People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1895 — Page 4

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LO°k C T&ink It over. f; i No compromise. i ! i Clear the track. 2 f l i OgM fMar eyas and look'. f r Hands on your pocketbooks! England’s.Egyptlan slaves threaten a revolt. Spread the moral and social tonic of Populism. Don’t let the iron cool on the anvil. Keep hammering. A radical party has no business to dodge anything. Democrats are becoming almost as scarce as money. The democratic congress has played it 3 hand out, and lost. The minority must be represented as well as the majority. The Rothschilds in the woodpile has been uncovered at last. How do you like being sold into bondage to the Rothschilds? Plutocracy will cut its own throat when it destroys the greenbacks.

The sooner American securities lose their value in London, the better. Every seed sown may not grow—the boat reason for scattering it thicker. Don’t waste any time arguing on the street corners. Shoot books at them. President Cleveland is either the biggest rascal or the biggest fool on earth. Old party friend, please tell us what your party is doing to educate the people. Down with all professional politicians and dictators. The people must rule. The best thing abont Coxey’s plan is that it would abolish ths curse of usury. ———————m An extra session is Inevitable, and the single standard policy will be its program. Straight ahead —no sidetracks on this road. Everything in the way gets run over. Every strike is an eye-opener. The workingmen of the cities will yet learn how to vote.

The farmers of the United States lost $200,000,000 in 1894 through contradiction of prices. The extra session will split the republicans as badly as the democrats are now split. All prices of prpduce are now on a gold basis. Are you in favor of the gold standard? Who made the most profit out of the ];i3t bond issue—Grover Cleveland or the United States. The miners of Ohio starving and the wheat producers of Nebraska freezing, is a national crime. Representatives who work only for party success are not representatives of the nation’s people. Plutocracy wants to teach in the schools and colleges the children, instead of ideas to shoot. The ignorant man may be educatedhut the bigoted fool is hardly worth wasting argument upon. Thousands of books on the money questions and other important issues are being circulated by the Populists. It requires no torchlight procession to circulate reform literature. Quietly but rapidly the nation is being enlightened. Who cares what Europe thinks about our finances. Let us conduct American business fcr the benefit of American people. The influence of hundreds of thousands of reform books and pamphlets is working its way to the hearts of the masses.

Grover Cleveland can spread less sense over more superficial space than any tragic scene painter on the mundane sphere. Patriotism don’t need a band wagon or a tin horn for inspiration—it is greatest under the most adverse and discouraging conditions. The Nebraska idea of lynching bankers who “fail” and steal the people's deposits, is a good one—and should be more generally practiced. The Coxey plan is the “better plan,” which may be substituted for the subtreasury to secure a currency safe sound and flexible, issued by the general government. A Texas paper observes that the present method of keeping gold in the treasury is like a shepherd feeding lambs to a pack of wolves in order to protect his flock. On top of the fact that the troops called out to protect the corporation anarchists of Brooklyn cost the taxpayers <*f the county $200,000, it is discovered that tho treasurer of the county is short in hi# accounts for SIOO,OOO,

_ VLUSV, RENocjEL AER, IND.. MARCH 16. Is'j:.. WEEKLY, ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR.

More money. Government money only. Help yourself, or you may not be helped. Will the people pay the gold gamble™’ bills? Per cent is the measure of the bankers’ patriotism. Do not neglect your old party neighl- - Lend him some thought stimulant. Without government banking, free coinage of gold and silver won’t do any good. Bonds can be paid only in labor —and are a means used by rich idlers to rob poor laborers. Coxey has devised the plan that w ill supply a safe, sound and flexible volume of currency—and abolish usury. The more Populist literature you circulate the nearer you bring equal rights to all and special privileges to none. Coxey has done more than going to jail. He has a plan that would keep thousands of his fellowmen out of jail. 1 The special session billed for next summer will put the republican party In the Bame hole Grover dug for HIS own party.

If you have not read Coxey’s plan, you shduld write him at once, enclosing a 2-cent stamp, and get a copy of his pamphlet. The Populists are publishing and circulating more books and pamphlets every week than the two old parties have both issued in ten years. Old party congressmen ridicule the Populist Idea of Issuing $500,000,000 more legal tender greenbacks for the transaction of business —but they want to issue twelve hundred million’s more bonds and force the people into perpetual debt slavery.

