Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-05
HEITFELD A DEMOCRAT
Idaho Senator Gives Reasons
for Joining the Demo-
cratic Party.


cratic Party.
Hon. Henry Heitfeld has sent
the following letter which explains
itself
Washington, d. c., Nov. %,
1901. Hon. III. d. Andrews,
Chairman Peoples Party State
Committee, Boise, Idaho:-Dear
Sir /: Having concluded, after
most thorough consideration, that
it is both wise and patriotic to an
nounce a change in my political
affiliations ] deem it my duty to
apprise you of this intention and
to give you my reasons for SO
doing.
When the Peoples Party move
ment was started in the early '9O's
/ realized that the chief difference
between the aims and purposes of
the two old parties was in name
more than in principle, and that
there was an actual necessity, ap-
pealing powerfully to patriotism
and good citizenship, for third
party as means Of checking the
growth Of plutocracy and preserv-
ing the spirit Of free government
with which the founders Of the Re-
public imbued our institutions.
1t is useless for me to describe the
growth and enumerate the successes
of the Peoples Party. 1t is suffi-
cient to recall the fact that in 1896
we elected some twenty five men,
bers Of the lower house of Congress,
and that at the extra session OF
1897 the Peoples Party caucus had
q membership of eight. That this
success, encouraging as it was upon
it's face, was brought about only by
alliances with other parties ia
made manifest and significant by a
bare analysis of the vote. 1t is
pertinent in this connection to
point out that this result was at
tanned by an alliance in the North
and West between Populists and
Democrats and in the South be-
tween the Populists and Republic
cans. Beginning with that alli-
ance the factors, sincerely devoted
to the country's highest interests
in the elements which then CO.
operated, have twice fought a battle
under common leadership and have
been welded in fact, If not in name,
into one grand organization.
Now, Mr. chairman, will state nv
reasons for THE, to me, very i'm
portant step. When, in 1896, the
Democratic party met in national
convention a great battle was
fought. The'question was: Shall
the party adhere to it's late policy
of compromise and makeshift dec
larations or shall it once more be-
come the party of Jefferson and
Jackson, bold in it's declarations
and fearless in it's advocacy Of
Equal rights to all and special
privileges to none," whether it wal
to be the party for the classes 0,
for the masses?
We all know the outcome. I'm.
der the leadership of w. J. Bryan
the masses won decided mora
victory. The platform adopted wa
one satisfactory to both the Peo
pies and Silver Republican parties
However, in November Of that yea
the battle was lost at the polls BY
q very narrow margin and the gen
eral opinion was that, as a result
the Democratic party would repu
date its leader and it's declaration
This fear, and it alone, kept tn
organization of the Peoples Part,
alive.
| Next came the campaign of 1900
Contrary to the general belle
Bryan was again named as tn
standard bearer of his party an,
the principles so dear to him an,
his followers were once more mad
the battle cry. The result wa
another defeat at the polls, but no
because the American people lacke'
faith in Bryan or did not believ
the Democratic platform was thu
better, but because, times bein,
comparatively good, they concludes
that for the present it was best I,
"let we'll enough alone.'
/ Every observant man who fol
lowed the last two campaign
closely will concede that the enthu
siasm for the democratic nomine
was something marvellous and tina
his defeat cannot be attributed t,
either lack of faith in him or hi
views.
| Consequently, since both tn,
Democratic and Peoples partie
are now striving to accomplish tn
same purpose, ! am unable to Sc,
why we should keep up separat,
organizations, since by combinin,
forces in name as well as in fact w
can better subserve the interests O
the great principles we advocate.
One other motive has actuatet
me to make this move, namely tn,
desire to be better able to serve m,
state and constituency.
The coming session of Congress,
is universally expected to be of I'M