San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-12-26
A GATHERING OF THE CLANS TO
RUB NOSES.
PFEFFER'S WHISPERS AND JERRY'S
SOCKS WILL BE ON EX- \
HIBITI0N.
An Informal Discussion az to
Which of the Three Factions
Shall in the Next Campaign
Govern the Party. Will
1t be Silver or
Socialism,?

CHICAGO, Ills, Dec. 26.-There
was an exit of Peoples party men
to st. Louis today to attend the
conference of leading embers OF
that organization, which will be
held in that city on Friday and
Saturday. The conference promises
to be one Of the livliest political
events Of the season and as a con-
sequence there will be a large Chi
cago contingent present. Taking
the Chicago contingent as basis
Of representation, the conference
will be participated in by several
hundred leading members Of the
party, coming from nearly every
estate. Among the mem oers who
have signified their intention of
being present are Senator Pfeffer
and Jerry Simpson, Of Kan
sas; Chairman Maxwell of
the Illinois estate central
committee; Congressman Lafe
Pence, OF Colorado; Senator Kyle,
Of Dakota; Gen. Schilling, Of Mil
waukee; Governor Lewelling, of
Kansas; Tom Watson, Of Georgia
and others prominent in the Popu
list party. The conference may re-
suit in some radical changes in the
party programme. Three diverse
elements will, it is said, be found
in the conferences and each will
seek to make it's own views part
of the party program in the next
national campaign. The confer
ence, being an unofficial one, can
not formulate a platform or declar-
alton Of principles, but its deliber-
ations and conclusions will doubt
less have great weight and will
have much to do with shaping the
future &C urse of the party.
There is first large and power
full element in the party headed by
Chairman Taubenreck himself,
which favors the concentration OF
the party strength upon a single
plank-silver. 1t Is argued that
the Omaha platform was too scat
tering that it advocated too nany
reforms at once to be effective;
that more effective contest could
be waged upon a single issue. The
advocates of a solid silver plank
argue that it would bring all the
western, mountain and Pacific
states under the Populist banner
and also capture many Of the
southern states. This idea will be
advocated by western delegates
and many OF those from the south.
There is another element which,
while as strongly in favor OF free
silver as the for ner faction, is in
clined to urge other measures OF
relief as well. This element de-
sires the adoption OF National
platform containing four essential
planks: money, land, transporta-
ton and taxation. The first plank
embodies the free silver declara-
tion and als6 demands the creation
of a green back currency as well.
It's demands as to land and trans
portation are those at present made
by existing platforms, while the
income tax will be defended and
the single takers find room for
their favorite theory.
The socialistic group will form
the third element. 1t Will, in fact,
be a Chicago product, and will be
backed by the flower OF Chicago
socialism. This element has but
one demand, and that it will in
sist upon. 1t is plank 10. IL the
peoples party expect to receive the
aid and comfort Of the socialists
it must declare that all means OF
production and distribution of
commodities must be long to the
people. The champions OF plank
10 will be willing to support free
silver, or will accept the views OF
the second element, provided plank
10 is also recognized. 1t will thus
be seen that the Socialist group
stands in a position to aid either
OF the other factions in return for
the recognition and consideration
Of it's beloved principle. The out
come is one which will be awaited
with interest. If plank 10 is re-
pudiated it his limited that the So
cialists will, in all probabilities,
sever their connection with the
Darty.