The independent., 1903-05-21

We have gained back more prestige
and power in this campaign than W.
lost in all the dreary years Of fusion
with the democrats. We elected mere
of our ticket than any other party.
We elected our nominees for treas
urer, attorney, comptroller, tax CON-
missioner and five out Of nine COun-
cilmen by majorities ranging as high
as $500 votes. We failed TO elect our
candidate for mayor and city clerk.
The populist candidate for building
inspector was not indOrsed by any Or
gauization or any party except ou"
OWN. He received 1,261 votes. tbs
indicates our strength, and it alE0
indicates that we are about as strong
in Omaha as We were ten years ago.
low did this body of less than 1,30O
voters prove so effective? By the
adOption of the nOn-partisan idea pro-
mulgated by Golden Rule Jones. We
determined to nominate the best men
chosen by any organization and to
throw our vote TO them. We Inquired
that We would hold the balance Of
power. and in the main We did. Ever
man elected by our cooperation IS
strong, honest and capable. In the
list is a gold democrat, a populist. ,
silver republican, a silver democrat
and republican. of the antimachine
brand. The municipal league RECON-
mended our ticket where it recon-
mended at all. Our candidate fG"
mayor, Z. A. Benson, received 5,llI
votes in a three-cOrnered fight. He
had 500 votes more than Ed Howell
the democratic candidate. This will
entitle us to second place on the tick
ct hereafter, and leave the democrats
TO fight it out with the socialists tol
tail-end position.
This was a fight for decency agains.
vice and graft. The community hOl.-
ors our party for its stand in the in
terest of better civic government
More: having demonstrated our pow
er. our democratic friends are mighty
willing to get back into bed with us
Lately they have not given US pleas
ant look. much less sharing with -
the fruits of victory. Today we can
have what We want to take in tha
way Of nominations. But will We dc
this? | think We have found a bet
ter way A minority rarity is more
powerful and useful engine when t
makes no entangling alliances am
when it selects only such nominees
as are worthy. irrespective Of thtlt
politics. By the use of the power
thus held. a small minority party is
able to secure good municipal govern
ment This is what We have done
and this is why We rejoice and why
We declare that we are not dead and
not going to be dead, Our party has
always had a mission, tO-wit: to SP-
cure good government by clean men
and to educate the people upon eco
nOmic questions. The peoples party
could not die if it wanted to. This
talk about our being dead makes me
ineffably tired. 1t is as it was with
Peter, when Jesus asked the disciples
if they, too, were going to desert him.
Lord to whom shall we GO? Thou
hast the words of eternal life"
How about this for a state policy?
Judge Sullivan has been able and
honest. We ought to meet and nom
mate him for this and no other rea
son. Politics should not be corsid-
cred, and fusion under that name is
entirely unnecessary. If we do that
and pay no attention tc the time and
place Of the democratic convention
and give it ont that in the future VIC
shall DO business as an independent
organization without the aid or con-
sent OF Any ether party aloHg tho
lines indicated in this letter, | be
lieve that the vote this autumn Will
show that the party is practically in
tact, and as strong as it ever was.
There is nothing in the situation ra-
tionally, that indicates that our mis-
sion has been fulfilled. On the CON
'rary, next year will be the year ~
the greatest usefulness and power tha.
tho peoples party has ever enjoyed.
But that is another story about which
wan; to say something in your cd
tlon pf June II, as per your invita-
ton TO the members Of the national
committee El.MER E. THOMAS
npaho N,L