The independent., 1902-11-20
HARRIS, HEITFELD, PATTERSON

counted, and it now proceeds to say
it.
No organization was ever so betrayed
by its leaders as the peoples party has
been, and only the undying love of
liberty and devotion to principle of
the rank and file has preserved it
from disintegration. Loucks, the
chairman of the Omaha convention,
who was the loudest of all in his de-
nunciation of republican policies,
turned traitor and went back to the
republican party. Senator PETER, who
was chosen senator from Kansas be-
cause he had established one of the
first populist newspapers and fought
the corruption of the old parties in
Kansas, deserted and joined the ranks
of the men whom he had declared
were simply the minions of plutocracy
and greed. Senator Kyle from South
D1hoId ulu llhcWlSc. otudIOI All0E
was defeated, but remains a populist.
That left the populist party with three
United States senators, Harris of Kan
sas, Heitfeld Of Idaho and Patterson
of Colorado. These three did not de-
sert their principles as had the 9th.
ers, but did what was almost as bad
they forsook their party and asked ad
mission to the democratic caucus of
the senate. The Independent does not
attack their motives They, without
doubt, believed that that was the wis
est course in the interests of their
constituents and for the furtherance OF
the principles which they were elected
to advocate. The Independent believes
that the action thus taken by them was
exceedingly unwise and foreboded
nothing but defeat When the three
or four populist senators were accus-
toned to hold their party caucus in the
elevator, as the reporters were in the
habit of saying, they were an influ-
ence that lad to be reckoned with in
the senate. When they went over
bag and baggage, into the democratic
party, instead of having more infiu-
ence on legislation, they had less. Then
the act took the enthusiasm out of
the populists in their states and has
resulted just as The Independent has
always held that it would-each of
the states represented by these gen.
tlemen has been captured by the re-
publicans.
There was no necessity for this act.
The populist party was supporting
Bryan and the Kansas City platform
with enthusiasm. They advocated ev-
erything that was in that platform
mental reservation or evasion.
They believed that they had led the
democratic party up to it and were
confident that they could lead it on
until in the democratic platform, as
in the populist platform, would be
found a demand for the government
ownership of railroads, telegraphs and
utilities. But the populists
were determined to hold their organi-
zation until that time came. They felt
that if they abandoned their Organiza-
ton, the democratic party would make
no more advances. They feared that
the tendencies to reaction, backed as
they were by millions Of dollars,
might in the end prevail, and men just
as plutocratic as those in control of
he republican party get control of
he democratic party and in that case
hey did not wish to be left without
IN organization. They knew how
much of time, money and toll it had
cost to get an organization that could
De relied upon to fight trusts, banks of
ssue and railroad domination of state
legislatures and congress.
That the going over into the demo- |