The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 29, 1902 Page: 4 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 24 x 17 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Ml
4
THE SOUTHERN MERCURY.
^■' ■ ——
WEEKLY.
PvMtohad Every Thursday. Subscription
Price, 1 a Year.
MILTON PAKK - - - Managing Editor
Entered at the Dallas, Texan, postofflce
aa mall matter of the tecuni clans.
Receipts for moneys given by the Man-
Ming; Kdltor only will be recognized.
Office, 218-15 Commerce Street (corner
Lamar), Dallas, Texas.
While your are talking with your
friends, say a good word for the Mer-
cury and get up a club If possible.
The Populists held a rousing con-
vention at Laneburg, Ark., and nomi-
nated a county ticket, with J. O. A.
Bush for representative.
American beef at 24 cents a pound In
New York and 14 cent* a pound In Lon-
don rather tends to puncture a few Re-
pubtloan theoriea about the high price
of beef.
postofflce department had attempted
an amendment of the? law which it had
no power to do. it is apparent that
the actions of the officials in the post-
offlce department are really grounds for
Impeachment.
The utterly utter palltical and veno-
mous character of the O. A. R., as a
body, may be Inferred from the follow-
ing, "whareas" which was adopted at
the Statu meeting In Indiana:
"Whereas, The veterans of the war
for the union abhor, and despise all
citizens of the United States who re-
fused to support our government dur-
ing war and cannot see wherein the
copperheads of 1898 to 1902 are less
venernous than their ancestor!; there-
fore, be it—."
It was a fitting thing for the French
government to give to the United found In the phrase by which his pur-
Slates a monument of the hero Roch- . pose may be defeated. Those who take
ambeau, who war present with 8,000 a broader view will find the core of
French troops at tho capture of Corn- t the Joke in our desperate unwillingness
wallls at Yorktown. It Is fitting that j to even Intimate in print tliat a plain
this country should receive the gift treaty obligation la to be tolerated.
inconsistent with the treaty obliga-
tions."
An old treaty with China provide*
for free Chinese Immigration. But
every intelligent man knows that Con-
gress has the right to set aBlde a
treaty whenever, In their judgment, the
public welfare demands it. The News
knows this, or ought to know It.
The News, referring to this smug-
gled provision, pleads for unlimited
Chinese immigration in the following
language:
"Think of the raacal who dared In-
veigle us into this expression of a pur-
pose to regard our treaty obligations!
What shall be done with such a tricky
traitor?
"Of course the man who la Interest-
ed first and last and all the time In
excluding the Mongolian will consider
that the main part of the Joke to bo
People's Party convention meets at
DeQueen, Ark., on June 14th to nomi-
nate candidates. J. O. Bush and Cy-
clone Davis are billed to make
speeches.
All the big religious conventions,
assemblies and conferences are now on
or Just oif, except that of Plerpont
Morgan's Episcopal chureh which ho
founded in San Francisco some time
ago.
Banford Brown, of Southerland
Springs, writes that his folks are all
V
they bought recently. Remember that
we have a whole carload ready for our
readers.
from republican France with every
demonstration of honor. But what do
we want with the statue from Imperial
Germany of Frederic, tho tyrant and
despot, tho practical Macheavellian
who established a code of rules for
his successors that falsehood and
treachery were the only sure founda-
tions for empire.
MORE LIGHT ON THAT "SCARCITY
OF CATTLE."
The Treasury Department'® tables of
exports for April, juet published show
that the meat-packers' combine sent
to forolgn countries during last month
$3,321,162 worth of fresh beef, over
$1,000,000 of canned and salted beef
and $lj,B51,245 worth of freBh and salt-
ed pork.
So that meat products valued at
Really, if It has gotten so that we dare
not say "so far as the same are not In-
consistent with the treaty obligations,"
then why not proceed to commit all of
our solemn compacts to the flamea and
to hold our desires above any re-
straint? If President Roosevelt is ac-
tually required by "party necessity" to
reopen 'the matter so that our treaties
may be openly and deliberately repu-
diated, then indeed, will it be a "Jok-
er" of which all honorable Americana
may feel most heartily ashamed."
BOYS IN THE TRENCHES,
What they are Saying and Doing.
Oak C11IT, a suburb of Dallas, Tex., Is
without a peer in the entire State. It
nearly $9,008,000 were sent out of the i l one of Urn few cities that is not
country, to be sold at lower prices to
ckled ovor tho Mercury machine , foro|gn()r8 than the home-market
The great and Reverend Dr. Park-
prices to Americans, In a month when,
according to the meat monopoly, there
wns "a real scarcity of cattle."
bonded to the limit. It has a popula-
tion of 6,000 people, most of whom own
their homes and are profitably em-
ployed. Churches of all the leading
denominations, electric lights, water-
works, street cars, telephone system,
fire department and an elegant and
THE IMPORTANCE OF ONE VOTE. ,
hurst said In a recent sermon In New i T(,xas waf) annejwd t0 the TJnlted commodious public school building are
York that the doctrines taught by ; , , ,h„ var with Mexico some of Its up-to-date possessions. It
Jeans were beautiful in theory but not j - on b tho vote of a s|ck niau j has to-day a surplus of $25,471.28 over
workable In practice. Hia honesty Is Jn s*ltzm.lanS county> Ind ln 1844. Ho Its liabilities, and a bonded debt of
only $30,000.
commendable in comparison with thoffo
whited sepulchers who preach that
they are workable and don't believe
it.
