The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-09-17

Treasures Fsltsr ~ the Denver Confsrenee
COMMITTEES Gives Sane Wholesome
Advice e Certain Knoeksrs

Editor Independent: IL seems very
strange that men Of intelligence find
SO much fault with the Denver confer
ence. Why, sir, that was simply an
effort made to bring about fraternai
feeling between discordant elements.
Nothing was done, nor was any at
tempt made, to deprive any committee
of any authority; and SO far as the
olu organizations are concerned, they
remain Just as before. The aim was
to agree to come together and having
done so to acquaint the populists OF the
nation with the fact; and to encourage
stimulate and enthuse and at the same
time convince all concerned OF our
sincerity OF purpose we put forth an
address reciting our acts and the Oma-
ha declaration of faith to show that
the gospel remained In all its original
purity, and would still hold him who
in the days gone by watched 1t in Its
glLry and paled before its lessenlng
rays.
The Denver conference left all It's
acts subject to the action OF the two
national committees to meet at st.
Louis February next and there will
then be Joint call made for ma
tional convention where the whole
matter will be settled. Where, then,
can any one honestly say there Is
treachery, when everything done was
done subject to the approval or disap-
prevail OF the party in committee or
convention assembled!
How strange this howl of streaeii-
cry" "Slick Guys" is, especially from
those who were not present! 1t strikes
me that if | thought, as some mems
articles read, that I belonged to re-
form movement headed by lot OF
rascals, would through self-respect
withdraw my connection from 1t. It
has been admitted by all clean thinkers
that ingratitude is the crime OF the
world and when we think of the edl-
to, who struggled along and finally
lost all; of those still making sacri-
fee and of those working in season
and out of season for the cause, we
think of them as ever at the front, ever
On the firing line, ever present on duty
and then we think of the man ever IN
the rear finding fault and we wonder
if ingratitude is broad enough to de-
scribe the offense What seems to be
the matter with some is they prefer to
ride hobby rather than a principle.
Let me say that a political party
that keeps looking for a sponsor to
take care Of it, always ready for
trade, is not composed of that class OF
men in whose hands we could AFFORD
to entrust this nation. We ind some
kicking because the Denver conference
favored calling national convention
and others because it favored calling
convention before either OF the two
old parties called theirs.
We will look at the first complaint:
J. J. Streeter opposed national con-
yentions or platform making conven-
lions or nominating conventions, and
wants all the voting to be done by
precinct voting and precinct action
only according to the plan adopted at
Cincinnati we have no fight to make
on the Cincinnati plan as system,
but with the conditions that now exist
how can it be worAed? Why, just go
and work. All! there is no one to do
the work because there is no money
even to pay car fare from town to
town. Now let us be candid about this
Cincinnati plan. Have any Of its
plomulgators gone out themselves, or
sent out worker to prove its efficacy?
Why? Because no money. and no mon
ey because there is no organization;
therefore no organization because OF
no money, and there is nothing DONE
How, then, can the Cincinnati plan
be worked before there is an organiza-
ton to work with? Organization is the
all important consideration of the
hour. What we need most Is Organi-
zation and the Denver conference, rec
ognizing this fact, set about to devise
a plan. Does j. ]. Streeter understand
he is fighting some of his best friends?
The difference between US Is that
Streeter wants to WORK with the pres
ent conditions while we understand
the necessity of an organization first.
Eoes J. ]. Streeter contend that the
pcpulist party has an organization? Ii
SO, it is only on paper. There is not
e political party SO poverty-stricNen,
there is not party can call to mind
but had and still has men In the field
OF ganizing with money to pay the
speakers. The question now is: Can
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