ,
ict that the state committee repre- ,
enting the Peoples party now prac-
cally decides that the party's exist
nee shall be brought to close is evil
ence within itself strongly tending L
} the conclusions that the conditions =
they exist at present furnish no de- I
lands for the party. The action of 1
he party's committee leaves nothing
n the individual to do but to choose v
'r himself the political road that he e
ould travel in the future. He might L
egin again and from the foundation $
nee more attempt to build up the r
copies party, but it would look like p
n impossible and fruitless task. Not !.
eeming this feasible, it leaves him e
, do, not what Mr.. Curran and the e
opulist committee tell HIM. but that a
hich he himself, after mature DELHI I
ration, believes to be the best for his {
Duntry's welfare and the individual
iosperity of the people of this state
[ he sees in the history, experiences. +
principles and lead h
rship of the Democratic party more N
| promise for the future, it becomes v