The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-07-30
kERN'S LEADERSHIP
Mr.. Van vorhis Expresses the Conviction
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the Reorganizers

the ReOrganizers
Editor Independent: A meeting was
called by an energetic and able young
democrat, Edgar l.. Names, of Boone
county, to meet in this city on July
4. Who, besides those attending, were
invited | do not know. Mr.. Names
was made chairman, and upon taking
the chair said the meeting had been
called after consultation with num-
Der of democrats known to be true and
reliable supporters of the platforms OF
1896 and 1900 and of Mr. Bryan The
purpose of the meeting was stated, in
substance to be to offset certain in
fluences working with the democratic
party to subvert democratic principles
and make the democratic party organ
ization but little better than adjunct
to the influences now in control of
the republican party.
The Hon. John W. l-ern, who head
ed the state ticket in 1900 as the
candidate of the party for governor,
was present and was called upon first
to present his views upon the move
ment. He deplored the presence in
thC PAL ~ VI ~ llohJ buCht UhOoC Poi
poses were selfish rather than philan-
thropic, and commended the effort to
prevent such men from securing, by
their skill in manipulation, notwith-
standing the overwhelming sentiment
of the masses of the party, an aban
donment by the party organization OF
the principles of the Kansas City plat
form. He said in substance that the
organization against that platform
was, at this time, more complete and
powerful in this state than it had
ever been; that, Notwithstanding 80
per cent of the party in the state were
true to the principles, there was great
danger that the party would be con-
trolled by a very few, who could get
all the money they wanted because the
purpose they had in view was almost
identical with the purpose of the in
fuences now in control of the repub-
lican party. He commended the eff
fort to form the proposed league, but
was not disposed to have any rosy
views about what it might be able to
accomplish. He referred to the cam
paign of the party in 1900 and said
that under these influences there was
practically no campaign on the part
of the party in this state Others
spoke along the same line, and COM
mittee was appointed to draft con-
stitution, and the meeting adjourned
until the afternoon.
When the meeting had reassembled
and the committee reported, pending
the question upon adopting the re-
port, Mr.. Kern again took the floor
and, in speech of about one hour,
gave an outline of the manner in
which Samuel E. Morss, Hugh Dough-
erty, James MurdOck and G. v. Men,
zies were selected as delegates-at-
large by the state convention in 1900,
and said that the sentiment of the
convention was such that, if minor
ity report from the committee substi-
tuting other names for these gentle
men had been made, it would have,
without doubt, been adopted. He then
proceeded to give an account OF the &C
tion of the delegates sent to Kansas
City, and how under the influence of
such men as the MISUNDERSTANDING they
misrepresented and betrayed the con-
stituency who sent them there. Mr..
Kern proceeded to give instances of
the baleful influences of such men
upon the party, the most notable ex-
ample being the way in which the
passage by the legislature of the rail-
road consolidation bill was secured;
how certain men, regarded as infiu-
entail democrats in certain localities,
had worked with the representatives of
special privileges, and had by decep-
tiOn induced democratic members of
the legislature to support the measure
that was SO vicious that it needed only
to be read to know it to be so, and
which was fortunately vetoed by the
governor, when his attention was
called to it's vile provisions. He de-
plored the influence of such men upon
the party, and called attention to what
must be the result unless some such
organization as that contemplated
could be made. He said the line of d.
vision between tho people, who had
70 benefits from special privileges. and
those to whom special privileges had
been 9rantcd rrat be made specific
and distinct or there could be little
nope ina. .hn democratic party would
be or could &c successful, or that DEM