This book is, to begin with, a thoroughly well written love story, with an interesting plot and lifelike characters. Whoever begins it will read it through. When he has read it, if he was already a Populist, he will overflow with enthusiasm, while if he was a Republican or a Democrat he will have many things to think over.
The hero of the story is a People’s Party legislator, elected to represent a constituency of farmers and miners. The heroine is the daughter of one of our typical plutocrats, a man who had secured his election to the state senate in the interest of a wealthy corporation, and whose aim was to prevent just the legislation that the hero of the story was bent on securing. The senator conceived the happy idea of using his daughter’s influence with the popular young legislator, and the consequences of his endeavors are worked out by the novelist in a decidedly interesting fashion. For the final outcome, the reader must consult the book itself.
The hero, John Longwood, opens his political career by writing a series of letters on money, land, transportation, etc.; to his local paper. The ideas thus advanced are sound and timely, embodying some of the most important reforms which the country is suffering for to-day.
The book is dedicated to the People’s Party of America. “Never a party with so magnificent an opportunity. Never a party with rank and file so sturdy and noble. Never such a need for brave, wise and incorruptible leaders. If these pages encourage another John Longwood to come forward, it will not have been written in vain.
