Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-12

Unless Il Is Based on a Free Silver Law
The New Party Claims Eight Senators
A Review of the Result of the Elections
with the Pluralitics in Several States
California Still in Doubt, but q Repub-
lican Governor in Tennessee.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Ex-senator PETER
has arrived from Kansas. Discussing the
result of the recent election he said the
Populists had no reason to feel dis
Outraged. "What we have lost in con-
gressInen," he said, I'VE have more than
made up in votes. The reports generally
published would lead people to suppose
that we had suffered material loss in
all respects in Kansas Such is not the
case. In 1884, we had about 105,06t. votes
in that state, in 1892 about 113, 900 and in
the late election from 40 100 to 1s5, 900, in
the face of the fact that about "a, 900 of our
voters had left the state on account Of
the drought. We failed in the election of
| officers because we were not paired with
the Democrats, but we have every reason
to feel encouraged for the future"
Position of Irby and Tillman.
He predicted that it would he found
that the Populists had cast 2,OoO, COO at the
late election-twice their vote in 1882, He
didn't know what party Tillman would
act with when he came to the senate. and
called attention to the fact that Irby, who
supposedly shares Tillman's views. con-
tinues in the Democratic ranks. But of
one thing he was sure-that the time
must soon come when Democrats" like
Irby and Tillman must ally themselves
openly with Populism. Eastern Demo-
Gratis, said PETER, are practically Repub-
licans, and Democrats like Tillman and
lrby cannot remain in the same party
with them. PETER wouldn't discuss the
talk about senate Republicans and Popu-
lists combining To organize the senate
but said that if the Populists held the
balance of power they would use it con-
scientiously and wisely.
Stewart Not Making Combinations.
Senator Steward says that so far as he
is concerned he will not enter into coali-
| ton with either OF the gold parties to Sc
cure the organization. Il don't care" he
said, which of the old parties controls
the machinery of the senate There is no
advantage to us TO be gained by combi-
nation with either the Republican or
Cleveland parties So far rs l am per-
sonally concerned 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. I'm fact" he added, grow
ing emphatic, Il can raise more hill
when entirely free from such obligations
than when bound by them"
Eight Popuiist Senators in Sight.
The senator says that he thinks the
Populists will be able to exercise a more
potent influence by keeping entirely aloof
from and entering into no entanSling
alliances with either of the old parties, and
it is his opinion that this is the policy
which will be pursued by the third party
in the senate and he will advice that this
policy be pursued.
He thinks there is no doubt that when
the test comes Senator Jones will be found
working in full harmony with the Popu-
list senators. and if Tillman should be
chosen TO succeed Butler 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 forty-two Re-
publicans and thirty eight Democrats,
after March T.
Only Ground of a Coalition.
''The only ground" he said in conclu-
sion, 'on which / should be willing to
unite with the Republicans would be on
platform pledging that party to free
| silver policy. do not want any half way
measure, such as the coinage of the Amer
lean product, as should know that what
| ever was promised would be nothing but
a trap. l do not propose to be caught with
ANYTHING less than n compliance with our
| complete demands"