.fudge Griggs, eh-alrman of tho Dem-
ocratic national campaign committee,
voted for David Kelsoe, who was a
candidate for the State Senate, Who
was elected by one vote. Kelsoe voted
for Hannlgan for the United 8tates
Senate, who was also elected by one
vqte. The bill annexing Toxas was
passed ln the Senate by one vote, and
lB,^rg!.nBr,f,1Rl0n ail V*8 n?Ul,B!! ! Hannlgan was the Senator who'east
?ie ^)fimocr|lt8, (5fl ' |a deciding vote. Had tho sick man ln
evidently a novice in the business. SwItzerland county, Ind„ not been
°"8 W0Ii . 1von ' hauled to the polls to east this vote,
th such a man as Bryan, does Griggs Tfixas wol,]d probably be an Independ-
£
thing they will fuse under Hill or
Gorman?
It la an Interesting feature of twen-
tieth century civilization that tho
Southern Presbyterians, ln the Gen-
eral Assembly at Jackson, Miss., are
wrestling with the question whether
Almighty Ood Will damn babies to
that everlasting fire which Is prepared
tor the devil and Mb angela.
It seems like a breech of confidence
tor the preachers to blab so many of
Ood'a plans and purposes. Information
of such a confidential nature ought to
be kept secret. But while they were
telling, why did they not make public
the design to kill, ln horrid death, men,
women, children and babes, by setting
fire to old Mont Pelee?
It Is time congressional conventions
were held and candidates representing
our principles placed before the people.
The summer season of rest will soon
be bere, when peoplo will have time
to listen to campaign speeches. Wo
should avail ourselves of the oppor-
tunity to put before them our ideas and
arguments.
The Parker County Reformer Is the
name of the new Allied People's party
•Journal established at Weatherford,
and edited by Messrs. S. Martin and
W. T. Bowman. The paper la an able
exponent of the great principles of our
party, and reflects great credit on the
editorial ability of those who preside
over its destinies. Tho Mercury wel-
comes thh new comer in the ranks of
those who live to make conditions bet-
ter for others.
Rev. W. H. Vogler, a distinguished
divine of Indianapolis, In a bitter ser-
mon against spiritualism, says: "With-
out doubt there Is something In spis.
itualism, but It Is from Satan." Now,
we are not spiritualists, but to admit
the phenomena and attribute them to
the devil 1b even more superstitious
than to attribute them to spirits. If
there Is "anything in it," why not in-
vestigate ln the scientific method? Mr.
Vegler's view is the orthodox one.
There will be held a delegate Popu-
list Congressional Convention on the
lfth day of June, 1902, at Fort Scott,
Kansas, to nominate a candidate to
represent the Second district in Con-
gress. There is a tendency against
fusion In tho district, though an ef-
fort will be made to swallow the party
up again as la the past. Kansas needs
a few leaders who have backbono In-
stead of cotton strings. When a man
gets a yerning after, the flesh pots he
becomes an unsafe leader.
The General Assembly of the Presby-
terian cburoh at Jackson, Miss., is
unanimously of the opinion that the
"Sabbath Is slowly but surely losing
tts hold upon the public." This Is true,
•but there Is nothing strange In the
phenomenon. The trusts, composed
of the pillars of the church, "desecrate"
the Sabbath at their own Rweet will to
tnake money and there is no criticism
for them. The "desecration" can only
be made by the poor man, who has no
other day than Sunday for his recrea-
tion.
ent nation to-day.
A TOMATO TRU8T.
Tho San Antonio Express gives the
Dallas News credit for suggesting to
the tomato growerB of Texas the form-
ation of a trust to maintain prices of
the product. The reason of the advice
1b not far to seek. In fact, the Express
lets tho cat out of the bag by asking
If such a trust can be formed under
the existing laws of the State. The
Inference 1b, that all anti-trust laws
should be wiped out for the benefit of
tho truck grower.
But the formation of a tomato trust
Is tho silliest Idea that has yet been let
loos& to fool tho producer. Every
State In the Union grows tomatoes. It
would be as difficult to form such a
trust as to form an egg trust which
Swift and Armour and others, with all
tho millions and facilities, have not
yet succeeded In doing. It would be
vastly more difficult, for eggs can bo
stored and saved, while tomatoes must
bo sold Immediately. If there la a
largo crop all over the country, the
price will be normal, In spite of any
Texas tomato trust that could be form-
ed. The whole thing Is sheer nonsense.
