The independent., 1904-01-21
the SITUATION
~Cyelons" Davis Of Texas Gives . Kansas
Friend His Impression Regarding
the Coming Contest

- VO1AA88 0oHsoes
Tin a letter to The Independent, ac-
companying the open letter below, Mr..
Davis expresses his pleasure because
Vice Chairman Edmisten has called
the Butler committee to meet with
Parker's committee at St. Louis, Feb
ruary %, and says:
"Populism will never die until hui
manity has lost all. love OF liberty
Public ownership-municipal owner
ship-direct legislation, and the guam
titatiye theory of money are now ac-
knowledged by all parties. In my
opinion there is a crash and crises not
far ahead, and our party should De
united and organized SO as to hold
commanding position in the moblllza-
tion and amalgamation that must fol-
low. The labor vote that went re-
publican before will, in great meas
ure, go to the socialists this time; AMI
if the populists, Bryan democrats, ana
liberal republicans can be brought TO-
gether. there is a hope OF success.
Patriotic prudence may accomplish
this end" His letter to Mr.. Grlsham
follows:
Hon. T. H. Grisham, Cottonwood
Falls, Kas-My Dear Friend: A mum
ber of inquiries like yours nave
reached me of late.
My typewriter boy is in western
Texas and have delayed answers ex-
pecting his return. Without waiting
longer will give brief review OF the
situation as | see it. Will SEND this
to the Nebraska Independent and
make the answer to you answer oth-
ers
have been greatly interested in
the letters in The Independent from
the Old Guard populists, and hope
their efforts may succeed.
But they fail to take into consldera-
ton that all honest reformers are just
as honest and partisan as they.
The socialists will not go with the
populists because they must abandon
some of their creed. If they are hon
est men they dislike to do this.
The mid-road populists refuse to
Join the Bryan reformers for the same
reason.
The single tax people link that re-
form with free trade and join with
the democrats as the nearest approach
to free trade.
The direct legislation people have
usually been non-partisan.
So the only means of growth or
source of supply for populist increase
must come in general from the two
old parties.
The democratic party, having a
strong reform element which has
controlled the late history of the
party, no reformer will leave it until
he has lost all hope of reform in that
organization; and when there is a
division in that party it will not be
by individuals, but by sections
Where the democrats control a
county. district or state, they will not
disband and go as individuals to an
other party. This would force them
to abandon the Offices which they
hold Human nature is not made that
way. No party has ever done that.
So If there is split in that party
it will be into factions-each trying
to hold the organization that confers
offices. In such a case the reform ele-
ment may be willing to cooperate,
but will not disintegrate or amalga-
mate. Whatever of reform element
there may be in the republican party
will act in very much the same way.
In addition to these conditions
most of the states have passed laws
mailing it next to impossible fol re-
formers to get on the official ballot
except in one of the old parties.
In the south the race problem
weakens all reform parties, for when
the party gets strong enough to con-
fer offices the negro. esther through
the arrogance of his own assumption
or as the yenal minlon of the ruling
democrats, takes charge Of the pri-
maries and nominates few negroes
on the ticket
This raises race cry and clamoi
and the whites put all else behind
them aud go TO the democratic party
as a white mans party, II was this
more than all else that destroy ed ouI
popullst organization In the south.
Now. my dear friend. you can bet
ter understand the Importance OF the
race question Ia the south. when
tell YOU that the American indian
A. /.