The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-11-17
Issues an Address
to the People.

nominee. From party SO hopelessly
divided 1T is the rankest folly in my
judgment to expect any reforms. From
year to year it is dreary go round
and round o. one faction fighting an
other faction, each Of which alternate
ly whips the other, and neither Of
which ever whips the enemy.
| should be only too glad to cooper
ate in parallel lines and honorable
terms with any Jeffersonan democrat
like Mr. Bryan or Mr. Hearst or George
Fred Williams to accomplish purpose
which is COMMON to us all. but be-
lieve that the best way to assure the
final success of the reform moyt ont
is for us to build UP party of Jeffer-
sonian democracy on solid foundations
where unity of sentiment goes hand in
hand with unity of purpose, and where,
therefore, SOM hope Of accomplishing
that which we wish to accomplish can
be reasonably entertained
In the south there are peculiar rea-
sons why the present policy Of the
democratic leaders should be defeated
and better line Of policy adopted. For
the last twenty-five or thirty years the
democratic machine politicians have
made that great section a mere tool in
the hands of Wall street and handful
OF eastern democrats who have no pur-
fase IN common with us and who use
the eleetOfdt ska at the solid south
for their own selfish pNfs ttssts fhis
manner our southern country which Is
an empire in itself. has been made
province for few great financial mag
mates who exploit it for their private
gain without the slightest reference to
the welfare of the southern people.
The south is pitiable. TIE degradation
OF 1t finds expression in the phrase,
THE solid south would vote for yell
low dog on the democratic ticket" AS
southern man | am ashamed of such
q state of affairs and resent 1t pro-
foundly. If can do anything toward
accomplishing the political indepepd-
ance Of my own people from this sla-
wish servitudGf To pand OF Wall street
politicians, consider 1t duty to do
SO. If the peoples party had no other
mission than to relax the grasp which
the great corporations have upon the
commercial throat of the southern
states, grasp which is maintained by
tie alliance between democratic bosses
and Wall street financial kings then 1t
would have sufficient mission to war
rant its Continued existence.
My own state of Georgia is as
critically under the thumb of Morgan
and Belmont, one of whom controls
the Southern railway combine, the
other of whom controls the Louisville
& Nashville combine as the state OF
Pennsylvania is under the control OF
the Pennsylvania or the state Of Wis
consin is under the control Of those
which LaFoilette has won
rational fame @seamhatt.ng The
southern situation is simply apps ains
and would not be believed by anybody
who was not conversant with the
'acts. | expect to return home and
open campaign on the lines of JEFF
se~sonian democracy to take our state
government out of the control of Nor
gan and Belmont and to put 1t in The
control of Georgia people where 1t
belongs. In nearly every southern state
here is a similar contest to be waged
against corporation tyranny. BY the
ime the next presidential election
rolls around there is every reason
% believe that there will be a senti-
nent in favor of the reform principles
which remained in the platform of The
peoples party. 1t all depends upon the
work. which is done between now and
hen. | expect to do my share of it,
hat is all can say at tie present.
Will, however, repeat that | have ~et
or rented a home in New
FORK or anywhere else and do not ex-
'ect to do So My home is in Thomson,
Ia, in region which my ancestors
ettled $50 years ago, and ii is there
hat my home will be to the end
Am | discouraged? BY no means.
egan with nothing, worked thrce
aonths and got half million votes.
he men who voted for me are men OF
onviction, earnest, united. Parker
tarted out with seven million votes
nd lost some two millions in the cam
align. Those who followed him are
emoralized and disheartened