In California, where that State has tho
monopoly by nature of certain fruits,
such a trust would be feasible. But
the only reason we can seo for advo-
cating a tomato trust. Is to try and
wheedlo producers into being trust
supporters.
NEW BOOK8.
It 1b with great pleasure that we
mention the revised addition of "Am-
erican Communities," by Wm. Alfred
Hinds, Ph-B. This work comes Just
at the proper time, for In this day
thousands of thinking, llberty-lovlng
humanitarians who believe in tho
brotherhood of man, or laboring to es-
tablish communistic and eo-operativo
colonies, and for these especially, this
book is the most valuable work of its
kind. For all thinkers, progressionists,
and believers In local self-government,
It Is a gem of facts, showing what con-
centration of thought and action haa
dono and can do In producing wealth.
Tho competitive world declares com-
munism Impractical, claiming that ail
communal colonies have been fail-
ures. Mr. Hinds shows this to be
false, and between the lines the en-
quiring mind will find ln his book tho
guide-posts pointing to the dangers In
the path of community life, and these
dauger will be found ln most part to
bo the cunning, greedy power of com-
petitive, materialistic church and
State. From 1607, down to the pres-
ent time llberty-lovlng, unselfish men
and women have established communal
colonies in America, and today mora
than ever before this grand thought
Is developing Into a reality. The plu-
tocratic press and pulpit will caution
you ngainst such reading If they men-
tion It at all, but we advise you to read
thts book and think as you read:
"Amorlcan Communities," by Hinds,
published by Charles H. Kerr & Com-
pany, Chicago, 111. Price $1.00.
At length the postmaster general and
his subordinates have "got It in the
neck" by a recent decision of the Dis-
trict of Columbia supreme court.. The
former was to prevent the postofflce de-
partment from charging third class
rates instead of second class rates on
a publication that has been admitted
to the malls aa second class matter.
The latter cases were to compel the
department to restore to second class
lvileges publication which had bsen
iprlved of them. All the cases were
. dei against the postmaster general.
fnttiet Brad lay's ssrdtat *as that the
%
IMPERIALISM IN TEXAS.
It was the Dallas News that gave
the farmers the ridiculous advice to
form a tomato trust The object of
this advice was to commit the truck
growers to the support of the trusts.
The News hints strongly enough that
It haa no objection to a trust running
the postofflce. Its covert apologies for
the beef trust are known to all Its read-
ers. Now It oomea out In tts issue of
the 19th In opposition to the Chinese
exclusion act. It seems that a clause
was smuggled Into the exclusion bill
(Just as silver was demonetized by a
similar fraud) providing that "the ex-
isting laws prohibiting and regulating
the coming of Chinese persons are
hereby re-enacted and extended and
oontlnued so far •• the ttat are not
"We Bosque County Populists favor
Fort Worth as the place for the next
Stato Populist Convention."—P. B.
Barry, Meridian, Texas.
"The new form of make up of the
Mercury is just what we want. Now
let's swell its subscription to the top
notch. It surely deserves the support
of every man who makeB his bread by
the sweat of his face."—J. T. Lucas,
Prairie Plains, Tex.
"I favor the calling of our State con-
vention at Fort Worth or Waco, and
July or August would be a good time.
We must keep up our agitation, and to
do this we must put out a State and
County ticket. If proper work 1b done
the Allied party wild prove a success.
The great body of the Bryan Demo-
crats will be with us when they find
out for sure that the Eastern or Cleve-
land Democrats will control the party
In future.—Jesse M. Adams, member
of Ex. Com. 12th Cong. Dlst, Coman-
che, Texas.
"I am ploascd with the new dress of
tho Mercury, and wish it much success.
Our chairman down here has lined up
with the Democrats, but he is not the
mouthpiece for all of us. There are a
lot of tts who wont follow his exam-
ple."—Fred Steublng, Jeddo, Tex.
"The Mercury is my ideal of a pa-
per. It talks the truth politically, and
tells all the general news. Success to
it."—E. Cantrell, Wise, Tex.
"I see no hope for political reform.
Nothing but revolution will cleanse
the Augean stables. I am working onr
psyrhlc and spiritual planes, writing
books and lecturing as opportunity of-
fers.—E. L. Dohoney, Hartley, Toxas.
"If the laboring people ln TexaB
would read the Mercury, they would
learn that they do not get tho Just re-
ward of their labor. We farmers must
read and study as well as work, or we
will always be ln the dutches of the
commercial pirates."—J. W. Flannigan,
Caldwell, Tex.
"Wo have quite a lot of papers here
ln Missouri, but none of them have the
courage to talk out on the live issues
of the day like the old Mercury. Suc-
cess to it."—J. C. Hill, Cabool, Mo.