Whether you believe in Coxey or not you should write him for a copy of the speech made before the ways and means committee of congress. Read It carefully and thoughtfully, it will be a revelation to you. Send a2c stamp to J. S. Coxey, Maasllon. Ohio. With all his sensationalism, Coxey had a great idea—the greatest that has been proposed. His financial plan would provide ample funds for the useful employment of labor, without Interfering with any honest pursuit. It would help everybody and hurt none but thieves. Republicans denounce the bond Issues because they were not In a position to get a part of the “rake-off.” But just wait until the special session, then watch ’em line up for a single gold standard and destruction of the greenbacks. Their god, Mr. Sherman, has full control of the party and Wall street owns him.

* rroB ® ** Funny Paper, Texas Siftiags, an alleged humorous paper, published in New York, j says: The eastern part of our country does not know what Populism is, what it seeks to accomplish and what it has already achieved. To them the Populist leaders seem fanatics from the wild and woolly west, with the wind blowing through their whiskers and their brains rattling in their heads for lack of practical ideas. The Populist ought to have a newspaper organ here in New York, to define their principles and to advocate their plans. Then with the authorized and official facts in print, we should know just what we have to expect and to contend against instead of dealing blows at the empty air, as most of the opponents of Populism do now. Such a newspaper has been projected by B. B. Vallentine, an able, accomplished and experienced journalist, and several of the Populist leaders have given it their indorsement. If it were published it would secure a large circulation from curiosity, even before it circulated on its merits, because what the Populists have to say will make Democrat and Republican politicians shake in their shoes. One effect would probably be to add the whole Prohibition party, which is yearly gaining in strength, To the Populist party, and also to combine in one orgaization all the reformers whom we now call cranks. Sooner or later the Populists themselves will demand such an organ to represent them; but now it is demanded by their opponents, who find the Populists doing all the mischief possible and then flopping back into their holes, like prairie dogs. Let us get them into the open, and then we shall know how to deal with them.

Champ Clark on Jerry Simpson.

From a recent speech in the House of Representatives: Mr. Speaker— When I came into this house I had the newspaper idea about Jerry Simpson. Finally he got up here and made a speech on the silver question. I listened to the speech, and I want to say now, because somebody has got it to state it to the American people, as Simpson and I are going out together (laughter), that during the whole of that long, able, profound, debate on the silver question there was not a man in thid house on either side who delivered a speech that was pitched on a higher plane of political economy and human philosophy and stuck to it to the end better than Mr. Simpson. They said that “An open confession is good for the souh” And I want to make that statement now. j’.From that day to this, Instead of bavlim the newspaper Idea of Jerry Sltfibson that he is a cantankerous demdgjbflue, I have regarded him as a phllohjjfbher, as a statesman, as one of the of freedom, •' v

/y' a /.» pro>oWi° n \ / PRODUCED \ received *y °V \ Labor / V \ fANNUALLY.} f v /

A GRAND MEETING.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF CONVEN* TION AT KANSAS CITY. Ringing RasolutlonN of Adhoroneo to Omaha Platform- In the “Mlddla of the Rond,” Neither Drifting Townrd Kxtreme Soclaltam. It was a great meeting—the one held by the Reform editors at Kansas City on Feb. 22 and 23. Many of the old wheel horses were present. The program was the best ever arranged at any meeting of the National Reform Press Association. The growing popularity of the association was attested by the addition of twenty-six new members. Never before in the history of the association were such grave questions to be confronted and dealt with, and never before in the history of any body were they handled with such profound wisdom. The single-plank Issue, with all Its discordant attachments, was carefully considered, and the action taken

on that will do more to inspire confidence, patriotism and energetic work than anything that has been done for many a day. Relating to this question the following resolutions were passed: First —We recognize no authority in this association or elsewhere to change or modify the Omaha platform until another national representative convention, elected by the people, shall as* semble. Second—We recognize the fact that any one of the questions embodied In that platform may be forced to the front by the logic of events at different times and under different circumstances and thereby claim priority of attention and whenever this occurs it if our duty us true Populists to meet the Issue like men. Third —We recognize tne further fact that the policy of the present administration and the attitude of members of congress of both parties have brought the money question in its various phases forward in such manner as to make it the most prominent issue of the hour, and the Reform Press Association has no desire or disposition to evade it. Fourth —We recognize no disposition of the members of this association to drift away from the principles of the Omaha platform, but on the other hand there has ever been a united adherence to them, which is entitled to the highest consideration.

