Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-10-24
III. subscriptio On phi g, q. 50 Z; year..
WEDNEsDAY 81 9 oBER q, 1906,
/ MAX THE NO ST OFT 3

-
ency and insinc erity because it
was once a strong party paper
while itAnow advo Gates independ-
ent action BY the yoters. N &..*:* !
lis it possible that the Gazette
is so blind that.it cannot see the
change in conditions that has
taken place insthe last few years?
Fourteen years ago the peo-
pies party began its: i work Of
warning the people of the i'm
pending conflict between, organ
lied capitalism and the rights Of
the people. Il Neither of the old
parties would then ackno wledge
that there was any such conflict
coming. The iypopulists were
treated with scorn, ridiculed and
abused as dangerous anarchists.
But: they felt that they were tell
ing the truth and that some time
the people would realize it.: Be
ing the only party: that then
fought the battles of the people
they felt that it was incumbent
on every populist to support the
movement by voting it's ticket:
Later on a section Of the demo
cratic party joined in the warn
ing cry of the populists: The re-
publican party claimed that there
was no conflict on between the.
classes and the masses; that all
that was necessary was to get
more tariff protection. and a
sound money basis and all would
be well. In this battle the forces
of progress were drawn up
against the forces of conserva-.
tism, the 'sstandpatters. - What
was more natural than for the
advocates of reform to urge all
who were in sympathy with
them to stand together and sup
port the ticket. ;~~
But then the change came.
The great magazine writer's be-
gan to thunder against the en-
croachments Of corporations;
Folk began his battle against cor
ruption in politics; LaFolette
opened his guns against corpor-
alton control of Wisconsin. And
Roosevelt began talking about
the necessity of curling preda-
tory wealth. Whatever may be
thought of his official actions,
none can dispute that his talking
did more than that Of any other
man to give impetus to the re-
form movement Thus from one
end of the country to the: other
the people we're aroused as never
before to the necessity of deci-
slve action. At the present time
it is not a party question. In the
last session Of congress the re-
form measures, such as they
were, we're passed by an almost
unanimous vote, the few @opposi-
ton votes recorded coming from
republicans like Aldrich, Platt,
etc., who are so directly con
Injected with the trusts that they
will not do anything for the PEG,
pie. In this state of affairs it is
no longer necessary to consider
party names; the thing to do is
to select the hest men on: the
ticket, the men who have taken a
prominent part in the reform
movement: The TRIBUNE con.
siders Gov. Johnson such a man
The fact that Rooseveltin a pub
lie message endorsed Johnson's
work for e insurance reform
should be sufficient proof to re
! publicans that. Johnson is L en-
I titled to be classed with the re
formers: a j. r. -: 3
There are still two parties, one
! composed; of the great mass o:
the people who want some actor
| taken to curb the trusts; the: 9th
i er consisting Of those *Iwho bene
] fit. BY the present ditions
! But. these actual parties II ar
mixed up 50 the nominal partie.
/. that fol: Fl fly !; years have Tough
Il for control of the Offices. Hencl
4 the people Il must pick out thei7
il friends on the tic ket Withou
/ paying at lion Ito party desig
il nations. Ihat tbs the kind Of ia
4 pen dence the !TRIBU NJ nov
4 stands for, and 1t IS abs lutel!!
II necessary under present condi
q tions. a !.
n ma BE possib le that Is th.'
near future the reform move
4 ment will cryst allize into "a part.
with a. definite plan of action. Il
.lso, the IRIBUNE intend It'd Worl
] with that part ttsmay bespos
S[Zsible that sc will Sc the .repubi
{ can party, that the u MI Vemen
+ start bYS r oseYelt will gal
.Esuch head way III bis .partyZtha
I 1.-THE Old stand atters and corpor
alton tools that have been "a!
Ihead IS thatt part 4; j il q e pas
I may zbe e1egatesd ia the Ascra]
S5Iple and Iso me real leader lik
4 LaFo lette may take The plositiol
ofs captain, of he2 arm D. fflzso
lIthe TR1BljsNll [ Il 4, IL ne read toIjo,ni
! Eiiln the NOV ement AM its opposi