"The Mercury is the people's paper—
the best defender they have ln all the
land. Every man who toils in field or
shop ought to read it. Tho Allied
movement is Just the plan to break the
chains of our existing slavery. There
are lots of Populists in this section
yet, and will show their colors ln the
coming election."—J. P. Ceok, Harper,
Tex.
"We Georgia people are well pleased
with tho Allied movement Inaugurated
at Louisville. It was a wise conception
and reflects credit on the author. We
will endeavor to line up and get in
trim for the fight when It opens. The
Mercury is our ideal of a paper for
Populists and reformers.—R. J. Cook,
Caldwell, Tex.
"I have taken the Mercury twenty
years, and It gets better every year.
I can't do without It now. I am a Pop-
ulist because I have nowhere else to go
for relief. I endorse fully the Allied
movement and wish it success."—
Joshua Crow, Minden, Texas.
"The Mercury talks to my liking.
It would open the eyes of fellows like
myself of they would only read It"—
J. A. Atkins, Mesqutte, Tex.
"We have a lot of straight Populists
ln this section who are waiting anx-
iously for the word to move up on the
firing line. We are dead done with
either of the old parties, but are ready
to tie onto reform in any manner that
will bring relief to the wage-workers
and tollers. .The Mercury fills our
Ideal of a paper. The boys everywhere
ought to rally to tts support"—H. H.
Chew, Esbon, Tex.
"Success to the Mercury and the Al-
lied Party. The Mercury la my moat
welcome visitor. It gtvea me Informa-
tion, comfort and pleasure."—Plea
Brady, Paint Rock, Tex.
"I am with you for the Allied Peo-
ple's party as long as I live."—T. W.
Ray, Lots, Ga.
"I will say to you that I am a re-
form worker and am doing all that I
can to open the eyes of our poor, down-
trodden laboring people, and I feel
hopeful that the people will rule thla
government and not the gold daUar.
I hoot that our State of Alabama wM
organize and put out a ticket"—L H.
Vandergrift, Branchvllle, Ala.
"I am well pleased with the work of
the Allied party—the whole plaa sems
to be perfect Every old Populist
should take courage. The principles
for which we have these many years
contended are very dear—dear-enough
to work for unselfishly, and to shed
our blood for If needs be. Indeed, I
am wonderfully encouraged, and prom-
ise to do my share of the work ln
strengthening our righteous cause.—T.
J. Gulce, Longatreet, La.
"The prospects for Populism were
never brighter, and I hope to see Texas
set the pace—all eyes are on Texas.
There Is a great revival In the party
ln this State."—B. F. Arnold, Antolne,
Ark.
A. J. Bowman, of Wooldrldge, Tenn.,
one of the noble workers in our cause
among the miners, writes that the
principles of the Allied Party are tak-
ing deep hold around Jellico, and re-
porta the formation of a miners' Al-
lied People's Party Club at Oswego,
near Jellico. Mr. Bowman is general
organizer In Kentucky and Tennessee.
Hon. S. H. Holt, of Ashland, Ore., an
old time Populist war-horse, writes
that conditions arc ripe for a political
shaking up ln Oregon. He says that
the Initiative and referendum amend-
ment to the Oregon constitution will
be overwhelmingly adopted at the
June election, as all political parties
have endorsed It. This is a great vic-
tory ln Itself—greater by far than the
election of our own candidates without
such legislation. The hopeful outlook
In Oregon should cause all reformers
to close ranks on the main question,
and leave no stone unturned to unite
every possible vote in the most effect-
ive manner for majority rule.
"I don't believe In taking three or
four old party papers and neglecting
my own. as the manner of some Is.
Nor in voting with them until reform
is strong enough to succeed. You may
tell my old friends (I hope most of
them still take the Mercury) that I am
earqing $5 per day, which I find more
profitable than frying to give political
and economic instruction to a peoplo
having eyes to see and see not, and
ears to hear and hear not. I am not
j like Achilles, sulking in my tent, am
I no admirer of old Ach. any way. I
admire I-ieonidas, Winklreid, Wallace
and Tom Watson more than all the en-
slavers and butchers of humanity from
Cain to Kitchener. I am in full sym-
pathy with the Louisville Convention,
and can only keep out of the coming
fight by sticking close to work. I be-
lieve the Nicaragua canal the greatest
enterprise ever undertaken by human
hands. The English foresaw its im-
portance when l.hey foisted the Clay-
ton-Bulwer treaty on us. The rail-
road interests see it and send strong
lobbies to divide and defeat it. And
the politicians—well, nothing but fear
of retirement will bring them to time.
I believe Texas may become the great-
est State in the Union. The Isthmian
canal will be an importnat factor in
making her so. But more important is
the union of her own people and de-
velopment of her own resources. All
of which can much sooner be accom-
plished by retiring the place hunters
and pie munchers, who would rather
be president of anything that yielded
a salary than be right politically or
morally. But Pharaoh must increase
tho tale of bricks and take away the
straw—i. e., money and property—be-
fore the people will listen to Moses or
the Lord either. In the meantime It
doeth me good to see the Mercury
'smite an Egyptian' occasionally. May
you, like Moses, have no dimness of
vision nor feebleness of frame till the
Amaleklnes are destroyed."—G. W.
