The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-12-22

received several letters from earnest
workers in the populist cause residing
in several differnt states, suggesting a
populist conference, or taking it for
granted that such conference is to
be held, asking when and where. There
seems TO be desire that such con-
ference should be held. The indie
pendent would like to receive an ex
preston of the rank and file On that
subject. 1t is no use for few leading
men of the peoples party to get to-
gether and formulate plans for action,
unless the members of the party gen
orally intend to support such action.
The Independent would be glad to hear
from the party on that subject.
&$&S&$&
Banks continue to break at an as
tonishing rate. So far, in almost every
case, it has been pure swindling, abso-
lutte dishonesty, except where as In ona
or two cases the banker las proved to
be bigger fool than goldbrick pur-
chaser. The courts continue to give en-
couragement to bank swindlers, by
leniency which they show to no other
class of criminals. An Iowa man who
bilked bank for $250,00O was sent to
Jail for three months. another who en-
bezzled $4,000 was given thirty months
In Jail, and then the authorities caught
a man stealing dollar and soaked him
for ten years.
&$&$$&>>
A new book has recently been pub
lished called Poverty" The author
is Robert Hunter and the publisher
Macmillan & Co., N. Y. The work is
attracting a good deal of attention. BY
Poverty Mr.. Hunter means "the ill.,
ability to obtain those necessaries
which will permit the people to main
tain state of physical efficiency Mr..
Hunter shows from the records that a
per cent of the Inhabitants of New
York were compelled to apply for re-
lief, IA per cent of the inhabitants of
Manhattan, the island on which New
York city is built, were evicted because
they could not pay rent and 40 per cent
Of the burials in New York city were
in the potter's field. Besides that g.
100000 of the wageworkers in the Unit
ed States were without employment
from four to six months. That is what
plutocracy calls prosperity. Mr.. Hunt
er therefore comes to the conclusion
that there is something grievously
wrong with our social and economic
environment" That is what populists
have been saying for ten years.
$c$$S$$&
Wall street stock exchange has SUM,
so low that it has no effect on the IL
nancial interests of the country. The
operators can bet, bankrupt and ron
one another as often and as much as
they please and the country at large
pays no more attention to them thar
1t would to any other set of gamblers
The time was when if there was a
panic on the stock exchange everybody
was excited, and bankers everywhere
began to fear a run on their banks
Now bankers, outside of those tina.
lend money on Wall street collateral
pay no attention to the fracuses there
&SSSSSS&
The comparative statistics of presi-
Dental elections since 1868, show that
Judge Parker was the weakest candi-
date ever nominated by the democratic
party for president. Even Greeley had
A per cent of the popular vote, while
Parker got only 80 per cent Will
such facts as that staring them in the
face, western and southern democrats
still refuse to cut loose from the Wa
street gang Of Belmonts and Hills, jolr
with the genuine reform forces ant
,%<So nd 49,