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

Joliet News, was SO pleased that ne
gave six columns in the News OF the
3rd inst. to report of the conference,
starting it with cartoon head en-
titled "Populists Unite representing
long, lank, lean, -long-whiskered in
dividual, labelled TEX" (did he mean
Editor Mallett?) clasped in ths en-
brace of powerfully built person,
probably intended for Senaaer Allen,
marked "Neb."
Following this the headlines say:
"The rankest radicals and the most
conservative OF conservatives come to-
gether at Denver-On the Omaha Plat
form-No Fusion-Convention to be
held first-An excellent attendance
kll completely satisfied-Organization
to extend into every state, and the
Old Guard called into action.
The report itself, being similar to
that OF The Independent two weeks
ago, need not be here reproduced; but
Editor Ferriss said some things edi-
torially that Independent readers ought
to hear-because Ferriss is without
doubt one of the ablest mid-roaders.
a staunch populist and successful
A very large number of our readers
are pleased to see the pOpulists again
q united and happy party. We are sure
of this for we poLllists ourselves in
a neighboriy way are pleased to W.T.
ress the pleasant things that fall to
anybody. If things go we'll, when ora
tors speak truly, and candidates are
honorable we populists feel for the
time being that we are republicans or
democrats as the case may be and re-
lOice with them in their victories We
are truly glad to welcome a Roose-
welt or Bryan 20 our city. None on
these occasions has wider, more
truly hospitable smile than popul-
list.
The bulk Of the News readers are
not active, working populists. We
think they believe in public ownership
and government money; we know they
dc in the referendum for their vote
showed it, but as the world goes they
Eelong to the older parties They en-
courage these good things when it does
not hurt their own party and seem to
be hoping in vague far-away manner
that in some mysterious way these
measures of improvement and relief
will be brought around in their own
party lines. They surely have an in
terest in the good luck OF the pop
Llists.
When the Chicago democratic con-
vention of 1895 was in session ii was
question as to which was the third
party in the field as to numbers, the
democratic or the populist Bryans
speech turned the tide in favor of the
democrats. The fusionists by a few
votes compelled the populists to in
dorse BRYAN in the populist conven-
tion at St. Louis few days after
A large part.of the populists doubted
the wisdom of this action, although as
rule they supported Bryan heartily
Especially was this true in the north
Soon after the election the party
split and the two divisions were COM
monty known as fusionists and mid
dle-of-the-roaders. AS they drew
farther and farther apart their dislike
Tor each other increased. Truly since
the St. Louis convention p0pulists
have done little less than make war
upon each other Their common enc
mics, democrats and republicans, were
gwen season of refreshment.
The News espoused the mid-road
cause, but did not enter into a discus
sion of populist differences. Partly
because it is newspaper and the dis
cussion would not interest it's readers
partly because the editor hoped for a
time when all who believed in the
principles would come together mid !.
TOAD and fusion, Bryan democrats. sin
gle takers some socialists and all good
reformers and true Christians. All
of these at least are brothers and their
differences are SO little time will ad-
just all before their president is
elected
Truly the fight was quite bitter. The
fusionists supposed the mid-roaders
at heart desired to help the republic
cans. They called us "Hannacrats. ;"
On the other hand we supposed the
fusionists to be mere democrats in