The independent., 1903-05-28
THE PEOPLES PARTY
National Com mittseman Il. Gerry Brown,
of Massachusetts,. Gives Reasons
For the Faith That's In Him

populist national committeeman are
bearing abundant fruit. Last week
Committeeman Elmer e. Thomas of
Omaha told of the revival of populist
strength in Nebraska's metropolis;
and this week Independent readers
have the pleasure of hearing from
Committeeman E. Gerry Brown OF
Massachusetts, who has been MEM
Der of the national committee con-
tinuously since 1891, and who has been
an active participant in all the grea.
populist gatherings.
Mr. Browns letter ought to be an
inspiration to populists everywhere
who feel in the least down-hearted.
He has entered into the spirit of The
Independents idea in writing to the
national committeemen--to hold,
through the columns of the paper,
genuine populist revival and expert
ence meeting; to compare notes and
be ready to take definite action as a
national party when the proper time
comes. Mr.. Brown says:
Editor Independent: have received
your Henry George Independent and
also your circular letter of inquiry
addressed to members of our national
committee for information and Opin-
ions. Before replying specifically to
your questions permit me to say that
your proposition for symposium or
views of members of the national
committee Is the right thing at the
right time Some weeks ago | made
suggestion to the Missouri World
| that it should endeavor to interest
our members In an exchange OF opin-
ions as to what could be done and at
| the same time secure information from
each state which might be basis
for future action. | also suggested
that each one might be willing to con-
| tribute at least a subscription because
| those members who could not attend
a national conference would have the
privilege of hearing from Old-time
! friends who have our cause at heart.
Too often our national COMMITTEES
meetings have been held without any
opportunity for an exchange of views
I of members from different states; we
come together and separate without
being posted as we should be If we are
to do our full public duty as national
committeeman. Next to a meeting of
the national committee | consider the
work you have undertaken to be the
most important contribution that
could now be made towards once again
giving practical and well defined di-
rection to the spirit of populism which
is the spirit of 1776. May all the good
fellowship of our movement join you
in your work. I anticipate the great
pleasure | shall have in common with
Others in reading your paper, for /
hope and believe that each member
will respond to your call as a duty
incumbent upon each true populist at
this time.
The Independent is right in saying
that the peoples party is not dead.
AS well might we say that our first
ideal, Polk, or our gifted Ignatius Dom
nelly or host of others that we might
name with tinge of sorrow because
we shall no more grasp the weicom-
ing hand of flesh, are dead; but we
know that all the attributes thai made
tenn lovable to us, all the Individual
tity that gave matchiess energy to the
cause Of human rights, still lives
though having joined the majority
that has passed the grave of corrup-
ton. The cause for which we fight
can never die, and never did it need
every one who places principles above
party and the man above the dollar
as 1t needs them now.
From 1891 down to 1896 our party
had monopoly SO far as the declar-
alton of public ownership Of public
utilities was concerned. Private credit
shall not circulate as national cur
rency was the Jeffersonian principle
than won us hosts of converts; trans
portation at cost was close second
and with some a leader; then came
our declaration as to land. We all
know the controversy which has al
ways arisen as to our land plank. We
had it at Cincinnati in 1891 and in ST.
Louis in 1892, where the labor organi-
cations from the farms and the cities
made the platform which we adopted
word for word and letter for letter at
Omaha Shall we ever again have