The independent., 1904-01-21
"cYcLoNE" DAVIS


tonwood Falls, Kas., and given to
readers of The Independent for pubii-
cation as a sort of collective" reply
to number Of Mr.. Davis correspon-
dents, brings out more prominently
than ever the necessity for a radical
change in the methods of party gov
ernment.
The Independent has been contend
ing for some time that while it is con-
ceded that there is no room in the
United States for two plutocratic par
ties, it is equally true that there is no
room for two truly democratic par
ties. With the republican party stand
ing as the national representative of
organized wealth and all interests
which require special privileges, there
is no need for the democratic party
to also represent those interests. In
fact, there is no room for second
party Of this nature.
But organized wealth and greed has
few votes of its own aud must needs
obtain the requisite strength to win
by specious appeals to the men it
must rob. This is accomplished in a
variety of ways, and when other
means fail there is always a resort to
another party-the democratic party,
which, if true to the vast majority of
its membership, can represent only
the great common people, as the
term is usually applied.
The great strength of the republican
party has come in the past from the
wage-workers, especially those en-
ployed by the great corporate inter-
ests which the republican party builds
up at the expense of the small produc-
ers. OF course, it has also a large
following of hero worshipping, fol
low the-leader, unthinking farmers,
but in the main it is true that the re-
publican party is composed of pluto
Gratis and their slaves. The demo-
cratic party, on the contrary, is more
agrarian and Independent in it's mem
bership-and all the side party move
ments since the war, when looked at
critically, will be found to have been
a protest rather against the demo-
cratic party for its undemocratic ac-
tions, than against both old parties.
Both old parties, however, will al
ways be under the control Of plutoc-
racy as long as the delegate system
prevails. There may be occasional up
risings of the people, headed by some
powerful leader like Mr.. Bryan; but
they will come to naught, because the
plutocratic element, being in control
OF the party machinery, will secretly
or openly throw it's strength to The
other party. 1t has never happened,
and is not likely to happen, that such
revolt as that of 1896 will occur in
both old parties at the same time.
Delegate conventions place a great
deal of power in the hands OF a few
men; and these few are usually domi-
mated by still smaller number. 1t is
usually heavy expense, in time and
money, to attend-and the men who
can secure passes and expense money
and promises besides-are much
more likely to attend conventions than
are those who are not thus favored.
Hence, it is not strange that represen-
tatiyes of corporate wealth seldom
lose control of either of the old par
ties and never both In the same year.
The party of the future, to be sue
cessful In the warfare against cor
poration aggression, must be built up
on the principle of majority rule. and
must apply this principle. In the most
direct way. to party government III
O referendum Is good thing In leg
islatlon. II is good in nominations