People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1896 — Peebles Party News Bureau. [ARTICLE]

Peebles Party News Bureau.

Populist Conventions. “Old Guards" on Duty. Active Work Everywhere. Depew Taffies Grover. Maryland to the Front. lowa’B Rousing Convention. Half Fare Rates Secured.

Peoples Party News Bureau., ) Headquarters National Ex. Committee JSt. Louis, Mo., April 21.) .Notwithstanding the apparent effort of a few misguided *'politicians to prevent a union of reform forces in the approaching campaign, the sentiment of the people for. union is almost unanimous, and at this time it would seem that no human agency could prevent the people from getting together to save the country from the ruthless hand of the despoiler—the money power—and it must be evident to even the dullest mind that party growth must be considered in the matter of platform making. The resolution recently offered .« in the Senate by Peffer, of Kansas, asking for an investigation of the late bond issue, created great consternation in the gold camp. Even the high and mighty Hill, of New York, was forced to come to the rescue of King Grover. Chauncey Depew, of New York, the erstwhile Republican candidate for the presidency, is out in strong endorsement of Cleveland and his gold bond policy. Another indication that the goldites in both old parties # are preparing to get together. The Populists of Maryland held an enthusiastic state con- . wbntion at Baltimore on April 16, and selected as delegates at large to the national convention, S. S. Field, Walter Vrooman and W. S. Bronson. Delegates and alternates were also chosen from the six congressional districts. Resolutions were adopted reaffirming allegiance to the Omaha platform and instructing the delegates to the national convention to use all honorable means to effect a union of re--form forces in the present campaign. In the recent city election at Redding, Shasta county, California, the Populist vote showed an increase of over 50 per cent over the previous election. The Populists of iowa have recently organized a company to build a railroad from Council Bluffs to Chicago. Des Moines is to be the headquarters of the new road. The company has been incorporated, with C. K. Reifsnider, of St. Louis, as press. ident. The plan of construction is by selling $lO shares, $1 ‘“payable every three months. The road, when completed, is to • be operated at cost, and no salary of over $3,000 is to be paid. If this scheme proves successful, it will settle the railroad problem in this country forever, and the principle of co-opera-tion will at the same time receive a great impetus. Gov, A. F. Kalb, of Alabama, visited St. Louis last week and made arrangements with the Lindell hotel for headquarters for the Alabama delegation to * the national convention. The Governor is of the opinion that the Democrats of his State will send a divided delegation to the Chicago convention. The Democrats of Missouri, led by Governor Stone, having taken an unequivocal stand in favor of free coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1, will be obliged to bolt or eat a large sized dish of crow, it their party in nation- ; al convention declares in favor of “sound money,” as they are almost sure to do, notwithstanding predictions to the contrary. The effort of some of the western Democrats to boom . Dick” Bland for the ‘ presidency, with the hope of catching Populist votes, will come to naught. Mr. Bland is a back number, who has tarried too long at the “parting of his ways.” Chairman Breidenthal, of the Kansas Populist committee, is receiving reports of the most encouraging kind from every . section otthe State. Our people in Kansas are becoming enthused. as they have not been * since ’9O, and they evidently expect to win an overwhelming victory this year. The State convention of the National Reform party of New York convened at Syracuse on the 21st inst., with only seven delegates in attendance. It is

evident that the place for all reformers is in the Penpie’s party. Hon. A. L. Mims of Texas, is being favorably mentioned by our newspapers in that State for the gubernatorial nomination. He is also suggested as a vice-presidential possibility. H. H. McCuistian, of Lamar county, Texas, reports the Democrats as having been fighting one another for the last year, but are now busy talking harmony and trying to bind their restless voters with primary election pledges. Hundreds of life-long Democrats in Texas are openly declaring for the People’s party. “Cyclone” Davis is making a red-hot fight in his district.. He was counted out at the last election by ballot-box staffers, but says be will knock them all out this year. Our Texas papers are pouring hot shot into local dissenters and party fusionists. Grand Master Workman J. R. Sovereign of the Knights of Labor passed through St. Louis last week, enroute from the east to his home in Arkansas. Mr, Sovereign is one of the “old guard” who have battled long and hard for industrial freedom for the masses. He expressed himself as being greatly encouraged with the present political outlook. He will soon go to Oregon to take part in the State campaign. It has been definitely settled that all of the railroad passenger associations in the United States will make a one-fare rate for the round trip, to all who attend the People’s party and Silver conventions, July 22. Tickets will be on sale July 19, 20, 21, good to return until the 27th.

