Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-01-09
WILLIAM J. BRYAN
ADVISES THE UNION OF ALL RE.
FORM FORCES.
The Recent Letter Of Senator heitfeld is the
Cause Of Some Good Advice From Mr..
Bryan. Unite Until the Reforms are At.
tanned Upon Which There is Already a
Union.

Bryan's Commoner recently made the
following comment on the letter
written by Senator Heitfeld Of Idaho to
the chairman of the populist committee
of his state, giving his reasons for becom-
ing member OF the democratic party.
During the last two campaigns the popu-
lists and the democrats have co-operated
in the attempt to secure certain reforms
which both parties advocated The first
defeat was due to a coercion such as was
never before practiced upon American
voters. The second defeat, as Senator
Heitfeld explains, was largely due to the
fact that the times were better, which
fact caused great many voters to give
apparent Endorsement to republican poll.
cies rather than risk the effect OF what
they considered possible change in in
dustrial conditions. The issues which
brought the reform parties together have
not been settled and are not likely to be
settled by the republican party. That
the only question is whether it shall be
cooperation between organizations or CO.
operations between individuals under
one organization. This is a question
which must be determined largely by
local conditions. If the populists were to
join the democratic party they would
strengthen the reform element in that
party and assist in preventing the repu-
diation of the principles of the Kansas
City platform. On the other han' where
the populist party is strong as compared
with the democratic party it may be
wiser to cooperate than to attempt the
amalgamation OF the parties.
For ten years have advocated coop
Grafton between the democrats and the
populists because while their platforms
are not indentical on all questions, they
are practically so upon the questions i'm
mediately before us. The two questions
about which democrats and populis:s
differ are, first. the redeemability of the
greenbacks, and, second, the govern
ment ownership of railroads. AS to the
first it may be said that the question of
redeemability is Of much less import
ance than the questions OF the govern
ment's right and duty to issue all the
paper money used. The democrats be
lieve in government paper as against ma
tional bank paper, and it would be the
height of folly for one who believes in
government paper, but favors an ir-
redeemable currency, to give direct or in
direct aid to the republicans in their
effort to retire greenbacks and substitute
national bank notes.
1t will require the united aid OF demo
Gratis and populsts to save tie greenback
as it now is when it is saved from an.
Inhalation and the right OF the govern.
ment to issue and control the paper OF
the country is firmly established, it will
be time enough for democrats and popu-
lists to fight out their difference on the
question of redeemabiity. Il am aware
that some popuists object to the WORD
''irredeemable, but use it because it il
the word usually employed and bes
understood.)
AS to the second question, it must be
remembered that the government regula
ton and control of railroads is more
easily secured than government owner
ship. If the voters are not willing tc
compel railroads to deal justly with their
patrons, they are not likely to enter upor
so great an undertaking as the govern
ment ownership and operation of the
railroads. At present there is so much
indifference upon the railroad que stior
that the republican patty is able to fiji
the United States senate with railroad
attorneys without protest from the rank
aud file of the party. The recent CONSOLE
dations may make the people study the
question,
But just now there is an issue OF great
err importance than either the money
question or the railroad question. The
question OF imperialism strikes at the
very foundation of our government, and
no one who fully appreciates the enor
nous and farreaching change which i'm,
perialism will effect in our institutions
and our ideals will oppose cooperation
because OF interest in less important
issues.
Whether one can serve his counti Y
best in the democratic party or in the
populist party is question which each
must decide for himself, but whether
those who oppose an imperial policy
trust domination and the control of oul
finance by financiers, should unite
against the common enemy until the
country is saved from the danger which
now threaten it is hardly an open ques
ton.