Fifth—Manifestly our adversaries would be immensely gratified at any want of harmony in our ranks, and we do not propose to afford them this satisfaction. We are proud to announce that no schism exists in our ranks. On the contrary, our members are united, active and aggressive. We are constrained to persevere in this policy because of the phenomenal growth of the People’s party, which polled 1,000,000 votes in 1892 and over 1,500,000 in 1894 (that were counted), which can be attributed to no other cause than that of a plain, honest and unflinching advocacy of the Omaha platform in its entirety. The concensus of opinion was, that the great body of our people were opposed to any change or modification of the Omaha platform, or the adoption of any policy that could be construed into an abandonment of any part of it. Not a man lifted his voice in favor of a sin-gle-plank issue. The officers chosen, both for the association and the Industrial Legion, were all straight middle-of-the-road Populists after the Omaha platform pattern. While the members of the association, or most of thetn, regretted that any disposition existed to practically abandon all of the Omaha platform except part of the currency plank, they carefully refrained from doing or saying anything that would be calculated to create discord or make a breach in the ranks of the party. In this they exercised not only great wisdom but true patriotism. It is enough for the people to knowthat the Reform Press of the United States stands squarely upon the deck of the Ship of State, with the unmodified chart given by the people assembled at Omaha in 1892 before them, and that we intend to sail the vessel according to that chart until another one Is given in national convention, and most especially not to be lured off by our enemies who Btmnd upon breakers, with no craft of their own to offer us for snfetjr or relief, and who deeert

us the moment we ever proposed to return to the People’s platform. It is unfortunate that the Reform Press has been charged with disloyalty —with drifting toward extreme socialism. While it is wholly unnecessary to deny the truth of the charge, it is proper to refer to it as being made for the purpose of justifying certain parties who, either through mistake or corrupt motives, seek to so change the past policy of the People's party that it may be construed into an abandonment of the greater part of the principles embodies in the Omaha platform. We do not charge corruption—it was not charged at the Kansas City meeting, but the concensus of opinion was that some of our leaders had been overmatched by the wily politicians at Washington and that the headquarters ought to be removed from that rotten and corrupt city. Be that as it may, the slogan has gone forth. There is to be no abandonment of the Omaha platform. The Reform Press brought the currency question to the front, and it will not abandon It now. This is the line upon which the People’s party has won its most brilliant victories. This Is the line which the logic of events points out as the true one. But while it is doing this it does not propose to haul down its flag from the transportation and land issues to please the silver men or anybody else who are either too prejudiced or too blind to see that the logic of events is rapidly crowding these questions to the front, with almost as many friends to sustain the position on them taken by the Omaha platform, as there are friends of free silver outside of the People’s party.

The man or men who claim to be the discoverer of the fact that the currency question is paramount at this time is twenty-seven years behind the old wooden mold-board plow. The assumption of such a position could only emanate from supreme egotism or an eDexcusable ignorance of the mind and temper of the people. For years from three-fourths to nine-tenths of the reading space in Reform papers has been occupied with a discussion of the currency question in its different phases. It was this agitation that pressed it to the front. It is not the chosen battle ground of the e-aemy—he dodged the question as long as he could. We have pressed the fight and compelled him to accept the gage of battle on these lines. While doing that we have brought up with us, in solid line, our transportation forces, our land forces, our income-tax forces and others who are now arrayed with us in line of battle to help fight the money power. Shall we forsake these for mere promises of those who have never yet had the courage to join our ranks, because, forsooth, some one has taken up the old plutocratic cry of “socialism?” No. A thousand times no. If there ever was a time in the history of this country when men should stand firm it is now. And this is especially true of our leaders. The people are disgusted. The ranks of the enemy are wavering. They are looking for great, true and brave men who will press the fight on the line of principle and not stop to barter on the line of policy. From a business standpoint the meeting of the Press Association was a grand success. Many interesting papers were read. A communication was appointed to establish a Daily Populist news service, and another to concentrate our patronage on a ready print and plate service.

The new officers of the National Reform Press Association elected for the ensuing year are as follows: Milton Park of the Southern Mercury, Dallas, Tex., president: W. A. Hotchkiss of the National Republican, Presto, Minn., vice-president; W. S. Morgan of the Buzz Saw, Hardy, Ark., secretary and treasurer; executive committee, J. H. McDowell, Nashville; Paul J. Dixon, Chillocothe, Mo.; C. H. Matthews, Indianapolis, Ind.; E. S. Peters, Calvert, Tex.; W. L. Brown, Kingman, Kan. W. S. Morgan was also re-elected editor for the National Reform Press Association Official Ready Print and Plate Service for another year. The importance of the existence of a national association was more forcibly impressed upon the minds of those present than ever before. It has shown itself to be the bulwark of the Reform movement, and the people can rely upon its unfaltering loyalty in the great battle for human rights. Every Reform editor should belong to the association.

