The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-03-02
Drive the Belmonts, Shehans and
Taggarts Into the Fold Of the
Republican Party
RULE THROUGHOUT THE PRIMARIES
St. Louis Convention Did Not Bid
High Enough to Get the Sup
port Of Corporations
and Trusts.

Editor Independent: Believing that
The Independent is paper of educa-
tiOn and reform | wish to express my
views as to the course to be pursued
by those who really want reform. What
is needed is the union by organization
of those opposed to republican policies,
in other words, all those who are OPP
posed to trusts and aristOcratic rule
should be organized into one political
body or party. And there should be
but one; as the very presence of two
or more reform parties in the same
field is positive proof Of weakness in
the opposition to oppression. Shylocks
division scheme is all that has stood
between him and defeat and utter rout
here in the United States for the last
fOrty-five years. Prior to 1860 the
American people were practically unit
ed politically into one party and the
heavy hand of greed quite unknown
The two old political parties poll
about 80 per cent of the total vote OF
the country which leaves usually about
10 per cent of the votes to be divided
UP between two or more reform parties.
In the last political contest the repub-
lican party seemed to have the conf
dence of the rank and file OF it's own
party. and the trusts, corporations and
the privileged class also, while the
democratic party having failed to equal
her old rival in bidding for trust ia
va RI
stand by right and the masses was left
stranded between the devil and the
deep sea. While the reform leaders
publicly proclaimed her a ruined
wreck and beyond resurrection, and
perhaps each specializing to himself
how many recruits could be and would
be gathered from her shattered forces.
Surprising that the several reform par
ties do absorb her, then Shylock's di-
vision scheme is carried one step far
Their than is really necessary to in
sure him victory, for before there
could be victory for the masses the
reform forces would have to fuse OF
unite which would mean more wal
and pulling in opposite directions
What is sorely needed just now is the
organization of all the voters of the
democratic party and the reform par
ties as WE'LL With national headquar
ters, headquarters for each Of the sew
eral states and each county of the sew
eral states provided with a chairman
and what would seem best, commit
tee of at least three in each precinct tx
organize the voters. And exact {
pledge from each member that he viii
attend the primaries with the same in
terest that he will the elections, ant
that he will abide by the sense Of thu
majority. That is, he will support TIT
ticket and platform that he helped t
make.
Thus organized, system and order
which is necessary in all thlngs-Woult
be established and all questions cOult
be discussed by the rank and file ant
agreed upon at the primaries where ;
good, honest, competent man would b.
chosen and fully instructed on all ques
lions to go to the county convention
Under the new order of things TIL
voter would do his own thinking an
his own work and also assume respon
sibilities that is his by right AM
go to the primaries and express hi
sentiments and wishes, and the resul
would be the people would be in cor
troll of the party. There would be goo
platforms, and incompetent, unscrupu
lous officehoders would be eliminate
from the ticket. The representatives i
congress would not be railroad attol
neys and national bank presidents Tn
strong arm of greed would be broke
and special interests done away Will
Those of the Cleveland-Belmont tyr
together with the grafters and boodlel
of smaller caliber that infest ever
state capital and county seat, woul
take refuge in the republican part,
but their presence would be sourC
of weakness rather than strength
any party that they infest, and the
would be easily beaten. The produt
of toll would belong to those who pr,
duced it; and private ownership woul
soon commence to give way to govern
ment and municipal ownership. Th
spirit Of commercialism which is rul