Hutchinson gazette., 1902-01-16
HEITFELD'S POSITION.
w. l. BRYAN DISCUSSES HIS RE-
TURN TO DEMOCRACY.


lho AEohleht hoIofo tiie Ieoplc'
Senator Heltfeld OF Idaho has writ
| ten a letter to the chairman Of the
Popullst committee of his state, giving
his reasons for becoming member OF
the Democratic party During the last
two campaigns the Popullsts and the
Democrats have co-operated In the at
tempt to secure certain reforms which
both parties advocated. The first de-
feat was due 10 coercion such az was
never before practiced upon American
voters, The second defeat, as Senator
lIeitfeld explains, was largely due TO
the fact that times were better which
fact caused a great many voters TO
give apparent Endorsement TO Repub-
lican policies rather than risk the eff
feet of what they considered possible
change In Industrial conditions. The
Issues which brought the reform par
ties together have not been settled and
are not likely TO be settled by the Re-
publican party. That cooperation must
continue Is certain: the only question
Is whether II shall be cooperation be-
tween organizations or cooperation
between individuals under one organ
l2aton, This Is question which must
be determined largely by local condi-
tlons, II the Populists were TO Join
the Democratic party they would
strengthen the reform element In that
party and assist IN preventing the re-
pudlation Of the principles OF the Kan
s0s City platform, On the other hand,
whore the Popuist party Is strong as
compared with the Democratic party 1t
may be wiser to cooperate than to at
tempt the amnlgnmatlon Of the parties,
For ten years ! have advocated CO.
operation between the Democrats and
the Popullsts because, while their plat
forms are not identical on all Ques-
tions, they are practically so upon the
questions Immediately before us. The
two questions about which Democrats
and Popullsts differ are, first, the re-
deemabllity Of the greenbacks, and,
second, the government ownership of
railroads, As to the first II may be
said that the question OF redeemability
Is OF much less importance than the
question OF the governments right and
duty to issue all the paper money used.
The Democrats believe in government
paper as against national bank paper,
and II would be the height OF folly for
one who believes in government paper,
but fayors an irredeemable currency,
to give direct or indirect aid to the Re-
publcans In their effort to retire green
backs and substitute national bank
notes.
1t will require the united aid of
Democrats and Populists to save the
greenback as II now Is; when 1t Is
saved from annihilatIon and the right
Of the government to issue and control
the paper of the country is firmly es-
tablished, it will be time enough for
Democrats and Populists to fight out
their differences on the question Of re-
deemabillty, Il am aware that some
Populists object to the word "irredeem-
able" but use 1t because 1t Is the
word usually employed and best under
stood)
AS to the second question, 1t must |
be remembered that the government |
regulation and control Of railroads is
more easily secured than government
ownership. II the voters are not will
ing to compel railroads to deal justly |
with their patrons, they are not likely |
to enter upon so great an undertaking |
as the government ownership and |
operation OF the railroads. At present |
there Is so much indifference upon the
railroad question that the Republican |
party is able to fill the United States
senate with railroad attorneys without
protest from the rank and file Of the
party The recent consultations may
make the people study the question,
But just now there is an issue of
greater Importance than either the
money question or the railroad ques-
tlon. The question of imperialism
strikes at the very foundation of our
government, and no one who fully ap-
precates the enormous and far-reach-
ing change which Imperialism will ef
feet in our institutions and our ideals
will oppose cooperation because Of in
terest in less important issues.
Whether one can serve his country
best in the Democratic party or in the
Populist party is a question which each
must decide for himself. but whether
those who oppose an imperial policy, |
trust domination and the control of |
our finances by hnanciers, should unite
against the common enemy until the
country is saved from the dangers
which now threaten 1t Is hardly an
open questionable Commoner,
In ninaiIce VIII Not Down,