The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-02-25
DOHaHOE'S VIEWS
What Member ofThs Old Guard ofPop-'
ulism Said After the Defeat of 1909

ulism Said After the Defeat of 1909
After the election of 1907, Thomas
A. Donahoe. of Wood River, Neb.,
who facetitiously styles himself a
"high private in the rear rank OF
populism," wrote the letter below TO
one of the leaders of poDulism in
Nebraska. For certain reasons the
name of the person addressed is
omitted. as are also few personal
references which are not germane to
the subject under discussion Mr..
DonahOe said:
My Dear Sir: We have met the
enemy and we are theirs! In this our
Waterloo it is we'll for us to take in
ventory of the affair and learn, ii
possible, why the groucheys did not
appear at the critical moment 1t is
to try TO come to some cause or
causes for the result, and to try and
offer, if possible, remedy, that /
presume to address you through you
our reform leaders.
| find the following combination of
causes responsible for the result:
DISCRIMINATION, Jealousy and rivalry
of the contending factions, the swap
ping off with the republicans at previ-
GUS elections portions Of the local fu-
sion tickets, and a general dcmorali-
cation of the populist party, owing TO
the taking off of Mr.. Towne from the
late presidential ticket, which, feel
convinced, causes general apathy
amongst the rank and file of the party.
Added to which Is the still hunt
practice OF so many fusion candidates,
inviting support for personal consid-
erations, instead of making the fight
entirely upon principle, in an agrees
sive manner, as we formerly did.
Changed conditions, the causes Of
which the people do not appear to
understand, and which the republicans
shrewdly eon5true to their advantage,
together with a compact organization
and plenty Of sunds to keep the liars
employed, also aided
What to do? Get together in one
compact body all elements opposed to
the present policy of rapine and pa
ternalism for private gain, as exem-
plified in the present republican or
ganization, upon an advanced set OF
economic principles, direct and plain
ly stated, through the referendum, as
we determined some years ago whe-
ther or not the alliance should take
independent political action. ",
Our delegations in congress and the
legislature, where in the minority, To-
have declaration of all the members
therein placed in the record, advccat-
ing deserving principles and refoi ms
which will serve as splendid cam
paign material in a concrete form
Then hammer the opposition
off debate where possible, and force
them to appear in their votes merely.
Advocate, as | once wrote you, to
take the convicts from the coDtrac-
tors and put them to making such
things for themselves and the in
mates of the other state Institutions,
as will save the people taxation, and
at the same time pay the conyicts a
fair sum for their services; which
will 60 to their wives AMI children
and Others who have been dependent
upon. their labor while they Lad their
freedom, or to themselves when CID
and feeble after their term OF i'm
prisonment has expired.
For it Is surely against public poi
icy to turn these people over to con-
tractors for exploitation, while those
dependent upon them IS bread-win-
ners become objects Of pubic or FRI
vate charity.
If the present session Of congress
makes the silver dollar ledeemahle in
gold, let them do it. Such action will
hasten the day when the people will
substitute sensible currency based
upon labor. |. O., full Legal tenders
paid out for services rendc,ed the
government. and receivable for all
debts owing TO the government, The