Drinkard, Bennett, Wyoming.
"I greet you ln your new uniform,
hoping you will continue the fight as
vigorously on our old enemies as you
did in your former garb. The very
name has a charm in it that touches
the heart of every honest man that
loves justice and honest government.
I can not see that it has abated one
mite in the prosecution of schemers,
ln Its new dress, I only wish it was ap-
preciated according to its value by the
man that gets his bread by the sweat
of his face. The Mercury has for many
years spared neither time, labor nor
money to Impress upon the toller the
value of his vote, it being the only
weapon left htm by shrewd despoilers
to resist the advanees of injustice in
all lte hideous forms, but, thank
heaven, a little cloud of various colors
is slowly rising on the political hori-
zon, spreading light and encourage-
ment ln the breasts of the tollers,
named the Allied Party, having the
seal of justice and truth on Its fore-
front, with the words, no compromise
with falsehood."—George Nelson, Liv-
ingston, Tex.
I would suggest a call on the State
convention not later than Tuesday,
July 8. The farmers will be through
work by that time, harvest time over,
and we will have a full convention.—J.
M. Mallett, Cleburne, Texas.
All hall to the Mercury. She has
steadfastly stood guard over the best
interest of the State ln darker times
than these. She Is a glittering star
in the crown of reform; a brllllan lamp
to guide the feet of the oppressed; a
constant dread to the aggressor. Let
the boys fall in line and close up the
ranks and give the Indomitable Mer-
cury all the financial aid they can and
answer roll-call at the next November
election and watch the results. We will
then have dene our duty for the bet-
terment of mankind. To doubt tbe
final results Is to doubt God.—Sanford
Brown, Sutherland Springs, Texas.
I run my business on Alliance prin-
ciples, and am trying to Inculcate those
pure jclnclples Into all I come ln con-
tact with.—A. C. Drlsklll, Lovelady,
Texas.
The Allied movement la all right
and stands for every principle of Am-
ericanism, and tor all producers of
wealth, of whatever naase or order.
They ought to line up. and make one
grand effort te release themselves from
the bondage of greed. We cannot get
all we desire at once—diseases which
have been running • long time cannot
be healed in a day. Remedies which
are at first Indicated will do their
work, remove tho cause, the remedies
for convalescence are applicable. There
Is no cause for division of forces ln this
decisive battle between the 'reform
elements. It ts a waste of valuable
time which should be utilised to
change the tide of destruction of our
dearest rights. Let as get together,
and pray together tor our common
cause, to ihe end that *H mm mat. JM
born equal, so far as opportunities are
concerned.
"And when the war Is over, boys,
We'll sit us down at east;
We'll plough, we'll sow, we'll reap and
mow
And do Just as we please,"
—R. C. Johnson, Luna, Texas.
I have been a Mercury subscriber
since its first Issue, and expect to con-
tinue as long as It pleads the cause
of the people, as it has ln tbe past I
endorse the Allied People's party plat-
form ln full. I am In for the war—
a fight to the finish for our rights.—
J. H. Thornton, Bryan, Tex..
I am proud of the Mercury, and wish
you success. I hope the Allied party
will accomplish lasting and permanent
good to the masses. The poor wage-
workers are having a hard time under
the ban of the conscienceless com-
bines which the old parties have built
up.—G. H. McMillan, Marble Falls,
Texaa.
We have fine prospects for a good
crop, though the chintz bug is at work
some. They hurt us last year more
than the drouth. I have been a sub-
scriber for the Mercury since Its first
issue and want to be on its roll when I
draw my last breath, if you continue as
true as you have been, and I like your
paper now better than ever. I will be
70 years of age in August.—W. S. Mc-
Cullough, Klondyke, Texas.
I am thoroughly ln harmony with
the Allied movement. I favor Belton
or Waco for holding the State conven-
tion. I am ln the fight to the bitter
end.—S. M. Worley, Meridian, Texas.
I am glad to help The Mercury, not
only as an advocate of the struggling
poor man In his efforts to help him-
self, but a fearless denouncer of the
power.—John J. Hard, Mansfield, Tex.
Many of the old steadfast Democrats
In this locality are getting anxious for
a report from that smelling committee
which has been rooting around among
! the rotton trash at Austin.—W. H.
! Walker, Lanevllle, Texas.
I like the new form of the Mercury.
