The independent., 1903-12-17

ndlllC vi du dooOtldJlou VI pOPuiloto
now being formed, having for its OBJ
jects several immediate purposes and
one ultimate end in view. For the
immediate present it is designed to
secure, as far as it is possible to do,
an enrolment of all popuiists who
are still strong in the faith; who be-
lieve that the economic salvation OF
the American people depends upon the
enactment into law and the enforce
ment thereof the populist demands for
reform in money, land, and transpor-
tatiOn" as set forth in the Omaha
platform; who despair Of accomplish
ing any of these reforms through the
medium of either of the two old par
ties, and who are not ready to join
with the socialists in their demand for
the collective ownership of the
means of production and distribution
AS a convenient means of designat-
ing this enrolment, the name, THE
Old Guard of Populism," was selected.
Men who entered the "greenback'
movement and voted for Peter Cooper
in 1876; men who entered the peoples
party and alliance movement and vot-
ed for James B. Weaver in 1892; and
men who have since then become con-
verted to populist principles, are all
eligible to enrolment in the Old Guard
of POpulism.
Another immediate purpose of the
Old Guard OF Populism is to bring it's
members in closer touch with each
other and thereby assist in spreading
the populist gospel Ten or twelve
years ago when populism was at it's
high tide, there were hundreds OF
books and pamphlets and thousands
of papers being read and circulated,
and every populist was on his mettle,
with high hopes of soon securing the
reforms he advocated. Since that time
the tide has receded, ebb tide has been
reached; but every indication points
to the return OF higher tide OF pop
ulsm. OF the more than million
men who voted for James B. Weaver
in 1892. very few, now living, who then
sincerely believed in the wisdom and
justice of the Omaha platform, have
changed their minds. But the ad-
vanced ground taken by the demo-
cratic party in 1896, coupled with the
known integrity and sincerity of its
candidate for president. led many
thousands of populists to believe that
some immediate reform might be Sc
cured through that party Other pop
ulists-and especially many of those
who had been through the campaign
of 1868 and the subsequent greenback
uprising and later destruction by the
democratic party-bitterly resented
anv alliance with either of the old
parties. And, hence, resulted schism
in the peoples party-two antagon-
istic wings, popularity known as mid
road" and fusion"
No good can be accomplished at
this time by an extended discussion or
the wisdom or unwisdom OF fusion"
or of "mid-road' tactics. 1t seems
evident that the major portion OF the
million who voted for Weaver in 1892
were satisfied to vote for Bryan In
1896 and 1900, inasmuch as Barker,
the "mid-road' candidate for presi-
dent. polled only 50,373 votes In 1900.
But 1t Is also evident that the logical
result OF fusion" has been to annihi-
late the peoples party organization In
nearly every state where II was prac-
ticed. The Nebraska populists alone
have succeeded in retaining their or
ganlzation and az the same time CO.
operating with the democrats on state
issues. In most Of the other fusion"
states. the populists abandoned their
party organization and participated
directly In the democratic primaries
and conventions. Desiring economic
reforms along the lines indicated by
the Omaha platform. no earnest pop
ullst could object 10 these reforms nj
the hands OF either Of the old parties;
aud although the democratic plat
forms OF 1896 and 1900 are by no
means hevond criticlam from a pop
ullst standpoint they were a Ions step
In the rlrht direction Hence. II Ia
not strange that many earnest popui-
istx favored fusion" nut those who
favored the ~mld-roed" course, re-
memherlne the rise aud fall ~ the
Freenbacs party. saw NO hone In the
new atep taten hv democracy IN iSas.
and resolutelv opposed II,