The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-21
PLANS OF THE POPULISTS.
Stewart, of Nevada, Will Lead an Indepen-
dent Minority.

WASHINGTON, Nov. Ex-senator
Stewart, of Nevada, the Populist upon
whose aid the Republicans count to
control the organization of the next
senate, reiterates emphatically that he
will aid neither of the old parties un-
less they pledge themselves to free
silver
II don't care" he said, (which of
the old parties control the machinery
of the senate. There is no advantage
to us to be gained by combination
with either the Republicans or the
Cleveland Democrats. We do not
care for the few paltry offices to be
bestowed, and could not afford to sac
rifce our independence as party for
them. So far as 1 am personally con-
cerned, I do not care whether they
put me on any committee or what
they do with me, as long as | am en-
titled to my seat in the senate and can
get into the chamber. In fact, "
he added, growing emphatic, 81 can
raise more HI when entirely free
from such obligations than when
bound by them"
The senator says he thinks the Pop
ulists will be able to exercise a more
potent influence by keeping entirely
loof from the old parties; that it is his
opinion that this is the policy which
will be pursued by the Peoples party
i'm the senate, and that he will advise
that this policy be pursued. He
thinks there is no doubt that when the
test comes Senator Jones will act III
full harmony with the Populist sena-
tors and that if Governor Tillman
should be chosen to succeed Senator
Butler he also would be found in the
Populist column, with the two sena-
tors to be chosen from North Carolina.
This would give the Populists eight
senators as against AZ Republicans and
SO Democrats after March 4.
"The only ground" he said, in con-
clusion, "on which I should be will
ing to unite with the Republicans
would be on a platform pledging that
party to free silver policy. l do not
want any half way measure, such as
the coinage of American product, as
should know that whatever was prom
ised would be nothing but a trap. I
do not propose to be caught with any
thing less than compliance with our
complete demands"
Senator PETER, another of the Pop
ulists to whom the Republicans look
for aid, and of whom it has been ru-
mored that he would rejoin the Re
publican party, has just arrived from
Kansas. He declined to discuss the
organization of the Senate, but said if
the time should come when the Popu-
lists should hold the balance of power
i'm the Senate he had no doubt they
would exercise that power conscien-
tiously and wisely"
When asked if he believed Cover
nor Tillman would cooperate with the
Populists if he should be elected to the
Senate, Mr.. PETER replied that he
could not say, as Governor Tillman
had never outlined his intentions in
that respect. He called attention to
the fact that Mr.. Irby, who was sup.
posed to share the political views OF
Governor Tillman, had remained in
the Democratic ranks. STILL" he
added, 'the time must soon come
when all Democrats believing as Till
man and Irby do, must ally them,
selves openly with the Populist party.
The Eastern Democrats are to all III.
tents and purposes Republicans and
Democrats of the Tillman-Irby stripe
cannot long remain in the same party
organization with them"
Mr.. PETER said that the Populists
had polled 125,OOO votes in Kansas,
against 1O5, 900 in 1890, and that they
failed because they were not fused
with the Democrats. He believes thai
about 100000 Populist votes were
polled in the country, and that his
party's future is hopeful"