We always have wished for our paper
I to give the news of the day. God bless
the Mercury's fight for reform. If we
have failed to elect our candidates we
have sown the seed of reform until
they permeate every household. As
chairman of Jackson county I will soon
call a meeting of the reformers of the
county and organize the Allied party.—
J. M. Haley, Edna, Texas.
I anxiously look forward to the ar-
rival of my Mercury. To be without it
would be to feel like I had parted com-
pany with those who acknowledge the
Fatherhood of God and the brother-
hood of man. May God guide and pro-
tect yeu as long as you fearlessly con-
tinue to advocate the truth.—J. P.
Boulware, Navasota, Texas.
The Mercury is tho best reform pa-
per in the United States. I am always
glad to see it come. It is not to be
excelled in its new dress.—A. V. Brink,
Chilton, Texas.
I am very much pleased with the
Mercury In its new dress.—A. B. Lank-
ford, Teacross, Oklahoma.
Such a paper as Southern Mercury
is badly needed in this locality and I
will try to get up a club of subscrib-
ers.—W. P. Owens, Alma, Ark.
I am nearly 6 lyearB old, and went
through four years war for the sake of
the South. We swapped off a Southern
ollgarchay for a Northern one, and of
the two the aristocrats seem to like the
present one the better. In the South
this oligarchy is supported by the Dem-
ocratic party, in the Nort'1 by the Re-
publican. It is a sham battle between
them, and anything Is right that will
keep them in office.—N. B. Thompson,
Philadelphia, Miss.
I Indorse all you say in regard to
the two old parties, and would delight
in getting subscribers to the Mercury.
—J. P. Williams, Covington, Tex.
I like the course the middle-of-the-
roaders are taking. If they continue
on the right lines we may succeed in
1904. If the people could get control
of a few of the principal railroads, to-
gether with direct legislation and sci-
entific money, we would control the
trusts. We have a little baby, and his
name is Milton, named after the ed-
itor of the Southern Mercury—a little
bit of a potpullst.—J. H. Welch, Itasca,
Tex.
I have been fighting the battles of re-
form for thirty years. I love the Mer-
cury and the cause it holds up so
bravely.—J. A. Davenport, Madison-
vllle, Ky.
"In order to maintain our organiza-
tion throughout the State, we must
have a State ticket. I suggest that a
State convention be called at Waco, in
the early part of July. Our county
(Comanche) has nominated a strong
ticket and will wage a vigorous cam-
paign ln this county with strong hopes
of ultimate success."—D. J. Mill, ex-
chairman, Oomanohe, Tex.
"I am ln fovar of Dallas and July
4th as the time and place for our
State convention. There are several
good reasons why Dallas should be
chosen as the place of meeting. Urge
overy Populist within « radius of 50
or 75 miles who possibly can do so to
come to Dallas by wagon conveyance
and camp In or near the Stat Fair
grounds, where the convention should
be held, so as to make the expense of
the oonventlon as light as possible.
We could all camp together and have
a good, old-time campmeetlng and re-
form revival, like we used to have
eight or ten years ago, and have such
speakers as Kearby, Davis, Ashby,
Tracy, Park, Gore, Parker and others
to address as upon the great vital
questions of the day. So all together,
and let's pull tor Dallas.
I want to say from away down deep
in my heart, God bless that brilliant
and noble young patriot Joe Parker.
The dear old Mercury In Its new form
Is the best reform journal in America.
So much for Park, Parker and the
Mercury. On with the Allied people's
fight against old party fraud and hum-
buggery."— D. C. Gibson, Co. Sec'y
Grayson County.
I cannot do without the Mercury, for
I am still a dyed-in-the-wopl reformer,
and heartily endorse the movement
There are hundreds of as true reform-
era in this county as there are ln any
county, and I would hall with delight
the organisation of the party here.—
Jno. M. Randolph, Cameron, Tex.
I must have the Mercury If I have to
do without something else. Since your
paper has enlarged I think it can't be
beat. I carry it with me In one pocket
and my handkerchief in another. We
have a goou crop prospect—R. H. Lit-
tle, Belton, Texas, v
111
i TRIALS Mill TRIUMPHS OF UIOR. 1
BY JO A. PARKER.
Chairman Allied Peoples Party National Committer.
The Birmingham, Alabama Trades
Council have found out that the only
way to make their demands effective
is to go into politics. Labor could
have what it wanted if the antiquated
and suicidal policy of not going in pol-
itics were abandoned.
The Birmingham Trades Council has
decided to enter into the political
campaign for State, county and muni-
cipal offices, and has organized by
electing Harry Markey, chairman, and
B. W. Brumley, secretary. The cam-
paign will be a vigorous one and it is
said if the Trades Council votes solid
its endorsement of any particular can-
didate will Insure his election. Already
there is activity ln political circles, and
this move of the Trades Council has
put many to guessing.
UNION REFORM COMMITTEE.
The State Committee of the Union
Reform party of Ohio, will meet at tho
Great Southern hotel in Columbus at
7 p. m., Tuesday, June 17, to consider
the situation and to mark out a line
of action to be pursued in the future.
If they will join the Allied movement
the party will accomplish something.