W. S. MORGAN, Sec’y.

A DUTY OF SOCIETY.

CFUMEB AQAJNSTTHE FAMILIES OF CRIMINALS. VaAttlMU Condltloaa —Tk* Innnrrnt Suffer Greater Pnnlnhmcnt Thun the Guilty—Argument for the Reform of Legalized Abuses.

There are many wrongs committed in the name of justice. Among these none are greater than those committed against the families of criminals. Take for instance a man with a family of five or six children. He commits some ! act for which he is sent to prison for * a length of time. No attention is given to his family. They do not seem to be subjects for consideration at all. The husband is probably very poor and when he leaves his family he takes from them the last vestige of support. The wife in her heart-broken condition must now accommodate herself to her new surroundings and take upon tierself the task of supporting herself and her children. As a result, and one far too common, the children grow up hi want and aa a rule follow the example set by the unfortunate father. In many cases the real sufferers are the wife and children. This unfortunate condition is augmented greatly by the fact that the family feels too keenly the remorse and disgrace brought upon them by the acta of their father, and, being thus handicapped, they fall an easy prey to the vices that, under more favorable surroundings, they would have resisted.

Aside, however, from the pathetic side comes the fact that it is contrary to the principle of justice. By what authority or under what pretext can we make one person responsible for the acta of another. This wife and these children have violated no law, then why should they suffer Its consequences? It is true that the mortification that the Imprisoning of the father and husband entails is unavoidable, but there 1b no need of the laws of the country putting more upon these unfortunates than ia absolutely unavoidable. In nearly all the States the prisoner is put to hard labor. The proceeds of hia labor, in nearly all cases, go to the State. In some cases is worse than that, it goes into the pocket of some contractor. In that case the State not only robs the widow and orphans of what he produces but also turns it over to the contractor. Now we would like to ask if it would not be better that the proceeds of the convict’s labor be turned back to his family? Can the State afford to make criminals out of his children through starvation for the sake of keeping his wages? It is argued by some that most criminals are a burden rather than a support to their families, while free. That may be true, and in many cases doubtless is true, but that argues nothing against what we are demanding. If a man is worthless and has a family and he is sent to prison and made to work, the State is enabled to serve a double purpose, of ridding society of a bad citizen and making him support his family, a thing he would not otherwise do. For the State to ruin a whole family and then be a party to the raising up of a lot of criminals all for the sake of meteing out the demands of justice to one man, is not only wrong in principle, but destructive in practice. It is argued, again, that many of the criminals in our penitentiaries are single men. This is true, but the most of them have mothers and fathers who are, or at least should, depend upon him for support. Granting, however, that he has no family or other persons depending upon him. Why not allow him to retain a good portion of his earnings for his own use after his term expires? The custom in most States is to give the discharged convict a ticket home, $5 in money and a new suit of clothes. These clothes are of the very cheapest kind, bought in large quantities and all alike. Every discharged criminal leaves the prison looking just like every other prisoner who has left it. These suits are almost as well known throughout the country as would be a suit of stripes. He has no way of concealing his identity or his late occupation. He has no money to go where' he is not known The result is his surroundings have a tendency to discourage him in making another start in life, and his good resolutions, made in captivity, come to naught. It is not unfrequently the case that these conditions are too much for him and in the absence of better opening he seeks refuge again in the penitentiary. Any one who has watched these matters can call to mind cases of this kind Now we believe that prisons of all kinds should be maintained only for the good of society. That the first an? greatest object to be attained is the restoration of the criminal himself Makes a man of him, if possible, and at all events do nothing to hold him down or to stand in the way of his progress along the line of selfrreform. It may appear, at first glance, to be a sweeping remark to make, but we believe that the facts warrant us in saying that under our present abominable system that prisons, as a whole, are doing more harm than good.—lnter Mountain (Utah) Advocate.

Arkansas Senators.

What’s the matter with our senators? There’s Jones’ currency bill providing for another issue of bonds amounting to $500,000,000, which means, at 3 per cent Interest per annum, and running twenty yearß, a debt of $800,000,000 for the people of this country to pay. This means $18.50 each for $65,000,000 population, or $75 for every family of six persons. We've got a dandy pair of senators, now, haven’t we?—Little

liqvvl Suffrage to all Citizens.

INDUSTRIAL LEGION.

