The herald., 1894-11-12
POPULIST SENATORS.
THEY WILL HOLD THE BALANCE
OF POWER.
PETER Claims Big Increase in the
Populist vots-Stewart VIII
Not Amliats With the
Republicans.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1l.-Senator Pei
fer has arrived from Kansas. Discuss
ing the result of the recent election he
said the Populists has no reason to fee
discouraged.
"What we have lost in congressman, u
he said, 1--WE have more than made ur
in votes. The reports generally pub
lished would lead people to suppose
that we had suffered a material Sss in
all respects in Kansas. Such is not the
case. In 1890 we had about 105,00t
votes in that state; in 1892 about 49,.
600 and in the late election from l20, 900
to lbs, 900, in the face of the fact that
about 10000 of our voters had lett the
state ON account of the drouth. We
failed in the election of officers because
we were not paired with the Democrats.
We have every reason to feel encour-
aged for the future. In the country at
large feel confident that when the re-
turns are footed up they will chow oul
total vote to be little less than 1000, 900
which is about twice the Populist vote
Of two years ago."
Asked if he believed Governor Till
man would cooperate with the Popu-
lists ii he should be elected to the sen.
ate, Mr.. PETER replied he could not cay,
as Governor Tillman had never outlined
his intentions in that respect. He call
ed attention 70 the fact that Mr.. IIby,
who supposedly shares the political
views of Mr.. Tillman, had remained in
the Democratic ranks.
"Still," he added. "the time must
come when all Democrats believing as
Tillmsn and Irby do, must ally them.
selves openly with tho Peoples party.
The eastern Democrats are to all in
tents and purposes Republicans, and
Democrats of the Tillman and 1rby
stripe cannot long remain in the same
party organization with them"
The senator declined to discuss the
question of the probable organization ol
the senate after the 4th of March by
the Repu ublicans, with the aid of such
Populists, like himself, who had atfili.
ated with the Republican party before
they became Populists, further than to
say the time was too far distant to spec
ulate upon, and in q general way to re-
mark that if the time should come when
the Populists should hold the balance ol
power in the senate he had no doubt
"they would exercise that power con-
tinuously and wisely"
Senator Stewart, of Nevada. was less
guarded than Senator Pefier in speaking
of the assumptions that certain of the
Populist sonators would aid the Repub.
licans in the organization of the senate.
He SAYS emphaEically that so far as he
is concerned, he will enter into no coali-
tion with either OF the old parties to se-
cure the organization.
II don't care" ne said (which OF the
old parties controls the machinery OF
the senate. There ia no advantage to us
to be joined by combination with
either the Republicans or the Cleveland
Democrats. We do not care for the few
paltry Offices there are to be bestowed d,
and could not afford TO sacrifice our in.
dependent interests as party for them.
So far az l am concerned personally
60 not care whether they put me on any
committee or what they do with me as
long as | am entitled to my seat in the
senate and can get into the cham ber.
In fact. can raise more hell when en-
tirely free from such obligations than
when bound by them"
The senator SAYS he thinks tho Popu-
lists will DO able to exercise more po-
tent influence by keeping entirely alooi
from entering into entnngling alliances
with either of the old parties. and it is
his opinion that this is the policy tia
will be pursued by the third party in the
senate, and that he will advise that this
policy bs pursued. He thinks that there
is no doubt that when the test comes
Senator Jones will be found acting in
full harmony with the Populist sena-
tors, and that if Governor Tillman
should be chosen to succeed Senator But
ler he will also be found in the Populist
column, as will also the two senators to
be chosen from North Carolina. This
would give the Populists eight senators,
as against AZ Republicans and 38 Demo-
ate, after the 4th OF March.
zine only ground" he said, in con-
clusion, ION which would be willing
to unite with the Republicans would be
on platform pledging that party to a
fres silver policy. l do not want any
halfway measures, such as the coming
of the American product, as l should
know that whatever was promised would
be nothing but trap. do not propose
to rs caught with anything less than q
compliance with our complete de>
mands."