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

without apology on to the works OF
plutocracy and will not be used as
trading stamps" by anybody. The
money issue is the breath, spirit and
soul of the populist party and facing
traitors within and without, with the
eye of faith in the ultimate triumph
of truth ever strives to restore man.
kind to their natural God-given rights
to govern themselves, free from the
money thieves that pollute the temple
of liberty and here we take our stand,
here we live or die. Some feel dis
heartened and state Of apathy seems
to lower down on us, discOuragement
seems to prevail and representation
and humiliation seems to have pros
trated and paralyzed the work. How
shall we rise above it? Well, let me
give you my views.
First, there seems to be an idea ex-
tant that the newspapers can do all
the work. We have no desire to depre-
ciate the value of the press, but how
can they do the work alone? Who
reads their papers outside of the pop
ulist? Surely very few.
We must have organizers out at
work organizing clubs and at the same
time scatter our literature and get
new subscribers And have some means
for getting revenue to carry on the
work. These organizers will enthuse
old workers, get new converts and con-
vince the public populism is truly
alive. You can write fine articles, but
after all is said that can be claimed
for reading matter there is nothing to
compare to the human voice to give
color and form and blend beauty and
art into panoramic order for the crea-
lures of the mind.
Old parties can run newspaper cam
paigns for they have their organiza-
lions, but new parties must get their
lines formed before they can pass the
word along tie line G. G. De France
has pointed out this fact and surely
something must be done. We are now
just where we were before the Spring
field convention. We had no money
then to support national headquarters,
and we have not now. We did no
work then and are doing none now We
were suspicious then and we are sus-
picious of each other now. Our press
had no lecture bureau then and they
have none now. Can't our press see
by the rank and file keeping still, stag
nation follows after every campaign?
Is our press blind to the necessity OF
party activity? There is not a politi-
cal reform in America but has its or
ganizers out at work except the popu-
| list party and we go away back and
| lay down after every campaign. Is
there any wonder we don't command
public attention or respect? 1t is high
time our press was looking after this
matter, for il our leaders are not re-
sponsible who is?
Let me say the populist party must
get to work or die with slow rot. There
is to be campaign in 1908 and the
old parties will fight over monopoly.
| The democratic party will take about
all the populist platform Everything
but the money plank, then the con-
fict on monopoly will relegate the
money issue to the rear again and with
this state of affairs thousands will help
the other side again as they did this
time. The old parties will keep the
money issue out of the campaign I'M
less the populists organize to push it
to the front. If we are to have fight
ing army we must have more recruits.
The Old Guard can live on newspaper
fodder, but the young and ambitious
must have something in sight. Vital
Iity is reality and reality must be
seen. What have we to show? What
are we going to do? COL. FELTER.
| Springfield, III.