The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-20
REPLY TO TAUBENECK.
Thomas NJ. Patterson of Colorado Ad-
dresses Populists.

st. Louis, No, July 2O-Hon. ThOs
NJ. Patterson, chairman of the regular
Colorado delegation to the Populist
convention, arrived yesterday and with
others Immediately began a crusade
in behalf of the nomination of Messrs
Bryan and Sewan by the Populist con-
ventiOn.
During the evening Mr.. Patterson
and his coadjutors prepared and issued
an address in reply to Chairman Tau
beneck's appeal to maintain the auto
nomy of the party by taking a posi-
ton against the nomination or in
dOrsement of the Democratic candi-
dates. The address of the Bryan fol-
lowers, as prepared by Mr.. Patterson,
is in part as follows:
we agree with Chairman Taubeneck
that the au-absOrbing question with
the Populists is, and should be, how
can they assist in the speedy restora-
ton of silver to its former place, and
at the same time maintain and ad-
vance their party organization We
believe that the Peoples Party is nee
cesSary to the country, and that should
1t be diSbanded or become incOnSeQuen-
tial for want of numbers, the money
power would soon resume complete
sway over both the old parties and the
masses be deprived of q protector from
the greed of corporations, trusts and
syndicates.
But we emphaticaIly disagree with
him as to the means by which these
ends are to be secured To nominate
an Independent ticket, one in oppOsi-
ton as much to Bryan and SeWall as
it would be to Nc Kinley and Hobart
would not only make it impossible to
restore free coinage of silver during
the life time of the youngest in the
coming convention, but it would prac-
ti0ally annihilate the Peoples Party so
far as followers are necessary to make
a party.
Instead of nominating Others the
POpulist convention should nominate,
not indOrSe,' Bryan and SeWall. The
convention should make these two men
its own nOminees-the party nominees.
1t should adopt its own platform of
principles and place them upon it as
their choice for president and vice
president Having done this the dele
gates can return to their homes, and
looking their constituents in the face,
say;
flee of party pride to make certain the
enactment into laws of one or more of
the great measures for which our party
has struggled. In doing this we have
proven that our party stands ready to
do whatever is necessary to secure
practical relief to the suffering cOun-
try, even to the extent of supporting
candidates nominated by other par
ties. No greater test of party devo-
ton to principle can be devised, and,
measured by that test, the Peoples
Party is pre- eminently worthy of the
peoples confidence and support
why will the nomination of Bryan
and Sewau by the POpulist convention
render it impossible for Populists to
make a fight for their local tickets as
Mr.. Taubeneck claims? Where they
are running POpulist tickets, without
fusion with either party, the nominal
ton of Bryan and SewaH by their ma
tiOnal convention must strengthen
them with the people. 1t is true in
states where fusion has been made
with the Republican gold standard par
ty. for the sake of local spOiIs the
plans may be somewhat marred but no
true POpulist can be any less a Popu-
list, through such action, and it can
cause no POpulist candidate to lose a
vote"