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

make as much. And when we want
to buy piece of machinery they are
all in the trust; one agent can sell
you any kind of machinery. you want :,
Well, then. they can sell cheaper,
can't they? mo, higher than ever"
Mr.. Farmer, are you in favor of keep
ing the trusts? NO
The next we named was the cattle
grower and feeder. Mr.. Cattle Grower
and Feeder, how is your business sue
ceeding in the last few years? I'VE
try to make believe we are making
some money, while it is matter of
fact there is scarcely man in all the
country that is raising and feeding
cattle but what has lost money" Mr.
Cattleman, what is the cause Of these
low prices and your losing money?
ITS the meat trust and the policy of
the packers Does the law of supply
and demand have anything to do with
the price? mo, the meat trust fixes
the price," Mr.. Cattleman, are you
in favor of the trusts? NO"
The last named but not the least
damaged was the laborer. Mr.. La
bOrer, how are your wages now? ooh,
well about the same price they have
BEEN" You ought to be laying up a
little money now, hadn't you? Il do
not know of single laboring man
laying up money. You see we have to
pay SO much higher for all we buy
now that it costs fully third more
to live than it did a few years ago."
Mr.. Laborer, why do you have to pay
a third more for your living? 'The
trusts have everything in their control
and we cannot with our wages pay
Tor just common living and that is
the cause of the unrest with laboring
men," Mr.. Laborer, are you In favor
of keeping the trusts? mo"
We have gone over the catechism
with the various classes to show the
feeling that exists in the ranks of the
business world, and in our talks with
all these classes we have not found
a single man that thought the trusts
a good thing, but they are unanimous
ly opposed to the trusts regardless of
and all say they are bad.
The question now is, Who is re-
sponsible for the trusts? 1t is a mat
ter of fact the trusts OF this country
have grown up and become the blight
upon our commerce from one end OF
the country to the other, under the
protection of the republican party.
The republican party has fostered
them; they have encouraged and ad-
vanced their interest at every oppor-
tunity.
The republican party has gone to
the trusts and corporations and sue
ceeded in getting corruption funds to
carry elections in state and nation,
and in return the trusts have adj
the price of everything that is
by the American people,
and the republican party is respons-
ible for this condition of high prices
Of every article consumed by our sew
enty-five million of people.
The question now is, What shall
we do? This great army in the re-
publican party that is ready to aban-
ION it on account of its faithlessness
10 it's constituents, and giving special
privileges to trusts and corporations,
are looking for relief. The same ele-
nent in the democratic party is driv-
IN out and away from the principles
Is laid down by the founders of the
party, and the party now in power.
This condition appeals to thinking
men. Is this not the time for the peo-
Pies party to demonstrate that they
stand for principles? That they. can
see hope OF the union of forces such
Is has not presented itself to us be-
lore? Let each and every populist
Of the nation at once seize this oppor-
unity of cementing into one great
party all these elements. and In this
and inspired with new hope
20 into the field, asking every voter
rom the Atlantic to the Pacific and
rom the lakes to the gulf. regardless
II former political affiliations To join
n this, the cause OF tho people The
,attle cry we will raise Is the sup
PRESTON OF the trusts. The restora-
ion OF the rights of American free
men. i. II. EDMISTEN
Vice Chairman National Committee
Peoples Party.
lincoln