The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-08-06

meeting were authorized to select 3
committee, consisting of one person
from each state, to act as an auxiliary
organization in erecting a complete
union of the reform forces and to as
sist in bringing together in harmon
louS action the two national commit
tees of the peoples party and allied
peoples party. The work OF select
ing such committee was substantially
completed at Denver as to eleven
states; and committeeman chosen for
the remaining states, subject, OF
course, to their acceptance of the posi-
ton. The completed work must nec-
essarily be done largely by corre-
spondence, aided as far as possible by
the reform press. 1t was thought best
however, for the present to make no
publication of the names of the state
members of this committee at least
until the work is well under way.
The officers who have in charge the
work OF selecting this auxiliary na-
tional committee and perfecting plans
for building up working peoples
party organization in every state, are
as follows:
Chairman, J. A. Edgerton, Pine, Colo
Vice chairman, Milton Park, Dallas,
Tex.
Secretary, ]. H. Calderhead, Helena,
Mont
Assistant secretary, G. @. De France,
Lincoln, Neb.
Treasurer j. S. Felter, Springfield, ILL.,
For the present Mr.. Edgerton has
sufficient leisure to devote considerable
time to the necessarily heavy CORE
spondence which must be carried on
to do the work contemplated by the
conference. He must have funds to
do the work properly; for postage and
stationery do not come as the mamma
did to the Children OF Israel. Populists
: who have the cause at heart should
lose no time in sending him a con-
tribution. The man who "sponges"
his politics is no more sincere than
him who "sponges" his religion. How
belt it is a notorious fact that the i'm
mense sums raised by the churches are
in large part made up of small cOntri-
buttons, ranging from one cent to one
dime at time. There are few pop
ulists too poor to spare 81 year to
further the cause of reform, Don't put
off this matter until more convenient
time-do it now!
For years The Independent has
urged the desirability- the abso-
lutte necessity-of spreading the doc
trines of populism by means of the
party press. 1t has no desire to crowd
out any of the populist papers that
have kept the faith all these years,
and is always ready to help them in
tiny possible way But it does believe
that with the established circulation it
already has secured, The Independent
could be used to good advantage in
building up the organization Mr. Ed
gerton has undertaken.
And to this end it makes the follow
ing offer, laying no claim to super
abundant philanthropy (because its
finances will permit nothing of the
kind) but simply regarding it as a
good business proposition for the pa
per and at the same time distinct
advantage to Mr.. Edgerton in carry
ing on his work:
For every new subscriber who sends
us 81 for years subscription to The
Independent we will remit to Mr.. Ed
gerton Tor to Treasurer Felter) 40
cents to be used as fund to carry on
fis work of organization.
That is the offer. Simple enough.
Yet let there be no Misunderstanding.
This does not apply to old subscribers
who renew their subscriptions, and for
this reason: No matter what the
r1ethod adopted-whether by agents,
newspaper advertising or circulars
the cost of securing new subscribers
ranges from 25 to 40 cents each, and
were it not for the fact that Ihe In
dependents oil, subscribers remain
year after year at the annual dollar
renewal rate, the paper could not be
produced at the dollar year price.
Substantially all The independents S
increase in subscription list is due to
the efforts of our old subscribers.
From time to time special induce
snents have been made to enable old
subscribers to secure new ones and
retain pay for their labor in so doing
but thew have generally refused to