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

En- Route Wabash Train, st. Louis
to Council Bluffs, Feb. "a, 1904.-(Edi-
torial- Correspondence.)- )-The reform
forces of the United States will on
the 1923 anniversary of the birth of our
republic, meet in national convention
at Springfield. Ill.
This is the unanimous action OF both
national committees, after two days
and two nights of spirited discussion.
That this discussion was heated and
acrimonious at times, goes without
saying. Populists always have been
and always will be-indeIendent
thinkers, upon whom the yoke OF dis
cipline Gas that term Is commonly
understood) IS CALLING. They have
been sneeringly referred to by poll
ticians in other parties as a party
with no leaders and every man
statesman-and the charge Is essen
TALLY true. For while populists are
not slow to recognize the superior
ability of men like Thomas E. Wat
son, former Senator Allen and Others,
and to give great weight to their coun-
sci and advice, it is yet fact that
these men are not leaders in The
sense that they do the thinking for
their entire following.
Hence, any populist gathering lacks
that smooth, cily movement which is
the delight of the machine politician.
1t is bound to be more or less stormy.
The steel and flint are sure to come
together with fire-producing force.
Add to these propensities, the fur
ther fact that this was meeting of
two heretofore antagonlstic wings OF
the peoples party. represented by
men on either side who have been
scathing in their utterances regarding
the other. and you have the situation
at st. Louis.
The average populist has pretty
well developed bump of suspicion,
which ordinarily keeps him on The
alert. And this being an extraorji-
nary occasion, it is not amiss to say
that this bump was worked overtime
at st. Louis.
But, after all is said and done. | be-
liese that every populist in both COM
mittee meetings was inspired by an
earnest wish to do that which would
ultimately bring about relief for the
great common people, the wealth-pro-
ducers of this glorious country OF
ours. The local conditions prevailing
in the different states naturally gave
different viewpoints, and quite as nat
urally gave rise 10 clash OF opinions
as to what would really best promote
the ultimate success of the peoples
party, and through it the genuine
prosperity of the wealth-producers.
I confess that for a time, when the
storm clouds of dissensiOn were low
ering, and 1t seemed inevitable that
the peoples party could not be reunit-
ed, my own bump of suspicion got to
working q double shift. II seemed
that two or three men in the allied
peoples meeting were determined
that no reconciliation should take
place. Yet when these men after be-
ing whipped in the fight of their lives
for what they believed was the best
course to pursue, accepted defeat phil
osophically and joined hands in maxi
ing the call and address well, COM
PEELED that chronological protuber-
ance to suspend operations.
About sixty members of both COM
mittees were present Among the
''fusionists" were Il. Gerry Brown OF
Massachusetts,. j. II. Laldefhead OF
Montana, DIR. I. ID. Burdick Of Indian
Territory. Edmisten, Tibblcs Weber
and myself from Nebraska. DIR. and J.
ii. Cooke of Missouri, Adam IIanua
aud John Medert Of Indiana. and some
others whose names escape my mem
ory now. Lett rs of resret were re-
ceived from practically all Of the ma
tlonal committeeman not present. A
few were pessimistic. but most Of
them felt that the prescIt uncertainty
and chaos In the political world is
the darkness which pnrtcnds the dawn
OF brighter day for the hoets Of
wcalth-produecrs now being robbed by
organized greed by means OF monop-
ollatlc special privileges. A consij-
erahle number believed II the part
OF political wisdom 10 defer holding
the national convention until after
both old parties have held theirs. aud
thus be enabled Ia take advantage OF
conditions then existing. This might