The independent., 1903-07-02
IOWA POpULIsTs
View of the Situation and Advises
Neither Hurry nor worry

Neither Hurry nor worry
Editor independents | received
some time since your kind invitation
to write an article for publication in
your esteemed journal, touching the
condition of the peoples party organi-
zal. particularly in this state. But
I was then in the throes of an effort
ir the courts, of more than two years
duration, to regain the possession OF
my peoples party newspaper and job
Lrinting plant from the enemy, and
from the cunning and deyilish devices
which the eLemy thrust me into for
the lurpose of suppressing the publl-
carlon of The Advocate and my print
ing outfit: and thus my time was so
fully--even OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
that found no spare moments to re-
spond 10 your request.
Even now my effort must be brief
The Peoples party In Iowa received
gkastly ound in its very vitals at
st. Louis in the 1896 convention. |
was the Sole delegate in that conven-
tion from this state who stood firm
and unyielding in favor of clean-hand-
cd, straight-ahead work; for a full
ticket of our own people. That con-
yeatlon was, first, straddle and then
split iron end to end.
That split has never healed, but the
Weaver straddle remains.
The masses of the people are honest
and earnest, but there are thousands
Of republicans in Iowa who will ever
refuse to be led into the peoples par
ty to be used as trading stock for willy
politicians to satisfy their ambition,
or greed, or both.
The same is true of thousands OF
democrats, especially of the Bryan
tyne They will not be led into the
peoples party camp to be used as
trading stock for the benefit of re-
publican politicians.
The common people are beginning to
realize in this section of the state that
many of the most prominent and po-
tcntial democratic leaders are deeply
and nightly interested-financially-
in perpetuating the very evils of which
the people SO justly complain. And
they are saying, soto voce, eve can
expect no relief at the hands of men
whose interests-very large interests
in syndicates, monopolies and trusts
ARE absolutely antagonistic to the
general welfare of the people, our
selves" The very same is true as to
many, very many, of the republicans.
This same common people-the
lone, sinew, and honest brain of the
land-are saying that the leadership
of each of the old parties is very much
| like two brooms, which were good
when they were new; but these two
| brooms have been in use SO long that
they are worn out to the very stub,
and the stubs are full of dirt and
| foulness; and no amount of peoples
care can do clean job of sweeping
with either of them.
Hence, they now say, "Why not Law
the two old nasty stubs aside and get
good new broom at once, and go in
to the Augean stables of old parties
political corruption and sweep them
out clean, with a new broom-best in
the market-the peoples party?"
By grace of the voters in my con-
gressional district, was elected a
member of the house~of congress- and
served two terms-the 4Sth congress.
During that time I was permitted by
virtue of my official relations to come
into immediate and personal contact
with congressional legislators, and
their efforts, and methods of legislat-
| ing. My surprise at what | saw and
heard was without measure.
Suffice it to say that no relief can
come to the masses of the people at
the hands of the leadership of either
the democratic (reorganized or re-
publican parties.
| I saw this with my own eyes, and
heard it with my own ears, while In
the front room of such legislators
where the people are not permitted to
come.
REMEDY.
Don't worry, or hurry, very much
just now; for the grist is in the hop
per and the gods are grinding it very
fine. Let a national committee of three
members from each state and territory
that has national. or even clearly
defined state political organization
each agree to time and place to
meet, for joint conference, as to a
uniting of forces on paramount ma
tional issues, - reasonably possible. by