The independent., 1903-06-18
INDEPENDENT VOTING

lNDEPENDEhI NOTING
The legal name'o the populist par
ty in Nebraska Is the peoples inde-
pendent party. When first organized
its fiercest inyectives were hurled at
the partisan slave who, regardless Of
candidates or principles, always rail-
lied to the cry of vote 'er straight. !"
1t is beginning to be impressed on
the minds Of the best men everywhere
that the hope of reform must rest
more upon independent voting than
on party organization. Two signal vic
tories have been gained by the peo-
pie during the last few weeks by in
dependent voting-one in Chicag
and one in Denver. Last winter an
other victory was gained over cor
porations and boodlers in the Illi-
nois legislature by the Independent
voting of men of all parties. The bill
that made municipal ownership possi-
BILE in that state was passed by the
votes of populists, democrats, repub-
licans and prohibitionists.
The populists of Nebraska have
steadily adhered to this principle.
They have always been willing as a
party or as individuals, to work and
vote for the best men-men advocat
ing the principles in which they be-
lieved-Whether the men were mem
bers of their own party or some Other.
They have differed from the faction
called -of-the-roaders. 1t
seemed to the Nebraska populists that
the idea that the party must always
have separate ticket in the field anG
''vote 'er straight" was adopting the
most baneful thing in political life.
Not only have populists held to the
principle of Independent voting, but
a large majority of the democrats in
the state have held and practiced the
same views.
The fact is that the time has come
when most Of the democrats of Ne
brdska have abandoned that kind OF
democracy which is conducted By
those who furnish the funds and puts
out platform loaded with cant,
hypocrisy and promises that are new
er intended to be redeemed
To make Independent voting most
effective the populist organization
should be perfected in every state Of
the union. With two or three million
OF voters, well organized, who it is
known will vote for no putocrat or
candidate who Is opposed to the pub
lie ownership of transportation AMI
communication and who constantly as
sert that the private ownership of
these things means the private owner
ship OF congress and the legislatures,
n oil N1t +o
two other parties. 1t will send dis
organization into the ranks of rapac-
ious capitalism and the worshipers of
MammOn and finally end in their dis
iLtegration.
A recent copy of the Manila Times
is almost filled with rotices of the
failing health of prof. 'nent Americans
Who have had the misfortune to be
ordered there or have gone there of
their own volition. Governor Taft has
retired to the new "health resort" at
Baguio, which has an elevation of sew
eral thousand feet. The vice governor
has been order, home as has also
Prof. Behard Moses, and so it goes
all the way through the columns of
the paper. In addition to the soldiers
who are constantly dying there the
civil officers are perishing at a fright
ful ratio. This whole Philippine bus.
mess has been nothing but a damn
able curse to these United States and
the Filipinos alike. 1t is the punish
ment that follows the desertion of the
principles upon which this government
was founded.
%$$SSS%
WEST VIRGINIA '.