The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-01-05
the referendum. and popular control of
<11o y.aov1osy no rfu

the referendum, and popular control Of
the peoples party.
| enclose ballot herewith. marked an
(x) on both questions. That means
that | think it well to maintain peo-
pies party organization in the future,
but that if good reasons appear there
for, we should cooperate with the DEM
ocrats know of no good reason why
the democrats and populists should
not nominate the same candidates for
Office when both platforms are alike.
But until 1908 the harmony between
the two can not be very marked. The
democrats in state and congressional
platforms may show in 1906 that they
are not plutUcratic, nor were reflections
of the republican platforms. However,
the very small vote cast for Watson,
which was less than $500 in Kansas
and said to be only about 100000 in
the nation, makes the outlook very dis
couraging for the peoples parry. In
deed, this would seem to be the "psy-
Geological moment" for new truly
democratic party to arise, formulating
truly democratic, populistic principles
and taking new name that has no
bad odor in any nostril. The peoples
party despite its splendid campaign
and candidates seems to have fallen to
pieces. The democratic party has re-
ceived the thorough drubbing which
it's weak, vacillating, contemplate,
|time-serving, plutocratic course has
deserved. The south discusses widely
the matter of abandoning the demo-
cratic party, or at least it's former re-
lation to that party. Although Mr.. Bry-
an and his faction of democracy still
hope to regain control of the national
organization, there is no doubt that
they would give up that attempt if it
became clear to them that the demo-
cratic party was finall.- dead, and that
it's better element sether with popu-
lists, broad-minded prohibitionists,
Abraham Lincoln republicans and So
|cialists wac are not fully convinced Of
the the SsseeeEt need or ACCESSIBILITY Of their
party program, would unite III forming
a new party. After the pronounced
democratic success of 1862, the repub-
lican party was organized. The worst
that can happen to reform, fear, and
say it with regret. is the domination
of the democratic party by true reform
ers. Afer it's innumerable sommer
|saults on great questions, it is almost
beyond human hope that the demo-
cratic party can ever gain such conf
dence among the people as to secure its
supremacy in the national legislative
and executive departments.
But one thing that populists have to
reckon with t'.st never entered into
political prob r q before is the great
progress made pbepopulistic ideas un-
der republican management Oregon,
South Dakota and Utah have direct
legislation in their constitutions. Wis
cOnsin and Kansas will enact direct
primary election laws this winter. In
the former state that was one of La
Follette's favorite laws, and in Kan
sas the republicans this year adopted
the plank of the populist platform of
1902 written by Edwin Taylor and my
self and squarely pledged themselves
on primary law. Many populists,
believe, have returned to the republican
party, as preferable to the democratic.
Will not all such. and many others,
hope for popular rule and progress in
side the republican party under these
new laws
]. c. RUPPENTHAL.
Russell. Kan.