The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-03-24


the members of that party itself, but
to every citizen Of this republic. Ii
one studies the events of the last few
years with the sincere desire to ar
rive at the truth, he cannot help COM
ing to the conclusion that every ef-
fort possible has been made to ar
range the laws and produce conditions
which will make it next TO impossible
for third party to come into the
field. The Australian ballot law,
which had for it's object not only the
absolute secrecy of the ballot but
granting the opportunity to every
class of citizens to appear on that
ballot under whatever name they
chose to adopt, has been used to de-
stroy the very object had in view by
those who secured it's adoption. In
many states it now costs immense
SUNG of money and months of work
for a new party to get on the ballot.
In New York it will cost new party
at least $4,000, for the law requires
5000 petitioners, of which there shall
be at least rs from each county, and
each name must be attested by no.
tary public. In California it requires
the signatures of at least per cent
of the voters. In Texas man cannot
vote unless he has paid into the state
treasury before or upon certain day
$1.75. Thus it will be seen that there
has been persistent effort all over
the United States to confine the po-
litical parties to two. If the candi-
dates of these two parties can be Sc
cured, the veto power and other pow
ers of the president makes any legis-
lation against the trusts, the money
power and plutocracy generally in
| possible.
| 1t is by these methods that the peo-
pies party has been almost crushed
4 Jul Vi CAloJCAtCs HC olO6dA Vi bnC
enemy has been: Put the peoples
party out of existence. Drive its
membership either into the demo-
cratic or the republican party. With
only two parties in the field, vested
rights and stock brokers' money will
| be safe. That attack has been sue
| cessful in Kansas and Colorado. In
Nebraska we fought for the existence
of the peoples party and saved it.
( In many of the other states the work
must begin at the bottom. 1t is
progressing rapidly by the organiza-
ton of the Old Guard and the Van
guard of Populism. We will have a
national ticket in the field in every
state and territory of the Union in
the coming campaign. Then plutoc-
racy may capture the leadership of
both the old parties and still it will
find that it has a foe to fight
If honest democrats and earnest
populists had not seen the danger and
resolved to die in the last ditch be-
fore the thing should be done, Nebras-
ka would now be in the same condi-
ton as Kansas and populists would
have to go on the ticket simply as
petitioners to be allowed to vote with
out the name of their party appearing
Think of the infamy of charging a
man $1.75 to vote! True statesman
ship would more likely provide that
he should be fined s1.75 IL he didn't
vote. There are 100000 voters In
Texas who have been DISTINGUISHED by
J that act. II Is far more dangerous
than the grandfather" clause in the
, constitutions OF the southern states
! Thousands of letters have come Ia
the Office of The Independent saying:
Il have not voted for the last three
or four years. There was no ticket
In the field that could conscientious,
ly support. so | did not vote at all
/ Nnnn - tE.A. x.s.ltas.. -.