The Populists of the 3d Indiana district will hold a convention at New Albany on May 28, to select delegates to the national convention. Robert Schilling, of Milwaukee, is making an active campaign in Wisconsin. He has filled appointments nearly every day during the present month and made many converts to the People’s cause. Prof. W. T. Foster, the wellknown weather prophet, has accepted the chairmanship of the Free Silver party for Missouri, and opened headquarters at St. Joseph.' He is a good organizer, and will be able to induce many Free Silverites to leave the old parties. Senator J. K. Kyle, of South Dakota, says: “There are but two parties to-day. Those who beleve in the dear dollar, and an appreciating standard of value, and those w r ho wish the restor ation of the standard of our fathers, according to which our transactions have been made for many generations. People must array themselves on one side or the other, and do it soon, or there are serious times in store for us as a nation.” The chairman of the People’s party county committee . at Wheeling, W. Va., writes that the work of organisation is proceeding rapidly in that State, and that literature is needed for distribution among tne voters. B. O. Flower, of Boston, edit or of that greatest of all magazines, the “Arena,” writing of party policy, says: “If a besieging army should be encamped about our city, protected by several lines of fortifications, while it might be deemed wise, to shell the enemy, no capture of the inner lines of fortification or storming of the city could be successful until the outer breastworks should have been carried. So in politics—the success which has marked the work of the Fabian society in England during recent years has been due to two things: (1) a systematic educational propaganda along many lines of reform; (2) the union or concentration of their strength at the polls upon one issue on which the people were best educated and which was most urgent at that time.” L. K. Taylor, editor of the Paducha, Ky.. Herald, is doing splendid work for the reform cause in Kentucky and Tennessee through his newspaper and on the stump. He reports accessions to our ranks from both old parties and a general revival of enthusiasm among our party workers and editors. From many letters ‘ received from Arkansas, we get the report that 50 per cent of the Democrats have declared them-

selves as not intending to feb low any but a straight silver ticket, and standready to endorse the .entire money plank of the Populist fatty. M. R. Coffman states that the time for burlesque and harsh criticism is past in that State, and as a result many accessions to the party are gained from the best class of men. J. M. Young, sheriff of Choctaw county, Ala., reports his county as well organized and sure of victory. The outlook in the State he considers brighter than ever before. The Democrats are divided on candidates and issues and it looks like the People’s party was bound to win. The “organized” are feeling the public sentiment against “counting out” and bal-lot-box stuffing, so improvement in that line is hoped for. The election hr Louisiana on April 21, was characterized by fraud of the boldest kind, and a contest in the courts will determine the result. The New Orleans Item, which opposed the election of Foster, the Democratic candidate, made this announcement the day after the election: “Pharr has been elected governor. The Item will prove this fact by the evidence of 270 Pinkerton detectives present yesterday at the polls where fraud was carried out.” “Berwick, La., April 22.—1 have been elected governor by the votes that were pu,t in the ballot. boxes. and will be inaugurated on the second Tuesday in May. (signed.) J. L. Pharr.” lowa Populists are jubilant over their great State convention, held at Des Moines on April 22—the largest and most enthusiastic ever held in the State. Gen. Weaver, Chairman Taubeneck and Gen. Coxey addressed the convention. The platform adopted is a strong one and favors the initiative and ref* erendum and union of all the reform forces. Gen. Weaver, A. A. Weeks, W. H. Robb and W. B. Emerson were elected delegates at large to the national convention.