The Helena independent., 1894-11-12
Peifer and Stewart, Who Quit the
G O. P. For Its Enmily
TO Silver
Discussing the Probable Strength
and Action OF the populist
Senators.
WIN They Hsip thu osIdbuE Republicans
OFEsaiEs the senate Amer The Fourth
OF Nest Maroh1

NhNNlnEibNt nov ll.-Efuht0f IeI-
fer has arrived from Kansas. Discusn-
Ing the result OF the recent election. he
said the populist had no reason 10 feel
discouraged.
what ngc have lost In congress-
men," he said, I'VE have more than
made up In votes. The reports gen
orally published would lead people 10
suppose we had suffered material loss
In all respects In Kansas. Such is not
the case. in 1890 We had about 1876 600
votes In that state; In 1892, $4,000. andN
Ia the late election from 10000 10 l25. 4
900. In the face OF the fact that about
10000 Of our waters had left the state on
account Of drouth. We failed In tho
election OF officers because we were nos
paired with democrats. but we have
every reason 10 feel encouraged for thu
future. In the country at large feel
confident that when the returns are
footed up they ~lll show our total vote
10 be n little less than two millions,
which is about twice the popullst vote
OF two years ago"
Asked II he believed Gov. Tlllman
would cooperate with the pOpulists III
he should be- elected TO the senate, Pef-
fer replied that he could not say, as
Gov, Tlllman had never outlined his
Intentions In that respect. He called
attention 20 the fact that Irby. who
supposedly shares the political viewa
of Tillman, had remained In the dem-
ocratic ranks. A
'Still." he added. "the time must soon
come when all democrats believing as
Tlllman and ITby do must ally them
selves openly with the populist party.
| Eastern democrats are TO all intents
and purposes republicans, and demo4
Gratis OF the Tillman-Irby stripe cannot
long remain In the same party organi-
cation with them"
The senator declined to discuss the
question OF the probable organization
OF the senate after March by the re-
publlcans, with the aid OF populists like
himself, who had affiliated with the re-
publican party before they became
lpopulists. further than TO say the tima
was too far distant TO speculate upon.
and In general way TO remark that II
the time should come when the popu-
lists should hold the balance OF power
In the senate he had no doubt they
would exercise that power continuously
Senator Stewart. OF Nevada. was less
guarded than PETER In speaking OF the
assumption that certain OF the popullst
senators would aid the republicans in
the organization OF the senate. He says
emphatically that - far as he is cons
cerned he viii enter into no coalition
with either of the old parties 20 secure
organization. II don't care" he said.
which Of the gold parties controls the
machinery OF the senate. There is no
advantage TO us 20 be joined by COM
bination with either republicans or
Cleveland democrats. We do not care
for the few paltry offices there are TO be
bestowed. and could not AFFORD TO sacri-
fee our Independent interests as a party
for them. SO far as ] am concerned.
personally l do 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 chamber. In fact. l can raise more
hell when entirely free from such obli-
lgations than when bound by them"
The senator says he thinks the pops
luilsts will exercise more potent ishuence
by keeping entirely aloof from entering
into entangling alliances with either OF
the old parties. and Il Is his opinion that
this Is the policy which will be pursued
by the third party In the senate, and he
will advise that this policy be pursued.
HE thinks there IL no doubt that when
the test comes, Senator Jones will be
found acting In full harmony with the
lpopulist senator's. and II Gov, Tillman
lshould be chosen TO succeed Sennt0x
Butler, he will also be found - S.ie pop-
ullst column. as will also two senators
To- be chosen from North Carolina. This
: would give the populists eight senators
after March T.
THE ony ground" he said in conclu-
sion. ION which | should be willing to
unite with the republicans could be on
la platform pledging that party to a free
silver policy, | DO not want any half
way measures. such as the coinage OF
the American product and | should
know whenever that was promised II
would be nothing but a trap, l do nes
propose 10 be caught with anything less
than compliance with our complete
ldemnuds 4"