The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-13
Favored Because of His Stand
Against Concentration
of Capital.
HE WOULD PROBABLY ACCEPT.
Practically Certain of the Nomina.
ton if He Allows His Name
TO Be Used.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Jan. H. - Lyman
Trumbull of this city, who prior TO 1855
was successfully Representative in Con-
gress and Justice of the State Supreme
Court, and for the three terms beginning
that year and ending in 1873 represented
Illinois in the Senate of the United States,
may be the standard bearer of the Popu-
list party in the approaching Presidential
campaign. While no official oyertures to
that end have yet been made to him, 1t Is
understood that his availability will be
canvassed at the meeting Of the National
Committee of the party, which is to be
held at ST. Louis on Friday next TO decide
on the time and place for holding the
National Convention, and that quite
mum Der OF members of the committee,
representing States IN which the Popu-
lists have material strength, Will be favor
ably disposed toward Judge TrumbulPs
candidacy. The only other man who is
likely to be talked OF is United States
Senator Marion Butler of North Carolina.
One Of his Populist associates of that body,
however, Senator w. V. Allen OF Ne
braska), is regarded in the light of a dark
horse, and may be brought prominently to
the front should destinations or other cir
cumstances tend TO place Judge Trumbull
or Senator Butler outside the pale of con-
sideration. Beyond the three gentlemen
in question, no other name has been
mentioned as the nominee OF the party
for President.
A National committee man from a far
Western State, who was in this city for
brief time this morning, said that IL was
eminently desirable that at its meeting
next week the National Committee should
look over the field and discuss the outlook
for Presidential timber,
I'VE don't PROPOSE" he said, "to be
again placed in the dilemma that is a part
of the history of the Omaha convention of
1892. AS will be remembered, SO certain
were our leaders that Judge Gresham would
accept the nomination, that no other
name was given consideration, and up to
the opening of the convention it was re-
garded certain that the committee We
had laboring with him away down in
Indiana, where he had gone to attend the
funeral of a relative, would succeed in OBJ
tanning his consent of the presentation of
his name. 1t can be stated now, and I
think for the first time, that the immedi-
ate N embers Of Judge Gresham's family
were strongly in favor of his placing him
self in our hands, and that so far as he
himself was concerned his objections were
more personal than political.
1T will be remem bered, moreover, tn at
on that memorable Fourth OF July we con-
vened and adjourned, reconvened and
again adjourned, talked and sang to kill
time and did not give up until the final
and authenticated refusal from Judge
Gresham was wired into the convention
hall. Then we were in a quandary. Time
was getting short, somebody had to be
nominated and the choice fell upon Cen
eral Weaver. [ have nothing to say
against the old greenback warrior of Iowa,
but the fact is now recognized in the party
that he was not the strongest man who
might have been nominated had there
been more time for deliberation, and that
had we not made the mistake of pinning
our faith exclusively upon Judge Ores
HAMS acceptance we might have had an
other standard-bearer under whose leader
ship our campaign would have been more
potent of results.
This time we pro pose to look ahead
and to know just where we stand without
waiting until the convention is actually
in session. Out my way there is a strong
feeling favorable to Judge TrumbulI on
years against the growth of centralizing
tendencies in a National Government and
the gradual concentration of capital in the
hands of few to the injury of the
masses. l believe that either Judge
Trumbull or Senator Butler of North
Carolina would be highly acceptable not
ouly to the Populists but to the silver and
reform elements, and with the name of
h. h.
might kindle a wave of enthusiasm that
would sweep over the country"
The first intimation that his name was
being seriously spoken of in connection
with the first place on the Populist ticket
was conveyed to Judge Trun,bull this
evening by a representative of the United
Press. Despite the fact that he has
rounded his SD year, the venerable eI-
statesman is as bright mentally and as
active physically as the average business
man OF 50, while his speech is as clear and
his manner as earnest and vigorous as in
the days when on the Aoor of the United
States Senate he enunciated the doctrine
which be afterward wrote as the thirteenth
amendment to the constitution, that
neither slavery nor involuntary servi-
tude shall exist in the United States"
To the intimation he quickly returned
the suggestion that he had long since been
out of politics, and that, moreover, his
advanced age should preclude the pos
sibility of his being called again into har-
ness. To the suggestion, however, that,
physically, at least, he was in better shape
than was Mr.. Blaine in the campaign of
1854, or Mr. Thurman in the campaign OF
1883, he did not interpose negative, and,
while avoiding any absolute expression OF
opinion one way or the other, his manner
left the inference that were he approached
with the sanction of the National Com
mlttee, be might be persuaded TO place
himself in the hands of the convention.
In the course OF the conversation, Judge
Irumbuil said that the suggestion OF his
name probably grew out of the fact that
year ago, after conference of the reform
elements at St. Louis. he was waited upon
by committee which sought his advice
regarding the leading questions OF the day