Organization That WHI Rally the Reform Forces In 1896. The annual meeting of the National Industrial Legion was held at Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 22, at the same time as the meeting of the Reform Press Association. The address of Commander Van Dervoort, published in last week’s; i i**ue, was a grand effort. It was received with unbounded enthusiasm and applause. The work which Gen. Van Dervoort has done and the obstacles he has overcome entitle him to great credit. He believes that the legion should be the one great organization that will unite and lead the reform forces to victory. Nothing can be accomplished except through organization. The more thorough and compact the organization the more effefctive it is. The legion passed a resolution tendering its thanks to Gen. Van Dervoort for his untiring and unselfish devotion to its | work. The reform press did the same , and pledged its hearty support in the , future.

The no* officers of the legion are: Commander-in-chief, Gen. Paul Van Dervoort, Omaha, Neb.; vice-command-er, Frank Burkitt, Okolono, Miss.; adju-tant-general, J. A. Egerton; quarter-master-general, Milton Park, Dallas, Te**a; sentinel, W. S. Morgan, Hardy, Ark.; executive council, Geo. F. Washburn, Boston, Mass.; A. Rozelle, Tarkio, Mo.; J, W. Moaker, Denver, Colo.; Rev. J. W. Botkin, El Dorado, Kan.; Thos. V. Cator, 212 Sanford street, San Francisco, Cal. It will be seen that some of the oldest and best workers in the People's party are officers in the legion. It has time and again been indorsed by the national committee, and now stands indorsed by the Reform Press Association. We see no reason why it should not be the great organization of the reform forces. Now is the time to push the work of organization. At the state legion in Arkansas over SI,OOO was raised for the campaign of 1896. The plan adopted for raising funds in that state is shown in the following circular which is being circulated by the legions in every county: APPEAL TO THE POPULISTS OF

ARKANSAS. At a meeting of the State legion of Arkansas, held in Little Rock, Ark., Jan. 15, 1895, the proposition was submitted to those present that a paper be circulated over the state, asking that each Populist subscribe funds for the campaign of 1896 equal in amount to the taxes he pays for one year. Said sum to be paid to Thomas Fletcher, chairman of the state central committee between now and July 1, 1896. The object of this movement is to begin at once the campaign of 1896, and prosecute the work of education. The first paper was circulated among those present and over SI,OOO was subscribed; every dollar of which is good and part of which was paid in at that time. Brethren, this fight is being waged for the common weal of all. Experience has demonstrated that we cannot succeed without organization. We cannot have organization without funds. This appeal is based on every one’s ability to pay.

If all respond it will give us a fund to prosecute such a campaign as was never known in this state. The enemy is divided, distracted and demoralized. Our people are solid, compact and determined. Let us press the fight. Let us push the organization of the legion. Let us make a brave effort for freedom from a political domination that has spoils for its object, and hesitate not to violate the rights of the people, or the laws of the land, to accomplish its purposes.

Secure all the names you can to the following agreement. Preserve one copy, and send another to Tho 3. Fletcher with whatever money you can collect at the time of taking subscriptions. THE AGREEMENT. We, the undersigned, agree to pay to Thos. Fletcher, chairman of the state central committee, as a campaign fund of the People’s party, by the first day of July, 1896, the amount of our taxes for one year, which is represented by the sum set opposite our names. By this means it is expected that several thousand dollars will be raised to prosecute the campaign in that state. A campaign is poorly conducted that does not have an organization that furnishes the names of the best workers in each and every township in the state. The legion will fill this want, and keep open the lines of communication from headquarters to the remotest corners of the state. Let the work of organization be pressed forward, NOW.

LIBERTY DEAD.

Justice, Humanity and Patriotism tVecp —A Sad Death. Francis Lester tells of a Polish l~d of 12 years, who was sent to the Chicago bridewell thirty days for stealing ceal. He admitted his crime and could talk enough English to say that he stole coal. He served out his tinw* and then he tramped home to his widowed mother. And she was dead. He had stolen coal to warm her as she lay dying. Mrs. Lena Johnson, St. Paul, Minn., was arrested and thrown into Jail for stealing in order to keep her four children from starving to death. A wealthy New York girl, Miss Sufferin, was arrested for shoplifting. Forty dollars’ worth of stolen goods were found In her possession, mostly Jewelry and trinkets, concealed in her *ur muff. The Judge called this kleptomania and she was discharged. If you are poor and take a loaf of bread it Is stealing. If you are rich and steal a few hundred, it’s kleptomania. If you are sharp enough to steal a railroad you are a great financier and |>uslaea* man.—Cblende Express.