The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1901-01-03
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
IS WHERE THE GENUINE, SIMON
PURE POPULIsTS PRO-
POSE TO STAY. ........ ...

Not to Fuse. With Anybody Was the
Decision Reached at the Close Of
the National Committee Meeting
at st. Louis.
81. LOUIS, Dec. 29.-Members of tho
Middle-of-the-Road Populist national
committee and other leaders in various
reform movements debated all of today
at the st. James hotel over the advisable
1ty OF forming combination with the
Social Democrats and the Union Reform
parties
The tenor of the speeches made by the
committeeman were practically unani-
nous in opposition to the plan and liz
favor of carrying on the work of the
Populist party strictly along it's own
lines. 1t was decided to issue an ad-
dress setting forth. in detail the views of
the committee.
About 80 members of the national
committee were present in person or re-
presented by proxy. Neither Wharton
Barker nor Ignatius Donnelly was pres
ent; the latter's absence was caused by
illness.
Mr.. Barker, in calling the gathering to
order made short address in the course
of which he said that the conference was
called for the purpose of considering the
future policy of the Middle-of the Road
ers, who stand for no compromise. He
believed in enforcement from both the
old parties and declared that the fight
should be carried forward without any
compromise. Mr. Barker said he had is
sued the call to representatives of all
branches Of the Populist party, but that
the fusionists had ignored it entirely.
The time was ripe, he said, for a great
political battle and he desired to ask
the representatives of other reform
movements to stand with the Middle-of-
the-Roaders
Prof. George D. Heron, of Grinnell.
Iowa, who had been invited to be pres
emf. then spoke as the representative Of
Socialism. He declared that the real
issue in this country sis clear cut con-
f1fct between industrial democracy and
capitalism, for the old political absolu-
ton brought down to date" The onlv
way to obtain liberty, he declared. is
through industrial democracy.
Representatives of a number of the
different reform movements were listen
ed to today in the presentation of what,
In their opinion, was necessary to bring
about the reforms needed. A recess was
taken until 2 p. M, when the discus
sion was resumed by the Populists.
l.. A. Weller, of Iowa, declared that
the Populist party has always been load
ed with too much platform. He was
opposed to the coalition with other re-
formers. He said that he had assisted
in organizing the Greenback party and
he had seen 1t assassinated in the house
of friends. He declared that the labor
party and other reform movements have
been killed in the same manner and ne
did not favor going to them
Joseph Hopp, of Chicago, took I'D the
point made by Prof Heron, of Iowa,
that the Populists occupied a strategetic
position, and for that reason he was in
favor of continuing the work. He drew
comfort from the results of the last cleo
tion, and said that the farmers are not
yet ready to take up Socialism.
Thomas Wadsworth, of Indiana, de-
clared that he is in favor of anything
that would benefit the people Mr.. Bod
enheimer, of Georgia, declared that he is
III favor of keeping up the fight along
strict party lines. G.. A. Wise of Wis
consin, was of the same opinion. The
majority of the speakers favored a con-
tinued struggle for the principles Of
Populism, and an address to this effect
was prepared before adjournment.
At the night session Chairman Parker
introduced resolution which affected
several changes in the platform of the
party as adopted at Omaha to be SUBJ
mitted to a referendum vote. After
considerable debate it was agreed to.
The resolution provided for a change in
the party name from "The PEOPLES Par
ty'' to THE Populist Party" The sec
ond plank of the Cincinnati platform is
changed to read:
I'VE demand the public ownership of
such means of production and distribu-
ton as the people will from time to time
elect"
The third proposition is to change
plank seven by dropping off the last
three words: "Of public utility" The
fourth declares the party is opposed to
physical revolution and confiscation Of
property 1t declares that the funda-
mental doctrine of the party is the prin-
ciple enunciated at Omaha in 1892, that
the wealth belongs to him who makes
it and that every dollar taken from labor
without an equivalent is robbery. and
the party is pledged to such legislation
as to destroy the system which makes
if nOSSih1e for one man tO live On the