The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-02-16

the organization Of the populist party, |
Independent of any other party. II
wish, however, to qualify my vote upon
this proposition by brief explanation
of my position.
Ny preference for Independent action
by our party is limited to national is
sues and national offices. l believe the
action of the democratic party in its
last national convention makes this
course imperative on our part.
am not, however, one Of that num-
erous faction we rea' SO much Of since
the Tate disaster" who has always
opposed fusion" To the contrary, I
have always favored fusion. / favored
fusion in 1896, in both state and ma
ton. l cannot agree with those per-
sons who date the downfall of the pop
ulist party from the nomination of Mr..
Bryan in 1896. / believed at that time
and do still believe, that it was the
right and proper thing for our party
to do. The course that our national
convention took that year might have
lost us votes, but had We acted diff
ferent 1t would have lost us more
votes. Had our party refused to en-
dorse Mr.. Bryan in that convention, it
Is my humble opinion that we would,
by such refusal have made the mistake
fatal to our existence still believe,
as did then, that the efforts made
and the tactics used by the republican
bosses to prevent us from thus combin-
Ing with the reform element of the
democratic party was sufficient proof
that we were right in doing so, had we
had no other reason
But / can hear some Of my fellow |
pOpulists say what are you going to |
do with Mr.. Bryan's course in the late
campaign" In answer, I would sim
ply suggest that we might ask similar
question concerning the recent scourse
.Of General Weaver, who so CALAMITY
led our hosts in 1852?
do not endorse Mr.. Bryan's course
In the late campaign but I take it for
granted that he is man of mature
years and capable Of knowing his own
business. Furthermore, neither Mr..
Bryan nor Mr.. Weaver, nor any other
man is, or ever has been, the embodi- |
ment of the populist party. The pop
nlist party is founded upon certain |
principles. Men may waver, but prin-
ciples remain the same.
Concerning fusion in our state upon
the state offices for the past eight years
we all well know that we never elected |
a state officer until we co-operated with |
the democrats, without it was the DOS
Sible exception of John II. Powers in
1880, who, according to the populist
claim, was fairly elected governor, but |
was counted out, not by the democrats
OF Nebraska-but by an Omaha mob, |
consisting of democrats and republic |
cans alike.
1t was by cooperation that we were
for four years in control of the state |
government. And when we compare
that four years of fusion administra- |
ton with republican debauchery in our
state government, both before and !
since that period, have We anything to |
regret in the result of that co-opera-
ton?
Was it not by cooperation that elect
ed VIM. V. Allen-that great champion |
OF the peoples rights-to the United
States senate? Have we anything to |
be ashamed Of in Mr.. Aliens record
admit that there was plausible rea-
son for opposition to fusion in the last
campaign. But since we did fuse and
made the clean and honorable cam
paign that we did, belize we made no
mistake. We were defeated by COM
!bination Of circumstances which I will |
not take time nor space to mention
here. But we cannot charge this de-
feat to the democrats of Nebraska.
They have stood shoulder to shoulder
with us in the support o. Mr. Bergc
and the entire ticket.
And, in this connection, I want to
say in behalf of the democrats of this.
the Tweitieth representative district
OF Nebraska, that they have stood by
me as loyalty in this campaign, in my
candidacy for state representative as
have my populist supporters, and this.
too, in face of the fact that | positively
refused to make any prediction
pledges as to whom | should vote for.
for United States senator, and | don't
charge it to either democrats or popu-