The San Francisco call., 1895-12-01
sILvERITEs AND PoPULIsrs.
A PROPOSED UNION ON CANDIDATES, II Non
ON PLATFORMS.

PROPOSED UNION ON CANDIDATES, II NOT
ON PLATFORMS.
To the Editor OF the San Francisco Cdlt-SIR.
In my last letter intimation was given that
another report would be made on the Populist
vote in the recent State election, but as the
net result is the same as suggested in that
letter, 1t would be mere matter of detail to
report the figures. / need only remark that
the large Populist gains have stimulated the
party to greater activity and inspired greater
courage than at any former period.
A plan of union on candidates between the
Populists and Silverites, regardless of any diff
ference in platforms, suggested by Ignatius
Donnelly of Minnesota, has received the ap-
proval OF the leading Populists and Silverites
OF the country, and all indications now point to
Its adoption. 1t is very simple procedure.
The two National conventions of Populists and
slngle-lssue silver men are to be held at the
same time and place, and proceed to formulate
such platforms as they desire, each convention
acting separately and independently and then
Joint committee of conference ON candidates
will be appointed to select and agree upon the
candidates for President and Vice President,
who are thereupon to be nominated by both
conventions separately and independently, at
the same time, BY this plan each party will
nave Its own platform, maintain its own organ
ization and fight its own battles in its own way,
but all the votes will be cast for the joint can
didates.
This plan has received the hearty editorial
Endorsement of the Silver Knight the National
party advocate of the silver men, edited by
senator William NJ. Stewart, and published in
tional reputation has rejected it.
1T also seems quite possible that the National
Prohlnltlon Convention may form q third
party In agreeing to this plan of union, the
convention 10 be held at the same time and
place as the other two conventions. So far it
has developed no opposition in the Prohibition
ranks, but has found advocates among the
most influential in that party
AS discussion OF platfOrm haS prooooded tba
TACT has become manifest that there is not the
divergence of views between Populists and
SILVER men which was generally supposed; on
the con trary the near approach IN platforms
10 identity OF purpose and aim naturally led to
the proposed union of candidates instead of
platforms. This affords ground for a degree of
harmony which promises abiding results
Comparatively few of the advocates OF the
silver issue have given serious attention to the
PoPuilst demands or issues on transportation
and land as set out in the Omaha platform.
and hence they are not prepared to accent
these Populist measures as the best solution of
these problems, but they are not Violently
opposed 10 tnem as Populist measures, and are
simply unwilling to place them in the Mat
form OF the silver party
1T would seem that the friends and advocates
Oh iree coinage of silver are to have generous
provision MADE TO accommodate them on the
uay OF maj decision at the ballot-box The
Two OLD parties are trying to accom- m odat te
poa,,;s them and thus keep them in line, while the
fopuilsts propose to meet them half way and
JOIN forces. The practical result may no Ionch
81
tne same SO far es the relative voting strength
OF the TWO Old parties is put 10 the test, tor it
nd 30 paopaoiy true that desertions from these old
organizations will about equal each other in
tne country as whole, and it will be simply a
question OF numbers between the adherents of
da tne oia parties and the new Union party In
oeed IL is extremely doubtful if the Union
pahr.y VIII poll all the silver vote, for many
VIC WHO aovocate Tree coinage still hold that the
,,,, Two old parties will yetdo silver justice and
VIII vote as In years past still cherishing that
oenel, unless the advocates of National banks
either OF the old parties, In that event there
WI! oe new alignment of forces which will
rapidly develop great change in the political
conditlons of the country. I anticipate that
result. The Democracy is now clearly domi-
mated by the gold men and National bankers,
,le Wnlie II seems highly probable that the Repub-
mean party will adopt the policy of waiting
lor the concurrent action of the great CONNER
clal nations for the restoration OF free-silver
coinage. JOSEPH AsBURY JOHNSON,
II Essex street, San Francisco.
November 80, 1895.