There is a great reform vote in Ohio
and wise generalship will solidify it,
but with the reformers of Ohio torn
into faction, nothing can be accom-
plished. Much depends upon the wise
and patriotic action of the union re-
form committee at Columbus.
LABOR READY TO MOVE.
i he Journal of Labor, official organ
of the Central Labor Union of Louis-
ville, is leading a revolt from the old
parties in that city, and the ring poli-
ticians v/ill be taught a wholesome les-
son at the coming election. In a re-
cent issue the Journal of Labor says:
"The sentiment is daily growing fa-
voring independent political action on
the part of the workingmen of this
city. Many of the leading representa-
tives of C. L. U., who have hereto-
fore voted with the old parties, declare
that the time has come for a change.
There Is nothing standing in the way
of looking towards the formation of a
labor party." And in another column
of the sam^ Issue tbe Journal empha-
sizes this position in a stirring edito-
rial under the caption, "Awake, Ye
Tollers!" Among other things, the ed-
itor says:
"The keynote sounded by the Jour-
nal of Labor in its last Issue was but
an echo of the cry coming from or-
ganized labor in every part of the
United States, and we appeal to them
to be no longer blind to their own in-
terests, but to awake from its leth-
argy before it is too late. We have the
men; we have the votes. Let us stop
dealing in promises only; let us not do
all the voting and share in none of the
honors. Let every man at his bench
or his trowel immediately discuss this
situation with his brother laborer, and
let us be heard from as Organized La-
bor this coming November. It is time
that Organized Labor Should be rec-
ognized by politicians, and not driven
under the ban as convicts within pris-
on walls. Let Labor speak forth, and
it will be heard and recognized." The
fact that the Journal of Labor Is ed-
ited by James McGtll, president of the
Kentucky Federation of Labor, lends
unusual significance to the position
taken by that paper. Labor is awaken-
ing, and woe betide the wrong-doers
when the drowsy giant throws off his
fetters!
Laws are generally made In the In-
terest of capital, and once ln a while a
crumb tossed to labor, very much as
a bone is tossed to a hungry dog, to
keep him quiet.
To-day the laws of our country are
mostly made in the interest of capi-
tal—the idle holders of idle capital,
the great corporations and the property
owners. In the eyes of our law makers
the dollar Is saored—the manhood and
womanhood of those who toll, is the
cheap merchandise of those who own
the dollar.
In viewing the labor situation I
have often been amazed at the condi-
tions which the masses accept unre-
sistingly and without complaint.
Reading Count Tolstoi's "Slavery of
Our Times," I find this paragraph,
which states the labor situation In a
nutshell:
"Imagine a man from a country
quite different from our own, wifc no
Idea of our history, or of our laws, and
suppose that after showing him the va-
rious aspects of our life, we should ask
him what was the chief difference he
noticed in the lives of our world? The
chief difference which such a man
would notice in the way people live is
that some people—a small number—
who have clean, white hands, but only
amuse themselves, spending on these
amusements the results of millions of
days devoted by other people to se-
vere labor; but other people, always
dirty, poorly clothed and lodged and
fed, with dirty, horny hands, toll un-
ceasingly from morning to night, and
sometimes all night long, working for
those who do not work, but who con-
tinually amuse themselves."—Tolstoi,
"The Slavery of Our Times."
Did you ever stop to wonder why the
great patient mass "with the dirty,
horny hands" toil on and on, with tired
muscles and burning brows, to keep
the "clean white hands" at the Sea-
side or in indolent ease? Did you ever
wonder why that vast army of the ex-
ploited did not arise In Its majesty and
lay down to the idle the stern but Just
law—"He that will not work, neither
shall he eat"—that "Wealth belongs to
him who creates it?" Well, I have,
and it is to-day, in my mind, the rid-
dle of riddles.
The condition of labor Is what it Is
because laws discriminate against la-
bor, allowing some men to take ln one
way or another from those who create
It the wealth they have created. It is
done through the control of the public
utilities by corporations and individu-
als; the control of the money of the
country by tbe banking monopoly
Which levies tribute upon Industry; by
the landlord system which enables the
property owner to tnx the mechanic on
the unearned increment which society
baa given to his property; the monop-
oly of necessaries of life by proflt-tak-
ess; In short, labor la Blundered to-day
by the takers o'. rent, interest and
profit, and every turn of the thumb-
screws bring tbe blood from the veins
of labor, a rich vintage to appease tho
thirst of the idolatrous worshippers •-
mammon.
Back of the unjust laws which op-
press labor stands the lobby, wielding
the unseen hand, shaping legislative
politics and defeating the prayers of
labor and its organizations.
Once in a while Labor wakes up
from its lethargy. Once in a while
the labor union sends a lobby to com-
bat the other lobby. It Is then the
legislator must show his hand; but
even then the battle Is unequal. The
best we can crave for is a crumb here
and there grudgingly given. Labor
must make the laws itself or continuo
to be plundered by law.
