The Washington times., 1894-11-12
GROWTH OF POPULIST VOTE
Senator Peffer Finds Encouragement
in Election Returns.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE
The Kansan Retioent on That Subject. but
Senator Stewart Declares Populists Will
Not Combine with the Republicans-says
Ee Can RAISE More He'll" by Himself

Senator PefTer has arrived from Kansas.
Discussing the result of the recent elections
he said the Populists had no reason to feel
discouraged.
"What we lost in Congressman" he said,
Eve have more than made up in votes. The
reports generally published would lead peo-
pie to suppose that We had suffered ma
terial loss in all respects in Kansas. Such is
not the case. In 1880 we had about 105, 900
votes in that State; in 1892, about 900, and
in the late election from 10000 to l25, 900, in
the face of the fact that about 20, 600 of our
voters had left the State on account of drouth.
1--WE failed in the election of officers be-
cause we were not fused with the Democrats,
but we have every reason to feel encouraged
for the future. In the country at large feel
confident that when the returns are footed up
they will show our total vote to be little less
than 2, 600. 900. which is about twice the Pop
ulist vote of two years ago"
Asked if be believed Gov. Tillman would
cooperate with the Populists if he should be
elected to the Senate. Mr.. PETER replied that
he could not say. as Gov, Tillman had never
outlined his intentions in that respect He
called attention 10 the fact that Mr.. Irby,
who supposedly shares the political views OF
Gov. Iil.man, had remained IN the Demo-
cratic ranks.
still - he said ''the time must come when
al Democrats, believing as Iiliman and lrby
DO. must ally themselves openly with the
Populist party The Eastern Democrats are
10 all intents and purposes Republicans, and
Democrats of the Tillman-Irby stripe cannot
/ long remain il the same party organization
/ with them.
The Senator declined to discuss the ques-
! ton OF the probable organization of the Sem
ate after the 4th of March by the Republicans,
/ with the aid oT such Populists as himself af-
4 Iliated with the Republican party before they
! became Populists, further than TO say that
/ the time was too far distant 10 speculate upon,
/ and IN q general way to remark that if the
| time should come when the Populists should
4 hold the balance OF power in the Senate he
\ had no doubt they would exercise that
/ cautiously and wisely"
Senator stewart. of Nevada, was less
guarded than Senator PETER in speaking OF
the assumption that certain Populist Senators
/ would aid the Republicans in tne organIza-
! ton of the Senate.
He says emphatically that so far as he is
concerned he viii enter into no coalition
/ with either OF the old parties to secure the
| organization.
! Il don't care" he said. which of the gold
! parties controls 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 there are to be OBJ
/ tanned. and could not afford TO sacrifice our
/ independence rs party for them.
so far as / am personally concerned, do
/ not care whether they put me on any commit
/ tee or what they 90 with Inc as long as l am
/ entitled 10 nv seat in the Senate and can get
/ into the chamber. In fact, " he added, grow
! ing emphatic. 'I can raise more hell when
| entirely free from such obligations than when
] bound by them"
/ The Senator SAYS that he thinks the Popu-
! lists viii be able 10 exercise mora potent in
! fuence by keeping entirely aloof from and
! entering into no entangllng alliances with
either of the old parties, and it is his opinion
! that this is the policy which will lie pursued
/ by the third party in the Senate, and that he
Will advise that this policy be pursued.
! He thinks there is doubt that when the
| test come Senator Jones viii be found acting
/ in full harmony with the Popuiist Senators
] and that if Gov. Tillman should be
! chosen to succeed Senator 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 Populist eight Senators
as against forty-two Republicans and thirty
! eight Democrats after the 4th of March.
The only ground - he said in conclusion,
"in which should be willing TO unite with
! the Republicans would be on a platform
! pledging that party to a free silver policy. I
90 not want any half way measures such as
the coinage Of the American product, as l
should know that whatever was promised
would be nothing but a trap. 1 do not pro-
pose to be caught with anything less than a
compliance with our complete demands"