The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-03-16

INV 10 ftOC0eQ
Editor Independent: The question of |
how to proceed to secure more eff |
fectual political results from the pop
ulist organization seems to be up for |
consideration. But the first thing to
consider and settle is: What is going
to be the line of action in the future?
About year ago conference was held
in Denver. Object, to bring together
the different branches of the party,
and it was decided and the public SO
Informed, that there was to be no more
national fusion But the subsequent
talk and letters of such men as 10
Parker, Ferriss, Parks and Allen
showed that they had subscribed to
the conference report with many men
tai reservations, and this undecided i
and purposeless attitude existed up to
the very hour of organizing the Spring
field convention and there is no doubt
but what had a candidate been nomi-
mated at st. Louis little less objec-
tionable than Parker that the whole
posse of populist leaders would have
fallen over each other in his support.
For when Senator Allen replied to
Bryan's slop-over he said that straight
populism was mistake, that he had
supported Bryan twice and was anxious
to do so again, and this he repeated
twice before the convention. This lack
of political integrity and abandonment
of purpose and principles may be reck-
oned as the prime cause of the small
populist vote, But had the Springfield
convention endorsed the Denver nomi-
nee no matter if it had been Bryan
or Hearst, such endorsement would not
have carried with it a thousand votes,
but would have given Debs and Roose-
welt many thousand more.
think that the populist party can
again be made power in the land and
control this state at the next election,
but it will be hard job. Those who
did the work before will remember that
the most persistent and unyielding SEN
timent to overcome was the idea that
if we did make new party on correct
lines and principles that it would be
sidetracked in some way and be fail
ure. The trial was made and the re-
suit all the most fearful could have
predicted, and this has got to be faced,
while at the same time many OF the
men who are looked to as leaders, like
Senator Allen and Uncle Jake Wolf,
are continually expressing sentiment
in favor of the regular" Wall street re-
former and his coin redemption plat
forms. This simply retards growth
and prevents organization, for the Bel
mont Bryan democracy car not again
humbug the people OF the west. The
people can again be organized for polit-
ical reforms just as it was done be-
Z fore. in every county in this state there
is one, or several, ment who can en-
terrain meeting and effect precinct
organization, and it needs no confer
ence to determine the issues, for they
are always determined by the popular
sentiment. Now it is government own
ership and the time is ripe for for
ward movement on that line. If the
old workers who were turned down by
the professional crowd will again call
the people together in the school
houses and organize government own
ership clubs at the next election the
railroads can be defeated in this state
A conference Of lawyers and politi-
clans can do no good and they might
exhaust their passes. But it is almost
useless to again organize unless some
plan of making nominations is adopted
which makes it possible for the peo-
pie to choose their nominees, the con-
vention system is fraud and is used
for that purpose. 1t invites and en-
courages corruption, and will defeat
any reform movement. With all our
boosted populism the railroad influ-
ence has always been present in our
conventions since 1890. If they could
not nominate the men they wanted
they were able to defeat the men they
did not want, and along with the gov
eminent ownership organization some
For over sixty years Mrs. Winslow's
Soothing S..-rup has been used by
mothers for their children while teeth
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