The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-10-01


our people understand its position"
Both Mr.. Brown and his "contem
porary over the alley entertain false
ideas of The Independents position.
In its issue of August ~, Immediately
following the Grand Island conven-
ton, it said editorially:
'The Independent is an advocate of
majority rule and, therefore, bows to
the will of the majority as expressed
by the Grand Island convention.
At the same time The independent re-
serves the right to say that the turn
ing down of the work of the Denver
conference can have no other logical
conclusion than the abandonment OF
the rropnlist organization in Nebraska.
If no steps be taken to counterfeit the
effect of the conventions body blow"
And The Independent stands by that.
1t may be stopping over,' viewed by
men who devote column or two to
politics six weeks in the year and re-
main dumb as an oyster the other As,
but it is gospel truth nevertheless. The
populist uprising was a protest be-
cause the democratic party from 1868
to 1896 persistently refused to repre-
sent the economic interests of the
farmers, small merchants, small bust
ness men, and home-ownerS, who made
up the vast majority of it's following.
When the democratic party in 1896
adopted a platform which was un-
dOubtedly in the interest of these men,
and nominated for president man
who was of them and, hence, inter-
! -, 1,o;v = oC%
natural thing in the world that they
should follow him. If the peoples
party had at ST. Louis officially in con-
vention decided otherwise than it did,
the vast majority of populists would
simply have become democrats. And
an absolute certainty that from then
or the democratic party would con-
tinue to remain on the course it adopt
| ed in 1896, would have meant imme-
date dissolution of the peoples party.
But there were doubts in the minds OF
Mr.. Bryan'S most ardent pOpulist ad-
mirers whether the democratic party
could successfully shake off its bar
nacles; in other words, those demo-
Gratis whose interests lie with the
manufacturing element as opposed to
/ luc dSol lCulluI al, duu VIII LII COL .
have succeeded in keeping the demo-
cratic party mere echo of the republi-
can party. Hence, these pcpulists saw
the necessity Of keeping up their own
Organization.
But in Iowa, Michigan, Kentucky,
Massachusetts, Ohio, and other states,
the populist organization was aban-
doned and practically all its members
went bodily into the democratic party,
as early as 1897 in some and not later
than 1900 in any of them. 1t was with
these in mind that the Denver confer
ence said:
1--WE believe the time is now at hand
when the united peoples party should
declare itself empkatically opposed to
any utilization with either of those par
ties and unqualifedly in favor of indie
pendent national political action"
Events this year in Iowa and Ohio
tend to confirm the belief that with
the peoples party organization aban-
doned (Which in effect, has already
been accomplished in every state but
Nebraska, except where it has been
revived as a result of the Denver con-
lference) the democratic party will re-
turn to it's old time course Of initial
| ing the republican party in standing up
for manufacturing, banking and rail-
road interests as against the agricul-
turists and those whose interests lie
along with agriculture. Hence, the
need for peoples party organization.
But the great leaders" at Grand ISL
and by their attitude confessed that
I there is no need for peoples party.
They believe in "affiliating' with the
democratic party-that is, abandoning
their own organization and becoming
democrats-next year. That is the
only logical construction which can be
placed upon their action. If the peo-
pies party cannot declare for future
course of action without permission OF
another party-then it has no reason
for existence. And that is why The IN
dependent stopped over" and said
that ''the turning down of the work
OF the Denver conference en- have no
other logical conclusion than the
abandonment of the populist organiza-
ton in Nebraska, if no steps be taken
IT, counteract the effect CT the conven-
tons body blow"
i But these steps will be taken.