The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-05-12


the frank and fileo will become con-
scious that there is any other or
better way than that which obtains
and it seems likely that even then
these efforts will fail unless something
very like revolution shall rouse the
people to a realization or what is go
ing on around them, or, knowing, to
state of mind where they really care.
The wing Of the peoples party which
nominated Mr.. Barker for president in
1900, adopted what is commonly
known as the Cincinnati PLAN which
assumed to forever dispense with the
delegate nominating convention sys-
tenn, as far as pertained to that party
1t outlined the method OF organization.
Organizers were seiected. They
started to put the plan In force. Yet
they have done nothing, it seems.
Whether this was the fault Of those in
trusted with keeping the work going,
or an inherent defect Of the plan itself
because not in harmony with what
the people desire-is not clear All we
know is that the adoption Of the Gin
cinnati plan is about as far as it ever
got.
The word Organization" is loosely
applied to all sorts OF political efforts.
What we need is an organization, ]"
is one of the overcoming express
sions one hears in every political CAM
paign. Uusually there is an attempt
made to effect an Organization" but
almost invariably most of the organs"
are as devoid Of junction as ones
third eye" or the vermiform apnen-
dix. The real work is performed by a
few free lances" who are not part
of the sO-called organization. @
Last December The Independent be-
gan an effort to enroll every populist
I'm the United States who is still will
ing to stand mp and be counted as a
supporter of the fundamentals Of pop
| ulism. and who would be sufficiently
| interested in the cause to write a let
ter rennesting enrolment. This was
given the name of "The Old Guard Of
Populism' as matter or convenience.
1t was not intended as an sorganiza-
u.
hut rather pc the preliminary to effect
inc one. There were M officers: there
was no test Of membership. other than
| sufficient information that the app1i-
cant is a populist.
Lack of funds sufficient to do the
work as a gift to the party, rendered
| it necessary. to ask each applicant to
contribute something IL he were able,
or nothing IL he were not The cler-
zeal work of mailing letters of invi-
| tation, recording the names, ETC., SO
far as II could be zone by one per-
son. was given gratuitously by the as
sociate editor Of The Independent Full
reports of the progress OF enrolment
were made to The Missouri World The
Southern Mercury The Joliet News.
| the Cieburne Waterman. and the Vine
land Independent. with the idea that
these papers and The Independent
| might communicate with the enrolled
Old Guards with view to extending
their respective eirculations--for II
must be conceded that without the aid
OF these papers there would be little
communication among populists In the
various states. I'm fact. these papers
represent about all the organization
that Ia left TO the peoples party.
Up 10 the aist day Of March, this
year. responses were received which
resulted In the enrolment ~ 1882
nopulIsls. living In sos counties In for
ty~nye states and territories. Those
who requested enrnllment sent In also
some ton thousand names of other
popuilsts to whom they advised that
Old Guard Invitations he sent. Aside