The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-08-21
What Bryan Thinks.

w. j. Bryan's paper, the Com
mouer, in commenting on the recent
meeting of pOpulists, calls attention
to the fact that the meeting was in
reality composed of those who were
middIe-of-the readers in the last
campaign and do not represent the
fasion populists at all. He says in
part:
The. manifesto issued at Denver
will, if Endorsed by the rank and file,
put the united ponufists just where
the middle of the-road populists have
been for seven years; it WILL if in
dOrsed by the rank and file, direct
the pOpulist fight against the demo
cratic party instead of against the
republican party, for to justify their
action the members of the populist
party will have to emphasize the
differences between themselves and
the demOcrates, whereas in recent
campaigns the regular populists have
emphasized the differences between
themselves and the republicans. The
fight which will then ensue will pro-
woke bitterness on the part of the
democrats and the real friends ofth
reform will be divided into warning
factions, each faction distressing the
other.
How can the situation be met?
First, by an appeal to the mem
bers OF the populist party. They did
not authorize the committee to issue
such a declaration of war against the
democrats aid should not indorse
it. Let them exercise their right to
self-goverment and insist upon being
heard before the populist party is
converted into an assistant republi
can party, for the natural and neces
sary result OF the committee action
is to make the populist party the
secret ally of the repu blican party iu
the next campaign just as the gold
democratic party and the middle Of
the-road party were secret allie. o.
the republicans in 1896 and 1900.
AS a matter of fact, the committee
action was based, not so much on the
failure OF fusion in the past as upon
the fear that the reorganizers will re-
gain control of the democratic party.
The action of the populist committee
was grOundless assumption and
will naturally encourage the reorgan-
Zers who will assume that the popu
list committee speaks for the voters
OF the party-it will be an easy as
TOO, because the leaders OF
'hC iCOI dulLCTS dF0 always assuming
10 speak for the whole democratic
party. But the Kansas City platform
democrats need not be discouraged.
The reforms advocated in the plat
forms of 1896 and 1900 were advocat
I'd because they we're right and not
merely to catch populist votes. Let
he party stand by its principles and
hen if the popLIists attempt to help
he republicans defeat those principles
The earnest reformers in the populist
party will, as individuals, cooperate
with the democratic party. Even
some of those who signed the mani
esto will hesitate to follow their own
advice when they see the logical and
Inevitable result of their middle Of
he road policy.
The reforms for which the Chicago
Ind Kansas City platforms declared
ire too importa ut to be jeopardized
oy divisions among reformers and
he democratic party can we'll afford
o allow the populists to bear the
blame if those divisions arise, but
Until the rank and file of the populist
,arty declares against fusion, The |
CommoDer will refuse to believe that |
he committee spoke for the party.