The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-04-28

Award and publication of the sue
cessful replies will be made as soon
as possible thereafter Associate Edi-
tori
Editor independent: Some months
have elapsed since I contributed
number OF articles which you kindly
published in your journal. Conscious
Of the fact that many of your politi-
cal cO-wOrkers have views to express,
have refrained from following up the
subjects outlined. Though not pop
ulist, | am again impelled to ask your
indulgence. am heartily in SYM
pathy with your laudable desire to
improve the economic condition Of hui
mainly. For number of years have
labored along this same line and my
experience teaches me that the So
called reformers are themselves very
largely responsible for the failure to
achieve.
1t is with regret that l note that
you are again pinning your faith to a
leader, instead of seeking to evolve
few simple, equitable plans, which
if enacted into law would solve fright
full conditions and usher in an era OF
economic salvation. Political organi-
cation is Of course necessary and de-
sirable, but so long as you nominate
candidates upon generalization plat
forms, Instead Of having them pledged
to enact specific legislation, / am
afraid that there will be little SUD-
stantial TO show for your efforts.
The spirit of fairness and tOlera-
ton which you exhibit in according
generous space to socialists, single
takers and others is commendable, but
fear that your generosity leads you
into error. The followers of Kali
Marx and Henry George deity evade
direct discussion. The admirable
criticisms Of your associate editor
should not only be accorded space in
the leading journals published by sim
gle takers and socialists; but they
should be replied to by leaders In
these reform camps. Why should not
Henry George, jr., be pleased to pen
a personal reply to cogent criticism by
your editor? Why should not the APP
peal to Reason publish the joint cor
respondence Of its own associate edl-
tor with Charles @. De France OF The
Independent? Rational discussion
calculates, but the faddists In the re-
form field suppress all criticism TO
which they are unable to reply.
Though NOT enrolled in the popul-
list ranks / will make bold to submit
a broad definition Of the. purpose OF
your party or organization. My per-
ception is that you stand for effective
economic reforms of a practical char
acter. So long as you adhere to the
old-time convention system and nomi-
nate candidates upon platform nlati-
tudes you will continue to be held up
to derision and laughed at by the
very multitude whom you in reality
seek to succor. HumOr and scorn ale
powerful weapons and the plutocratic
forces have utilized and will utilize
them in seeking to undermine and
render impotent any movement AIM
ing to secure economic justice unto all
mankind.
The statements made by Editor L.
HI. Tibbles in his special letters to you
from the east were read with great
interest by myself. Along many lines
he laid bare the inner workings of the
plutocratic cliques. There is, how
ever another side to the equation. Not
every newspaper here in our section
suppresses rational discussion of i'm
portant subjects. For years | have
from time to time contributed series
of articles to the columns Of the Even
ing Bulletin. of our city. The singular
fact speedily developed that single
takers and socialists steered clear OF
public discussion. In the presence OF
public audiences their leaders adj
mitted that was entitled to be heard
by them, in fact the chairman of the
single takers stated that "they were
in the habit of according unlimited
time to speaker like myself"
Though have offered to reply to all
questions, they will not accord me a
hearing and when establish facts In
cold print. they either sneer at them
or utterly fail 10 make reply. A num-
Der OF years since clearly explained
short cut demonstration which en-
abled any person with pencil and pa-
per TO speedily convince himself and
others Of the fact that gold dollar
nlaeed nj interest nj & ner cent at the