The independent., 1903-05-28
PoYATER's VIEW
FORMER Populist Governor Of Nebraska
Writes on the Question Of What the
Peoples Party shnii DO


Writes ON the Question of What the
Peoples Party Shnii 10
Editor Independent: The question of
independent action is the most i'm
portant one now confronting the pop
ulist party. 1t has been very clearly
demonstrated that the democratic par
ty with which populists have been
acting for some time) on account OF
its hopelessly divided condition, II for
no other reason, does not possess the
power to meet the great questions OF
the hour. A large wing of that party
is as fully under the control of the
trusts as ever the republican party has
been, or is now. An additional num-
Der of democrats, which we have good
reason to believe is large are weary
of what they call defeat, and will
welcome any change which brings
with it the hope of democratic Office
holding.
The effort at reform which Mr.. Bry-
an and his followers SO gallantly
made, has aided one more proof to
the truth that no party was ever re-
formed from within, or in other words
reformed ITSELF History is full of
such futile efforts. Reforms have
been made, but they have been made
not within, but without the party
Populists entertained strong hope that
by alliance with reformers in the
democratic party the coalition would
be stronger than independent action
and thereby the purposes for which
the populist party was organized
would the sooner be accomplished.
But time has shown it's impractieabil-
ity.
indications now point to the success
of what is known as the reorganiza
tion of the democratic party. This
means in plain language the depos-
ing of Mr.. Bryan and his reform ideas
and the adoption of the leadership of
Mr.. Cleveland, 'sound money" and
tariff REFORM" With such democracy
the populist party can have neither
fellowship nor sympathy. A wide op
portunity was afforded us for the
our coalition with the democrats, but
with reorganization an accomplished
fact that opportunity no longer exists.
The time is now ripe to regather
our forces and line them up upon the
principles of the Omaha platform for
the fray of 1904. Whatever disintegra-
ton has happened to our ranks has
been caused by our union with the
democratic party. Independent action
will in large measure recover these
scattered forces. Our trinity of prin-
ciples enunciated in the Omaha plat
form, which was received with such
derision by the great eastern press
today commands the respectful con-
sideration. of thoughtful men every.
where. The adoption of these prin-
ciples in government is the only solu-
tion of the great questions before tn :
people now. Strikes, lockouts, and the
numerous ills which are today running
labor, vexing business interests and
robbing consumers, are but symptoms
of the diseased condition of our bod =
polite. Arbitration is now the great
soporific, which, while quieting to the
patient for the time, does nothing to
eradicate the disease Conditions re-
naming, the paroxyms are sure to re-
turn.
Populists have made the correct
diagnosis, and present the remedies
for radical cure. 1t is folly to talk of
legislating against trusts while the
great mother of them all, the money
monopoly, fiourishes under congress
sional protection; and the transporta-
tion monopoly builds up or wrecks
fortunes for individuals or communi-
ties at it's own will. The advice OF
Greeley 'go west, young man." nc
longer affords solution to the land
question, now already assuming vasi
importance especially in the eastern
states, because the arabic homestead
lands are exhausted.
Government must again resume its
functions, too long farmed out to cor
porations, and issue all money without
the Intervention of banks of issue
Government must own and operate
the transportation of the country in
the interests of all the people. VIII,
these two powers taken from the
hands of monopoly, the trust question
will very soon adjust itself. More
people today than ever before believe
in the doctrines of the populist party
If the larger portion of the principles