The independent., 1902-12-18

practicability and advisability Of gov
ernment- ownership Of certain indus
tries.
We demanded government owner
ship of railroads and coal mines. The
brains of the country have conceded
the one as the best repressive measure
as to trusts, and the best means OF
protection to the people against the
tyranny of corporate power-while as
to the other Hill of New York with
his hand upon the public pulse fijched
that plank from the forefront of the
populist platform to make it win
ming measure in the democratic plat
form of that great state. Had the
mercury fallen on the first of NOvem-
Der last to the freezing point it would
have won. The Post of Cincinnati dur
ing the late anthracite coal strike said,
This struggle is making whole regi-
ments of populists."
In brief, the whole trend Of public
sentiment, not only as to municipali-
ties, but also as to the nation at large,
is toward public ownership of public
utilities the separation Of
the state and the individual and which
is the hearts core of populist doc
trine.
In view of these conditions very
briefly stated there is great encour-
agement to the pOpulists to organize
and take the field.
HOW TO DO IT.
First, we must bring about COM
plete harmony at home. We cannot
send out any invitations to strangers
until we have set our own house in or
der. To this end we must hold an ex-
perience meeting with love feast in
view-must forget all the mean things,
whether true or not, we have said
about each other, and throw them be-
hind our backs-muSt proclaim a gen.
eral amnesty and invite the vilest
sinner to return. Each must meet the
other in the spirit of largest conces-
sion, and everything be done to revive
the spirit of 1892 when nearly two
for General Weaver
Having put ourselves in this frame
of mind and spirit the work of organi-
zation, in my opinion, should be in
itiated by joint call, signed by the
chairman of the national executive
committees of the two factions of our
party, for meeting not only Of the
committees, but of populists general
ly who are willing to help by thought
or act in the organization of the par
ty and further let it be indicated
by this call that representatives of Ia
Dor organizations, Bryan democrats,
so-called socialists and others who
wish to cooperate with the pOpulists
in this movement will not be excluded.
At this meeting a plan of organi-
zation, full, thorough, and complete,
should be outlined, determined upon
and carried into effect as far as pos
sible. In addition to this the policy
and purpose of the party should be
! determined as far as is in the power
of such a meeting and this policy
and purpose should be made known
and recommended by strong address
to all pCpulists and members of other
organizations who may or are likely
| to cooperate with us.
Now if this letter is not already too
| long, | want to make a few suggestions
both as to the organization and pol
| icy Of the party.
First, as of prime Importance a pop
ulist paper should be put in the hands
Of as many voters as possible of all
parties. If in no other way a fund
should be created by some means and
this distributed among leading pOpulist
papers to be expended sending pa
pers to lists of voters. the names and
addresses of whom must be supplied
by the various subcommittee in ev-
cry state. The press is the greatest of
all agencies for making votes.
Secondly as to policy, let it be plain
ly indicated that pOpulists have given
up all hope of accomplishing any last
ing reform through cooperation or fu-
sion with either of the old parties on a
national ticket. 1t is evident that
the drift of the democratic leaders of
the south is toward an alliance with
the democrats Of the northeastern and
central states, which will result in the
nomination for president of Cleveland
yes, even Cleveland. or some one
representing him. as Olney. This
would give the pOpulists the OppOrtun-
| ity to declare again for a union of the