Hutchinson gazette., 1902-01-23

government issuance OF money unu
government ownership of railways as
we are, hence there Is neither incon-
sIsency nor lmproprlety in belonging
to the same political organization,
The weightiest reason for merging
into democracy lies In the fact that
populist issues are national In scope
and application, they need national
macVlnery through which to operate
Events are now shaping (notahly the
conflict of the people Of the northwest
ern states with the consolidating rail-
way corporations) which In the near
future will compel n national party
TO take an unequlvocal position and
fight the battle for the people as a.
galnst the corporate powers. This
position the national republican
party can not take because 1t in-
cludes In its dominating membership
men who desire the corporation side
to win. The national democratic
party can, and will, unequlvocally and
aggressively espouse the peoples side
unless its next national convention
shall be recaptured by the men who
dominated 1t before Organism"
came to the front Right here Is the
great srevce which Kansas populists
might render TO practical politics;
they might, by uniting with Kansas
democrats, form so consequential and
forceful n delegation to the national
convention as to aid greatly in hold
ing that body to the new democracy
and prevent Mcssrs Hill, Cleveland,
ct al, from walking Off with the sit
uatlon. For should Kansas show
her faith in the new deocracy like
action would follow in other states
and rcfOrmcrs everywhere would take
heart and enthuse with the effort to
use the great national party machine
already constructed, for genuine re-
form and progressive politics.
The controlling froce In the demo-
cratic party today Is that which
stands for the people versus corpora
tions. Does 1t seem quite fair to
stand coldly aloof and say to the men
who are making the hght-our fight
of you are strong enough to whip
the enemy in your own ranks, we will
be with you after your victory Is
won.
As the case now stands the demo-
cratic national machine Is set to our
own issues and our own purposes.
There would be incalculable gain,
both in time and labor by making
use Of an organization already COM
plete in all It's parts. But suppse
that, despite all efforts, retrogresslve
democrats win out at the national
convention, what Of it, the popu-
lists who went in to help hold the
fort would bolt, so also would Kanas
democmts-some of them.
Let us suppose that "Braynism" is
turned down at the national conyen-
tlon, 1t would surely be better to
have very decided and considera-
bic split and breakup of the demo-
cratic party than to have q few strag-
glers step out, A large percentage
of the bolters--Say 0ne-third of the
would be most encouraging
contingent to transact business with
the republican element, who will get
away from that party in 1904.
1t is by no means impossible, not
even improbable, that democracy,
reinforced by the nnorganized but
numerous populists in every state In
the union may win the next national
election. There Is also plenty Of
time for many republican protestants
against unhindered trust operations
to declare themselves untrammeled by
party name and party tradition and
flock to the support of the party
that is genuine in the contest. There
will be many more republicans Of the
type of Charles A. TOwne who will
trample prejudice under foot and go
wherever there Is a square chance Of
winning in the race for good govern
ment.
Let us then debate deliberately,
argue calmly and aferward say we will
be content to educate Without expec-
tation Of success at the polls or we
will go, in such force of numbers as
to create enthusiasm, in the demo-
cratic primaries and into the demo-
ic.convention mot to capture but
to co-operate) and we will take hold
of politics with the vigor and the de-
termination that wins victories.
|. This is the first year for two or