TSyf j
XJ v
The Peoples Voice
VOLUME 9.
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1901.
NUMBER 52
V >
PLAN TO UNITE FORCES.
The National Executive Committee
of the Midroad Populists met in De-
troit, Mich , on the 3rd of this month
and authorized Chairman Parker to
call a delegate conference of the
Midroad Populists of the several
States to meet at Kansas City, Mo.,
on the 17th of September next, and
to continue in conference three days.
The call for this convention at
Kansas City is in response to a spon-
taneous and general effort on the part
of fusion Populists, mid road Pop-
ulists, Single Taxers, Social Demo-
crats and other reform organization
to get together under one name and
organization to contest the ground
with the imperialists and plutocrats
in 1904.
Fusion Populists and Midroad Pop-
ulists have never differed on princi-
ple; their purposes being the same.
The difference between them consist-
ed wholly as to methods by which the
same end might be attained. The
fusion Populists, mostly in the West
where the Democracy was utterly
powerless, believed that reforms
could more quickly be secured by fu-
sing with that element of the Demo-
cratic party which professes to desire
the same reforms demanded by the
Populists and which had taken pos-
session of the Democratic party ma-
chinery, antagonizing the Cleveland
or Republican element of the party
which had committed the'party to the
gold standard, national banks, bonded
debt, and to every vital principle in-
augurated and advocated by the Re-
publican party under the lash of the
Money Power.
ty to unite all reformers in one or-
ganization that should not be lost.
The Public Ownership League in Mis-
souri has many thousand voters or-
ganized who have twice developed a
strength at the polls in St. Louis
sufficient to force the politicians to
the rankest fraud and corruption to
enable them to retain the city gov-
ernment in the possession of the cor-
porations and gamblers. Many of
the wealthier and most progressive
manufacturers and business men are
active workers in the League. It al-
so has a growing membership in many
of the towns of State. A unity of
this urban reform force with the old
Greenbackers and Populists of the
rural districts ought to have no
trouble in beating the politicians in
that State even should they combine
the two old corporation serving par-
ties.
The conditions existing in Missouri
are not wholly exceptional. Wher-
ever labor is organized the leaven is
at work, and it is only a matter of
time when the business and industrial
interests of the towns and of the ru-
ral districts will be a unit in their op-
position to the corporation and gamb-
ling interests of the country. And
when this unity does come it will re-
quire but one contest at the polls to
determine who owns and controls this
country, the Dollar or the Man.
We think Georgia should have a
full representation at the Kansas
City conference in September. And
we believe it advisable that our State
Chairman call a convention of Popu-
lists to meet at a convenient time to
select delegates to go to Kansas City
The midroad Populists, mostly in
the South, could see no possibility of
success in fusing with a party which
contained within itself the elements
of its own destruction.
After two trials at fusion the Popu-
lists, silver Republicans and that con-
siderable element among the Demo-
cratic voters who were sincere in
their declarations for reform, have
become convinced that oil and water
will not mix: that a political party
like a house, which is divided against
itself cannot stand. Therefore the
demand is made for unity, not only of
the two factions of the Populists but
of all true reformers.
Acting upon this demand the Pub-
lic Ownership League, the two fac-
tions of Populists, the Single Taxers,
the Silver Republicans and Social
Democrats of Missouri held a con-
ference in Kansas City something
more than a month ago and organi-
zed as one party as a e State organi-
zation under the name of the Allied
Third party.
The Populists and other reformers
of a number of the Western States,
among them Texas, sought to feder-
ate with the Missouri movement,
and from this sprang the generaljde-
sire to make the movement national.
We believe this to be an opportuni-
We desire to get an expression from
the active members of the party on
this matter.
No man need wrap himself up in
the belief that reform is not to be
had in this country. The movement
and the necessity for reform are ten
times greater today than they ever
were before. All that is needed is a
unity of action by those who have a
unity of purpose. Will the Confer-
ence secure this'? We shall see.—
Herald, Dalton Ga.
A Parable On Tobacco •
Then shall the kingdom of Satan
be likened unto a grain of tobacco
seed, which though exceeding small,
being cast into the earth, grew ex-
ceedingly and became a great plant
and spread forth its leaves rank and
broad, so that the large and vile
worms with thorns on them, even on
their tails came and formed habita-
tion thereon and did crawl all over
and leave their slime and tilth there-
upon. And it came to pass in those
days that the sons of men did look up-
on this rank and filthy plant and
were very much enamored therewith
and did think it was beautiful to be-
hold, and a plant very much to be de-
sired to make lads big and manly.
