The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-02-25

fusion finally ceased for moment 1T
was announced that it stood ~ to Il
in favor Of June IA.
We were then notified of the new
turn of affairs, but decided that we
had 'gone al, the way over the
trail" making one concession after
the other in the interests of harmony,
practically giving them all they asked
except the date-and in this, even, we
had compromised. So we said, We'll
stand pat We shall call convention
to be held July in Springfield, ILL.,,
regardless of any other wing, faction
or party on earth. We prefer to uni
fy the reform forces. bat il tie mid
readers are here represented by men
who want to wreck the reform move
ment by such capriciOus action, then
upon the mid-roaders be the odium."
Col. Mallett, that sturdy old ex-
confederate soldier, editor of the Gle
burne TEX Waterman, was almost
heart-broken over the new turn OF
affairs. With choking voice and tears
glistening in his eyes, he came with
Judge Livingston Of Missouri to our
room and said, This is too much. We
want to come with you. We want 10
stand with our people, but some OF
them here seem determined that no
reconciliation shall be effected be-
tween the two wings have been
fighting for reform these many years
and now, just when things looked so
bright for grand forward movement,
1t breaks my heart to see such an in
significant trifie stand in the way OF
harmony"
The prospect Of a continuation of
the old schism after all reason for it
has passed away, was more than
Judge Williams, Col. Felter. Nat. Ea-
ton and others could stand. their
feelings, however, took the form OF
anger rather than sorrow, and those
who were present tell me that they
read the riot act, to their stubborn
brethren in language always forceful
and sometimes closely crowding that
border line which separates those
things which may be printed and
those which my not.
Well, the upshot of. it all was that
the scolding did a world of good
Medert, Hanna. the two Cookies, Gerry
Brown and Ca'delhead wanted to get
away on the S'3C and 8 p. M trains
So they made Vice Chairman Edmls-
ten, DR.. Burdick and myself a sub
committee with pienary powers to is
sue a call for national convention and
an. address, if thought advisable. 81
with Tibbles and one or two Others
we settled down for series of "wait.
Ing moves" as the chess players tern
It, We kept open house from till
]. smoking, telling stories-and waiting!
Some of us had had experience sit
ting up all night with "three-ringet
circus in Nebraska and knew thu
value of patience, after every reason.
able concession had been made.
We said to ourselves, If the boys
over in the other hotel are really
populists, and not actually determined
to wreck populism, but are simply
holding out over some fancied belize
that they would sacrifice their honor
by yielding, they will come to us. VIZ
have tried to he fair We believe w
have been fair. This struggle will b.
a test of their populism.
And 1t was. They were populists
They are populists. All our hard feel
ings vanished Ike mist when 10 A
Parker, Milton Park ana Paul Dixoi
came marching over to the st. Jane.
about l o'clock in the morning, ,
committee clothed with rlenary pow
ers to issue joint call and address
with us for Springfield, July A.
Well, weren't we a happy it'll
group! On our part-for | believe M,
own feelings were reflection O
those of my colleagues-there was n,
wish to do anything which would hav
the appearance of rubbing it in.
They had fought good fight; the,
had kept the faith as they saw it
and they yielded like gentlemen, a
they are. and populists when they sa,
that further resistance meant SO nue.
Manage to the cause we all hold dear
It's pretty tircsome work. this sit
ting up-and weiting, especially 10
us married old guards who have qul
the "holding-hands" game which. nm
der the stimulus of love, we one
could have PLAYED the iiye-long nigh
without interrurion-l beg pardon
II was the interruption that CALLED