The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-06-16

| Luc udluS "a ItODClt ~ AC, CoACOA VI IAO
Hartford Weekly Examiner. Com
menting on the list sent. Chairman
| Thomas said "A large share of our
old populists are now rank socialists,
and am in no shape to go around and
see them, as | can ride only three or
four miles. Bro. Pyne, of The Ex-
aminer, is a good old soul, but has
lost faith in manlind-same as good
many of our good old workers"
A personal letter Of invitation was
sent Editor Pyne on May 6. The only
reply was marked copy Of his paper,
containing an editorial which The In
dependent feels impelled to reprint
not because it is encouraging, but be-
cause it gives a good picture OF condi-
tons in the Nutmeg state, and to
great extent comedies with The indie
pendent's own view as to the futility
Of making any special effort to secure
the support of organized labor. Mr..
Pyne's editorial follows:
THE OLD GUARD OF POPULISM.
This is the term found on an en-
rOllment blank now being sent around
to once active workers of the peoples
party, with the design of reviving that
organization. The party still lives In
some of the western states. but
| throughout the country in general 1t
is only memory. 1t died from two
causes-fusion with the democratic
party and the Indifference Of the aver
age American voter to matters OF pO-
litical reform. 1t was a peoples party
without the people, something alike in
sentiment with the fellow in the play
who proclaimed: 81 can call spirits
| from the deep!" $50 can l." retorted
the other, "but will they Gomez" With
the peoples party many were called
but few were chosen, for they didn't
respond.
Nor will the people respond now no
, more than before. The same indif-
ference to any reform effort still
abides in solemn serenity. And he
who would disturb them is sinner.
They can endure without murmur
} anything else in the world but an en-
treaty to get away from the rule Of
the politician and the monopolist ex-
ploiters.
But what strikes us as profoundly
|
of this practically defunct organiza-
J ton is the especial plea made to the
men of organized labor to join it's
ranks. 1t speaks to them in this way:
1.-THE platform Of the peoples party
made at Omaha in 1892 was originally
made in conference called and held
J by the labor organizations, February
%. 1892. We therefore invite the
wealth-producers to take part in the
J primaries that shall choose delegates
to our convention, guaranteeing that
the influence of this party shall be
given to advance the interests OF or
ganized labor by the recognition OF the
} union label on manufactured products,
as we'll as in legislation which at last
, is the only hope Of just conditions for
labor"
\ AS matter of fact the assertion
here is true. But what was the re-
suit of this combination-made be-
tween the farmer organizations OF the
south and west and the men OF organ
lied labor Simply nothing-the Or
ganized workers continued on in the
even tenor of their way, voting their
accustomed tickets as before; and
even the leader of that day who al
though an officer of this conference
referred to and voting his whole or
ganization on questions coming UP
for settlement, was soon found pub
licly advocating the election of the re-
publican presidential nominee, and
then filling $4,000 position under his
administration when elected.
These men now striving to galvan-
ize into life the corpse Of the peoples
party remind us OF the story OF the
: horse that once while being driven
over rotten bridge broke through IN
to the water below. A dozen years az
|; ter while being driven over the same
road on coming to the place OF his
former mishap he refused to cross. al
though the old bridge had been re-
. placed by new one What did this 90
10 show? Simply that the animal had
a good memory. but poor Judgment
And yet we fear that the smile here
sought 10 be made Is incorrect after
all. for these populist reorganizers
don't appear TO have either memory or
Judgment. II they did they would now