And it further came to pass that men
claiming to be nice men did put forth
hands and pulled the heads off these
filthy looking worms and left their
bodies still sticking on the tobacco |
leaf that the leaf might be made
rich by the juice thereof and having
cut these filthy plants and smoked
them even with an exceeding great
smoke, and cured and stripped and
pressed and wrought the leave there-
of into curious shapes and forms, and
the sons of men gave gold and silver
for it and did chew thereof. And
some, that chewed thereof it made
sick at stomach, and others it made
their heads to ache, and still others
to vomit most filthily; but for all this
they continued to chew thereof; and
it came to pass that those who con-
tinued to chew became exceedingly
unmanly and exclaimed: "We are en-
slaved andean not cease chewing!"
And the mouths of all who were en-
slaved became exceedingly filthy and
foul, insomuch as they were seized
with a violent spitting; and they did
spit even in ladies parlors and on
their floors and carpets, and being
wholly abandoned to the plant they
e\*2n invaded the sacred precincts of
the house of the Lord and there with
prayers on their lips and tobacco in
their mouths, they sang and prayed
and preached and chewed and spat-
tered the filthy juice on the lloor of
the Lord's house and under the pews
and against the walls and in the pul-
pit, and did drop quids of tobacco all
over the floor of the Most High God,
and would return home and say: '"We
have worshiped God today."
But some of the saints of the Most
High were not pleased with such con-
duct, but chewers cared not for these
things and continued to chew and spit
where they listed.
And in course of time it came to
pass that this rank an d filthy plant
was ground into dust, even the stalks-
and stems, and filth thereof, and was
called snuff. And it came to pass
that ladies—even beautiful and fair
ladies—did make unto themselves
brushes and mops and dipped the
same into the filth called snuff aud
did put these filthy mops into their
mouths and the}' would rub and scrub
mightily and spit and sneeze and call
the same dipping.
And again it came to pass that the
leaves of the filthy plait were cun-
ningly wrought into little round rolls
called cigars, and the sons of men did
set fire to one end thereof and put
the other end into their mouths and
suck mightily, yea, even as calves
suck, and did look very grave and
calf-like, and the smoke of their tor-
ment ascended forever and forever.
And the cultivation of the plant be-
came a mighty business on the earth
and merchants and speculators waxed
rich thereby.
And still the folly continued. J. P.
Rugby, Tex
Can we Unite?
WE HAVE
A number of broken pairs of Lace
Curtains that we can make prices
on. Also a large new line of Lace
Curtains. See them. No trouble
to show goods 
tad [nan in (mi a.
Undertaking and Embalming.
V AAAAAAAAAAA^AAAAAAAAAAAA
Populists, Single Taxers, and others,
who are herding his way, though
they are not as yet reading straight
Socialist literature. This would be a
new and a promising field for pro-
paganda which would be open to
such a paper under the most favor-
able circumstances.
But if no union be effected, the ef-
fort to get it is in itself a progressive
step. It will come all the sooner for
this endeavpr. It will bring into
closer harmony and sympathy all
who are opposed to our present capi-
talistic and competitive civilization
and emphasize the Importance of
immediate and practical results and
their immense advantages over
mere "visions of the perfect state-"
The Mercury has several times taken
the liberty to suggest some of the
AUCTION OF TOWN LOTS.
Sale Will Be Commenced at the Town
Of Lawton on August Sixth.
Washington, 1). C; July 13—Judge
Vandeventer, assistant attorney-gen-
eral for the department of the inte-
rior, is preparing supplemental rules
and regulations relating to the dispo-
siticn of lots in the townsites of An-
adarko, Hobart, and Lawton, which
will be niabe public in a few days.
The rules will prescribe the manner
of the sale of the lots, the number
that can be purchased by any one
individual, and the order in which the
sales will occur.
A line legal problem has been pre-
sented in connection with its inter-
pretation of the provision of March 3,
l'JUl, limiting the number of lot* that
lines made to move, but the adoption can be purchased by any individual.
The
Pishing
Season
WEAR
SHOE
From present indications it would
., . . , i , lined up again under new
appear that no union can be formed j .. . .
by the agency of a great National
convention, on a basis that will be j
accepted by all the different elements j
of reform. The reasons for this are
obvious, and need not be repeated j
here. They are precisely those |
which keep the religious sects from j
uniting on some common ground of
Christianity. Personal ambitions j
make a figure, but a very small |
of any common basis for even a tem-
porary and tentative co-oporation is
more than we dared to hope for.
More and more are we convinced
that the initiative must be taken by
the seperate states Missouri has
set the example; let others follow.
