The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-03-03


versation and interviews with them
both in the east and the west, is that
reform can never be effected under BIZ
| party government as it has heretofore
existed in the United States. This
is the only free government IN the
world that adheres to the bi-party sys-
TEN. In the congress of the United
States every member In the house
ana senate belongs to one of two
parties. In England, Germany, Italy,
France and Austria-Hungary, the
members OF the parliamentary bodies
belong to several different parties.
These men say that while the demo-
cratic party in this country should be
the reform party and while there are
more men members of it who earnest
ly desire reform than any other party
they are utterly helpless II by any
miracle Of eloquence or otherwise,
Bryan should gain control OF the
democratic national convention. no
man denies that the Cleveland men
would not bolt just as they did in
1886 and 1900. If Cleveland should
control it, it is just as. certain that
the Bryan democrats would not sup
port the ticket. That condition Of af-
20 ire. oI-o ho ort,, in,
capable Of accomplishing anything,
and hundreds of thousands of men
are ready to forsake it who have fol-
lowed it's fortunes for lifetime.
In the republican party the same
condition, though not so pronounced,
also exists. Large numbers of men in
that party, 10th in the east and the
west, are disguised with trusts and
exorbitant tariff rates. This class OF
republicans have able representatives
both in the east and the west. No
man seriously believes that any edec-
tive measures can ever be enacted
against high tariffs or the trusts by
means of the republican party. Re-
formers in both the democratic and
republican parties have expressed
themselves 10 the editor of The Inde-
pendent as seeing no hope for better
government as long as the present
condition Of bi-party government ex-
istss
One of the most distinguished men
in New York city said to the editor
OF The Independent the other day:
With two parties, as they now ex-
list, the financial and tariff interest
will continue to rule indefinitely. Ii
one party makes campaign for a
reduction of the tariff and elects
majority of congress, it will always be
found that there will be enough
members of the majority who. will not
vote for a reduction, to defeat any
such legislation so it will be upon
any other vital question. That was
the case in 1892. The Wilson tariff
bill as it finally passed congress was
the highest protective bill. ever en-
acted up to that time The hour has
come for the organization of an in
dependent party. Tha. is the only
way in which the schemes Of the
trusts. promoters, and tariff grabbers
can be defeated. / have taken
somewhat active part In political mat
tiers for twenty years. But / have
quit. | will no longer spend my time
any money in hopeless efforts to get
legislation through either of the par
ties III an Independent party with
the right kind OF a platform was put
in the field, would be willing to give
what assistance could to aid that
kind of movement"
Undoubtedly "the hour has come"
for the organization of an lniepen-
dent party which viii not affiliate
with either OF the either old parties