Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-02-26
THE POPULIST CONFERENCE.
The Party Organization Maintained and
the Usual Union with the Demo.
Gratis Assured.

The Peoples Party conference which
met at Topeka last Friday was a large
gathering of representative, Kansans
and the dilemma confronting the politi-
cal rarties opposing republicanism, by
reason of the late DISTINGUISHING act,
was thoroughly discussed. While there
was wide difference i'm opinion al
to the best method of effecting a union
IL the approaching campaign, the con-
yention was agreed on the proposition
that the republican law prohibiting the
appearance of a candidates name on
more than one ticket is the most inlqui.
tOus infringement on the rights of the
people guaranteed them by the consti-
tuition that ever found Its way on the
statute books.
The next thing which was settled
definitely Was that the Peoples Party
organization must be maintained and
the state committee was instructed to
call convention to nominate a state
ticket. The sentiment for solid un-
ION in opposition to the republican par.
ty was very strong and pronounced but
there was wide difference as to meth
DDS. There were a few who favored
abandoning the organization and TAX
ing membership in the democratic
party. Some favored nominating by
petition under an independent head,
but ii was said that the democratic
party had definitely decided not TO adopt
such plan. A small minority favored
straight middle-o of the road ticket.
The plan, however, which had the most
support was the one first suggested by
Hon. Webb McNaf. He favored max
ing test case of the constllutiOnality
of the anti fusion law, and suggested
that it could be very easily accomplish
ed by each party's meeting in their re-
spective conventions and agreeing on
and nominating the same ticket, as
they have done before the disfranchis.
ing act was passed, present the certifi-
| Gates to the secretary of state, let him
refuse to file them and then institute
mandamus proceedings i'm the supreme
court. This would put the whole mat
ter up to the supreme court and it
would then be for the judges them
selves, who would be candidates for
election, to either decide in favor of
justice and right or rob one of the two
parties of their political rights. In
this event there would be sold union.
The most rabid middle-of-the-roader
if the republican court would strike hts
ticket from the ballot, would vote auy
ticket to defeat party which employs
such methods. And the most radical
name loving democrat would vote q
Peoples party ticket under such circum-
stances.
We candidly believe that this meth
| cd will be adopted. Since the Iepubli.
! can politicians of the state have at
tempted to disfranchise one of the mi
nority parties, the Populists andDemo.
Gratis should make them go one step
farther and compel them to say which
party shall be robbed of Its place on
the ballot. That being done, we can
| all go before the people of Kansas ap-
pealing for justice and purity in elec-
tiOns aud our prayers will be heard. It
Is seldom that right prevails among
an organized gang of public plunderers,
| but when you get down to the people
Who pay the taxes and do the voting
| and the Issue is honestly presented and
we'll understood. the political tyrant IL
overwhelmed, party lines are forgotten
and virtue is once more enthroned.