In that state, there are already
100,000 voters who will enthustically
support a third party movement.
And the numbers will grow. Here is
something real and tangible. The
plutocratic Democracy of the East
will dictate the next Democratic
nomination for President, and this
will be the end of their reactionary
The Bryan Democrats will revolt,
and where can they go except to the
third party? Mr. Bryan will hardly
undertake to advocate anindependent
Democratic candidate against the
regular nominee. The old Democracy
is rotten. It must go the way of the
old Federal, the old Free Soil, and
the old Whig parties, which all went
down to death and whose adherents
names in
I living and acting organizations. All
that is valuable in Mr. Bryan's
teachings will survive; for truth
never grows old.
We repeat, we believe state action
to be the solution, and on the Mis-
souri plan. The opposition in all the
states can be organized in ample
The law provides,"no person shall
purchase more than one business or
residence lot." It is not clear wheth-
er this refers to a single town or to
all of the towns. it is claimed by
many that this provision will per-
mit an individual to purchase two lots
in each town if he so desires. It is
probable that this will be the inter-
pretation of the department.
The sale will commence at Lawton
August (i, and continue till the lots
there are disposed of. The officials
will then go to Anadarko and con-
tinue the sale there; then to Hobart.
If there are any lots remaining
unsold at Lawton the commission will
return to that city and otter them for
sale. Similar trips will be made to
Anadarko and Hobart so as to dispose
of as many unsold lots as practicable,
All payments for town lots must be
in cash. The sales wi 1 occur under
the supervision of the federal officers
designated by ihe secretary.
It is probable that Governor Rich-
ards will be selected to supervise the
work.
An auctioneer will be appointed by
the secretary and receive instruc-
tions to permit a free, unrestricted
competition of the sale of all lots, so
as to guarantee absolute fairness and
equity to all who are desirou- of pur-
chasing the property.
time to call a National convention to, „ „ _ , _ m
. I New Country Openings and Dry Weather,
nominate a candidate for the next j r b j
figure, in hindering such a combina- j Presidency. Then there
tion. The sincere diversity of opin- following—there will be
will be a
something
Is now on and we
are fishing for the
trade of the people
for miles around
Quality galore and law
prices which you won't
match elsewhere. Wa
satisfy you in every
way. *f if
Will close all odds and ends at cost and below.
OUR
BAIT
to represent: then will come union
Mercury.
Disastrous Fire.
The hot dry weather and scarcity
of water in the towns makes the con-
ditions very favorable for fires and
means of putting them out equally
as unfavorable. Several very dis-
astrous prairie fires have been re-
ported and last week the town of
Mountain View in Washita county,
union would i suffered the loss of some blocks of
ion as to aims and methods is what
makes the difficulty. WTe believe
! that such a concentration of effort
! could be made as to pull together for
the actual accomplishment of a few
things it would give new impetus to
the cause all round We believe
further, that every Socialist or
j Single Tax payer and reform papers
I of all kinds, instead of losing circu-
lation and influence. People like a
prospect of success; they need en-
couragements. Such
give both, and create enthusiasm j property in the business part of the
f.
vVCuylUs!
UiU LiiU UlUUlU.UU.UiU.UlL'.UlU.Vl
where apathy now exists. Every
newspaper could continue its special
program on its own lines, there
would be no concessions, no surrend-
ers, no compromises of anykind.
Under such a union the Socialist
editor would have an opportunity
town entailing a loss of something
like $65,000 and on last Saturday
night the city of Enid was nearly
wiped out by fire. Four of the busi-
ness blocks in the city were $200,000
wortii of valuable property went up
in smoke. People should use extra
for enlarging his circle of influence j precautions handling fire at the pre-
and circulation that is now lacking. ' sent time for everything is as dry ar
His papers would circluate among tinder.
The present long dry spell is per-
haps, the last one ever to be exper-
ienced in Oklahoma for the reason
that no more openings of new coun-
tries will occur. Every opening of
new country in this territory has
been preceded by a long dry spell.
Murdered at Newtcn, Kansas.
Miss Oma Beers, the 18 year old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Beers was murdered near her home
in Newton, Kansas, last Saturday
night by Herbert Shacklett a young
man of IS years. The murdered kill-
ed himself and the two bodies were
found lying close together by search-
ing parties. Mr. Beers is one of the
passenger conductors on the Santa Fe
and his run is from Newton and Pur-
cell.
Maps and rules for opening new
country with allottments, schools
lauds, reservations, county seats,
and county lines on sale at the Peo-
ples voice office. I'rice .">0 cents.