The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-09-22

People's Party National Headquar-
tiers, Joliet, H., Sept. l7.-tEdltorlai
Correspondence lit is now but iittie
more than a year since the Denver
conference. yet the, wonderful revival
Of populism in that time IS surprise
even to the most hopeful OF those pres
ent at that meeting. | we'll remember
hearing one grizzled old ,<popullst vet
eran say to Senator Anen: Senator,
is this birthday celebration or rune
raj we're attending" And Senator
Allen. admitting that the attendance
was not so large as he had hoped FOR,
said he believed that it meant re-
vival OF the peoples party.
The handful of men who went out
TO Denver last year for the purpose OF
uniting the two wings OF the peoples
party had much to contend with, but
with grim determination they have per-
severed until at this hour the outlook
for populism was never brighter. None
OF them claimed the gift OF prophecy
yet all Of them could then see that the
powers OF plutocracy would surely
dominate the democratic national con-
vention OF 1904, thus leaving to the
peoples party undisputed possession OF
the field of Jeifersonian democracy.
They were reviled as assistant re-
publicans;" they were accused OF be-
ing traitors to true democracy and OF
allowing "the wish to be father Of the
thought" their right to speak for the
populists OF the United States was
questioned. But they never wayered.
j. A. Edgerton, who was prior to
that time an editorial writer OF the
Rocky Mountain News, had issued the
call for the Denver conference. He
was then secretary of the Butler or
fusion national committee. The call
cost him his position-for Tom Pat
terson had determined to follow the
democratic party wherever it might go
in 1904 and he had no use for an edi-
torlal writer who cared more for demo-
cratic principles than for the name.
Most of those who were present at
that conference are today doirs, active
service for Jeffersonian democracy or
Lincoln republicanism, whichever you
like best-in other words, plain, every
day populism. T. H. Tibbles, editor OF
The Independent, Lincoln, Neh., is our
candidate for vice president; Jas. II.
Ferriss, editor of The News, Joliet, ILL.,,
is chairman of the national committee;
Judge Frank w. Overs, Leadyille,
colo. the populist candidate for gov
ernor Of Colorado; g. M. Mallett edi-
tor of The Waterman, Cleburne, Tex,
is candidate for congress i'm his dis
t11ct: Mrs. Evangeline Hearth and
James M. Flannigen OH Colorado are
on the electoral ticket; and J. II. Cali
derhead OF Montana, j. II. fEdmisten OF
Nebraska, Col Milton Park OF Texas,
and j. "A. Edgerton tnow of New York;,
are members OF the national executive.
i have not the roster of that confer
enee before me and am writing from
memory only; but the record seems to
show that the populists of the United
States did not repudiate those who took
part in the Denver conference.
Political wiseacres said the thing
could not be done. 1t had no proceed
ent in history No political party had
ever been built up again after having
its organization broken down-or at
any rate no third, party ever had
done so. Disintegration into the com
ponent parts-then indignation into a
new party: That was evolution.
Well. the impossible" has been ac-
complished. When the Denver con-
ference was held, the peoples party
organization was almost total wreck
in all but four or five states. la Ne
braska alone had the party an unques-
toned right to place on the official
ballot without being subjected to some
petty annoyance In the way oil stat