The hope of labor lies in political
action—to send men who are brave
enough to espouse its cause to fight its
battles in legislative bodies; but the
battle will never be won. until the
whole lobby system Is destroyed and
the people given the power to vote di-
rect for the laws they want and against
the laws they do not want This Is
known as the Initiative and Referen-
dum, and takes the power away from
legislative corruptionlsts to trade and
traffic in the labor and lives of men.
Every labor organization believes ln
the initiative and referendum; and It
all laboring men would unite ln their
demand for this system of majority
rule—unite, not only in demand, but in
action, and vote for no man not une-
quivocally pledged to it, we could com-
pel its adoption by the next legislature, '
and then we would have destroyed the
lobby of organized capital for ever.
Once let us have majority rule In this
country, and the "dirty, horny hands"
would soon learn to govern the "soft
white hands" of the idlers Instead of
I being governed by them, and we would
I progress step by step until the new era
of equality and justice would be se-
! cured. Why should we not then unite
our efforts on this line and carry our
1 unionism to the very root of the indus-
| trial question—the power to make
, laws ourselves without the interference
of ignorant, bigotted or corrupt politi-
cians.
Everywhere labor Is coming to its
senses. In far-away San Francisco or-
ganized labor, tired of false promises,
.arose like the giant that it is, and
hurled the time-servers from power; in
Portland, Ore.; in St. Louis; in many
cities of Connecticut; in every State,
it has made progress toward indepen-
dence and success. It can do tbe same
in your own State. It can refuse to
be used by selfish politicians as a foot-
stool; it can assert its dignity; it can
rule instead of being ruled; It can be
master instead of slave—king instead
of vassal. All it needs Is oonfidence
in its/jwn power and courageous lead-
ers, and I feel that it has both. It can
then turn to the leaders of the capital-
ridden parties and declare:
"You have tried in vain te rule us;- la
vain to direct have tried;
Not wholly- the fault of the ruler; not
wholly blind the guide;
Perhaps we need not a ruler; perhaps
we can find the way;
At least you have ruled to ruin; at
least you have led astray!"'
You have fought their battles, lo,
these many years, only to see tbe lau-
rels won by the votes of labor placed
on the brows of the unworthy—tho
sceptre of power won by your action
and devotion held by the oppressors
of labor. Plant now your banners on
independent grounds, and declare that
labor fights Its own battle hereafter,
and that those who would despoil la-
bor of Its product must de so by the
virtue of other votes than those of la-
bor!
V,
SOME GREAT DISASTERS IN THE
WORLD'S HISTORY
79 A. D., eruption of Vesuvius, which
destroyed Pompeii, lives lost 2,000 to
30,000; 1158, earthquake in Syria, lives
lost 20,000; 1828, earthquake in Sicilia,
lives lost 60,000; 1456, earthquake in
Naples, lives lost 40,000; 1531, earth-
quake in Libson, lives lost 30,000; 1626,
earthquake in Naples, lives lost 70,-
000; 1903, earthquake in Jeddo lives
lost 200,000; 1731, earthquake In Pe-
king, lives lost 100,000; 1754, Earth-
quake in Grand Cano, lives lost 40,000;
1755, Earthquake In Libson, lives lost
50,000; 1421, flood at Dort (Nether
lands), lives lost 100,000; 1530, fllood
in Holland, lives lost 400,000; 1617,
flood In Catalonia, lives lost 50,000;
1889, flood of Johnstown, lives lost
2,142; 1871, fire in Chicago, lives lo§t \
200; 1876, fire in Brooklyn theatre, r
lives lost 295; 1C30, fire at Hoboken, "
lives lost 3.0; 1902, eruption of Mont
Pelee, Martinique, lives lost 40,000.
THE CANDIDATE'8 PRAYER.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the voter of each beat
Not to forget I am in the race,
Nor my name from his ticket erase,
God bless each voter of the county,
Whether rich or poor, or lly#s on
bounty.
To each child I would give a kiss,
And wish each mother and relative the
greatest bliss.
I would make each voter feel like a
nabob,
Because, Oh, Lord, "I am straight after
pay job."
Now, Lord, stay with me in this fight
For "the other fellow" Is making it
devilish tight,
And If you will help me through,
I will all my broken vows renew;
And if I in my office land,
Then "here is my heart, and here ll
my hand."
I would not come to thee now with
feelings of shame
If I knew I was ln close touch with tho
"machine."
Being in doubt I ask of thee, oh, Lord,
only one thing more—
Keep me in office "regardless" forever
more. Amen.
)
(
fl
"We fully endorse the Allied move-
ment, and are proud of the Mercury In
Its new form. We Intend to do nil wo
can to spread Its Influence and increase '
the number of Its readers."—B. T.!
gent, Granbury, Texas,
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Park, Milton. The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 29, 1902, newspaper, May 29, 1902; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth185952/m1/4/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .