The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-08-13

allies of the men in the democratic |
party. who supported Bryan and the
Platforms adopted at Chicago and |
Kansas City, but they have given up
hope They have seen Bryan and
those platforms defeated, not by Mark |
Hanna and his cohorts, but by demo-
Gratis. The populists pointed out the
way to victory, but this clique OF dem
bring about defeat. They did it in
1896, they did it again in 1900, and
they are in position to accomplish
the same thing in 1904. regardless of
which faction controls the next demo-
cratic national convention.
When these democrats put Sewall
on the national ticket, who was plu-
tocrat, prntectinnist and a repnbli-
can, and rejected TomrgWatson, they
did it for the purpose of defeating
Bryan. The rank and file of the dem
ocratic party had nothing to do with
that and knew nothing about it. 1t
was the crowd who wanted Bryan de-
feated that did it.
In 1900 when objections were made
from the floor of the national demo-
cratic convention to the presence Of
Senator Teller upon the platform, it
was done by men who wanted Bryan
defeated When they turned down
Charley Towne they did it because
they knew that that action would de-
feat Bryan in all the western and
northwestern states
These same men in Colorado and
elsewhere preferred defeat for their
| state tickets rather than to recognize
the allies that had always proved 10y
| al. They did not want to associate
with men who would insist at all times
on upholding the doctrines of the
Kansas City platform.
| Long before the republican national
convention met, Senator Teller. public
ly announced that if that convention
declared for the single gold standard
and the national bank domination OF
the volume of paper money, he, would
not support the ticket and when the
convention met and did that thing, he
walked out OF it and kept his word.
Populists think that Bryan and the
Bryan democrats should pursue that
policy, but as yet none of them have
Hundreds have said so in private.
With the democratic party in the
condition that it is, having hundreds
Of traitors in it's ranks, who are still
recognized as regular members and no
power in it's government to expel
them, with these gangs of traitors
working in every state of the union
determined to defeat the party when
ever platform is adopted like that
at Kansas City, or candidate is nom
mated who is known to be opposed to
plutocracy, it did not seem to us that
it was wise to do anything else than
what was done at Denver.
1t will not do to call the acts of the
democratic party which defeated Bry-
an in the last two campaigns mis-
takes" These things were deliberate
ly planned without the knowledge OF
the rank and file by few sharp poll
ticians, for the express purpose of de-
feating the ticket. They knew just
as we'll at the time the Kansas City
convention was in session as they did
after election was over that the de-
feat of Towne would result in turning
over the west and northwest to the
republicans, and they did it for that
very purpose. They were determined
t. defeat Bryan and elect Mckinley.
| # there are any democrats in the
west who want to affiliate with that
crowd of political traitors they have
the right to do so, but populists will
!, have nothing to do with them and
they will never cooperate with a
!, party that recognizes them as mem
hers, or allows their delegates to APP
pear in national convention
Another reason for the action taken
is that the populists believe in pro-
) erosion. They are not willing to be
: tied down to old and worn-out issues.
| The democratic party, while making
some advancement, still refuses to
: take up what populists believe to be
} pressing issues. Among these is the
7 public ownership of public utilities.
| We believe that congresses, legisla-
lures and city councils will always be
seething dens of corruption as long as
1 street car lines, water works, gas
electricity, telephones, telegraphs and
r railroads remain the property Of pri-
: yate corporations We believe that
: the discussion of these demands