Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-13
SENATOR PEFFER
What He Thinks the Populists in the
Senate Will Do.
WILL HAVE THE BALANCE OF POWER
A New Party to Be Formed on
Free Silver Lines.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY DEAD

II all those members of the Senate who
are professedly populists get together unit
edly they will have the balance of power in
that body on the opening of the Fifty-fourth
Congress. Calculations giving to the repub-
hcans the control of the next Senate are
based upon Stewart. Jones and probably
PETER voting with the republicans on
organization. Otherwise the organization
of the Senate must stand II is else be
reformed entirely new lines with neither
the democratic party nor the republican
party, as those parties now are in control
A great deal in the future depends upon
how Stewart, Jones and PETER stand and
public interest is largely directed toward the
question of what the populists in the Senate
will do. representative of The Star called
on Senator PETER In his committee room
this afternoon and had a long talk on the
general political situation.
What Defeated the Democrats.
THE democratic party" Senator PETER
said, threw away the greatest opportunity
any party has ever had. and now they are
destroyed a party. Discomfort of demo-
Gratis and public distrust: a general disgust
at their failure to do what was expected
of them when given the power is what has
defeated the democrats at this time, and
this defeat in my Judgment, is lasting. If,
when the democrats came into power in
both branches of Congress and the presi-
dency they had done what was positively
the wish of the majority of the people of
the country and what it was their duty to
do, they would have been one of the great
parties of the future. one OF the other of
the great parties of today had to go. One
only could remain. The democratic party
was given the first opportunity to
strengthen Itself so as to be the one to
survive. They failed utterly, and now the
republicans have been chosen. and will
form one of the two great parties of the
country. Iney may regain their power
complete, and then will come d realign-
ment OF parties. and battle VIII be fought
which will decide the future policy of this
country for generation. The democratic
party as IL now stands Will not be IN this
struggle. The fight Will be between the new
party and the republican party.
New Party to .e ormed.
THE new alignment may not come until
after the election of '06, In which event the
republicans will elect the President. 1t may
come before that. The first thing that will
happen. in my judgment, VIII be that the
leaders of the dissatisfied democrats (and
that means nearly all of themJ will hold a
conference among themselves to decide
LIon what policy shall be pursued and
What principles agreed upon Tor the forma-
ton - a new party. Alter agreeing among
themselves they will confer with the dis
satisfied republicans, who are the free-silver
republicans. and these two elements Will
come together for an agreement. That be-
ing accomplished they Will meet with the
pCpulists. and out OF this conference Will
come party when is to do battle
Win the republican party, or party OF gold
mOnometalllsts. The populistS believe in the
free coinage OF silver.
Free silver the Issue.
Speaking for myself and. think, for the
populists generally. l am perfectly willing
to unite i'll such an Organization and make
free silver the single issue OF the campaign
on one condition. L want 1t dec Jared de-
nnitely what is logically implied in the
fight for free silver-I want d declaration
involving a principle that ali puUnc func-
tons must be performed through pubic
agents. WITH tins general broad declara-
ton couc he'd in acceptable lang uase and
volvtng merely a declaration Oh pTIncIpIe,
i am willing 10 go into tine hsnt tne
single issue OF free and unlimited coinage
of gold and silver u ratio OF lo to /.
am satisfied that the new party will be
formed in about the manner 1 have de-
scrloed TO present this ISS ue, and tnat all
men VINO believe in the free coinage of sill
Yer will be III that party, whether they
come from the democrats. the popuiists
republicans.
Il believe that the gold monometalists of
both the republican and the democratic
party will night under the republic an ban
ner. The democrats who are gold mono
metalists diirer Very little from the repub-
hcans on any issue, and they naturally be-
long in the republican ranks"
May BE Anticipated.
The representative of The Star asked
Senator PETER if he did not think that this
might be anticipated somewhat by what
would happen in Congress between now
and 1926
1T will surely" the Senator replied, "be
foreshadowed If not anticipated. l don't
see that there can be anything more than
trimming and lodging and movements with
the molive of temporary expediency during
the closing days of this Congress At the
opening OF next Congress neither party will
be in position to accomplish legislation,
and at that time will probably begin the
movement for the organization of a new
party, and conference which may culmi-
nate in that may be held before the ma
tional convention of 1886. and play
part in the presidential election OF that
year"
You say that this movement may be
foreshadowed at the opening of the Fifty
fourth Congress Do you mean that a
similar combination OF all the silver men
may be made In the Senator?
silver Senators May Combine.
Yes; something of that sort / should
not be surprised IL the silver democrats
and the silver men among the republic ans
and the popullsts should combine together
for the organization of the Senate. Under
ordinary circumstances, II the question OF
the organization of the Senate were merely
one between the democrats and the repuo-
lcans to which should control, there
being no principle involved, the popuhsts.
who We're formerly republicans, would ma
turally aid in putting the republicans In
power, but have no Idea that under ex-
isting circumstances any such thing will
occur. In my judgment the populists will
not aid either the democrats or republic ans
a party. They will either unite with
men of all parties on the one issue of silver
and SO organize the Senate, else they
will stand alone in the maintenance of
their principles and allow the Senate to
hang as it would between the two parties,
the present organization maintaining. 1
don't believe that either Mr.. Stewart or
Mr.. Jones OF any other populist will vote
with the republicans in organizing the Sen
ate."
IlnlflmOre Arrixcd