The independent., 1903-05-21
THE PEOPLES PARTY
National Committeeman Thomas of Ne
braska Gives His Views of the Situ-
atIen

braska Gives HIS views OF the Stu
atlen
Ever since November 27, 1902, The
Independent has been waiting patient
ly, hoping and expecting that Chair
man Butler of the peoples party ma
tional committee would take some
steps toward bringing the party or
ganization to a working basis. On
that date The Independent said (un-
der caption Of Marion Butler, List
en-:
The Independent believes that the
chairman Of the peoples party, under
these conditions, should call a ma
tlOnal and representative council some
time during next winter and let the
party make a formal and official
statement concerning the policy that
it proposes to pursue in the future"
Then on December %, 1902, was
published the address OF 10 Parker.
chairman OF the md-road wing of the
party, in which he suggested a joint
meeting Of the two committees. But
not word can be heard from Chair
man Butler. Apparently he takes j,
for granted that the peoples party is
dead, as the republican and socialist
papers are saying.
The winter has come and gone
without any sign on the part of the
chairman that there is such an or
SanlzatiOn as the national committee.
There is no need for hasty action, but
during the coming summer will be a
good time for the members of the ma
tlOnal committee to renew their ac-
quaintance with each other. Accord
lngl!, last week The Independent sent
each member Of the national commit
tee a copy of the Henry George Edi-
ton, with an accompanying letter in
which appeared the following para
graphs:
1t is charged that the peoples par
ty IS dead-but The Independent has
persistently denied it. It may be that
the organization is not in good work
ing order, but the question is: Have
those, who in 1892 and later believed
IN pOpulist principles, abandone.,
those principles? If they have not.
then with what party can they afil-
late? II some OF them have joined
the democratic party. and if it next
year shall return to the platform.
tand, perhaps canddate) of 1884 or
1882, what will they do?
Il should be glad to hear from YOU
for publication, unless otherwise spe-
clhed) giving Your candid opinion On
/ me following points: ta) What has
I been The loss in populist voting
! strength in your state since 1897
| % What caused this loss? icD With
/ what party or parties do eX-populie's
now affiliate, giving apDroxlmat,
/ number who are now - democrats
I ~ republicans; 80 socialists. td)
Have you any populist organization
IN your state? lel If so. who are on
GERS Of the STATE committee? III
What j. the general feeling amonr
. popuiI>ts as to party action next
. year: ~ If the democrats dcrlar.
tor public ownership Of ralroa is ncy,
year how would that affect indopcu
. dent populj@t action? Chl In m.
event Of independent populist party
action next year would the popllli4,s
OF your stat" favor or oppose l-oaI-
rnin1 th" lnnl plan. rmarled In u.a,.
.otH '0D.ns,Il ee as 10 make n q.
.1"f,a.@n 20 sinai" taxcrso"
The first r.pl, awe from E,m,-
t. rlmas rt Dmaaa ouc ol the MI
h.r~ .r Nohrass b. % Will he tn,.
'~t'"@ r"ad.u1 far 1upt'Nls i'm rr.
.'"'"H Us well a- Nebraska Hu .4.
I-..r Undergraduate { Just l9
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