The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-20
The Parent and the Directing
Sound.Money Democratic
Club.
WILL MAKE THINGS LIVELY.
: Election Laws May Prevent an Elec-
toral Ticket, but They Will
go a.FiShing."

The Leading SOunQ-mOney democrats OF
San Francisco who are inclined to stand
by the basic principles of the Democratic
party, and who will not lend their support
TO Organism and the present Populistic
platform of the party, have started, under
promising auspices. their organized effort
to express their political beliefs, and TO
cooperate with the strong and widespread
seund-money and anti-Bryan movement
in the party, which will result in a Ma
tional convention at Indianapolis in Sep
tenn Der 2.
The Sound-Money Democratic Club of
San Francisco was organized day before
yesterday at conference held at the Pal
ace Hotel by thirty-two leading and influ-
ential:members of the Democratic party.
This form of organization was decided
upon instead of that of Estate Central
Committee" and the other forms of regular
party organization. This club will, how
ever, be the leading and directing power
in this political movement in California,
will actively enroll the many thousand
conscientious and clear-headed Demo crats
who are in sympathy with the movement,
will encourage the formation of other
sound money Democratic clubs through
out the State distribute campaign litera-
ture extensively and generally cooperate
with the National Com mittee.
This meeting was a voluntary getting
together of representative men with a
common purpose ana a common political
conviction. The temporary organization
of the club named was decided upon and
Edward r. Taylor was made temporary
chairman, Elliott McAlGster temporary
secretary and A. a. Watkins temporary
treasurer. John P. Irish, who has been
especially active in promoting the move
ment, read letters and kilograms from
leading Eastern Democrats asking and
urging an organization in California.
Those who attended the meeting and
new club were the following: Edward R.
Taylor. A. A. Watkins, T. c. Van Ness,
John Resented, Charles Page, Henry F.
Fortmann, Charles Colman, r. NJ. WEIGH,
n. Goldtree, John Heenan, John 2. Irish,
]. w. Mcdonald, John j. O'Farrell, W.
w. Armstrong, E. B. Pond, E. S. Heller,
Robert Y. Hayne, William Thomas, II.
Stephenson Smith, J. II. Meredith. 7. B.
Berry, Jeremiah Lynch, r. 7. Van Norden,
Curtis Hillyer, Charles P. Eells, NJ. F.
Michael. Colin M. Smith, Walter Perry
Johnson, George Davis Boyd, Elliott Nc
Allister, Alexander Boyd. Emil Pohi.
The constitution adopted for the club
provides for the usual officers and an ex-
ecutive committee of twenty-one mem
bers to be appointed by the president,
said committee to be divided into sub
committees on headquarters, finance, lit
erature, publication, distribution and
mem bership, to be appointed by the chair
man of the executive committee.
Articles III, " and V of the very brief
constitution are as follows:
Membership-An person who voted for the
National Democratic ticket of 1892 may be-
come member upon payment OF a fee of 81.
Declaration OF Principles-This club is op-
posed to the free, unlimited and independent
coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to l.
Objects-The objects of the club shall be:
First, to purchase or print and circulate
among the people of the State such literature
as may in the opinion of the executive COM
mlttee be useful in maintaining the cause of
''sound money; second, to take such further
steps to effect the same object as may be deter
mined upon from time to time by the club.
The executive committee of the club
will perform in a general way such duties
as would have devolved upon State Gen.
trail Committee had such form of party
organization been decided upon.
The main reason why a party organiza-
ton was not adopted was that under the
cleo ton laws of this State nominees would
have to go on the ballots as independent
candidates backed by the necessary petit
tions, as the heading. Democratic lie
mocracy.
This complication, it is more than
likely, will prevent the nomination in tbs
State of sound-money electors in support
of General Bragg or whoever may become
the Presidential nominee of the National
Sound-money Convention.
To get such electors on the official gen.
eral ballot throughout the State as indie
pendent State officers would require the
filing at Sacramento of petition signed
by about $500 voters. While there are
several times that number of Democrats
in California VINO will not vote for BRYAN.
and who are in sympathy with the heroic
stand of the best elements of the party in
behalf OF Jeffersonian party principles, it
is yet doubtful whether or not there will
be made the effort to get the necessary
signatures to make an electoral ticket OF
practical effect. When Secretary Elliott
McAllister was asked yesterday what the
sound-money Democrats of California
would be able to do for the prospective
sound-money Presidential candidate, he
said: "We will probably go fishing for
him."
While the sound money Democrats here
and elsewhere expect to win nothing,
their motives being purely patriotic ones.
thew promise TO make an enormous hole
in the Bryan vote in this State, and the
party leaders are greatly alarmed at the
rise OF the organization, the strength OF the
movement and the certain effect on the
Bryan campaign of the extensive literary
and stump campaign work which will be
done by the earnest sound-money Demo-
Gratis.
Thousands of the Democrats in this
State will vote for Mckinley and thou
sands more who put party principles and
their consciences on a higher plane than
:he temporary winning OF few offices by
The allied Populists, win in effect vote
tgainst Bryan by "going a-fshing" on
election day.
Yesterday the circulation of blank men,
Oership rolls by all members and friends
IF the new club was begun, and the total
enrolment promises to reach into the
thousands.
The club will meet again at the call of |
he chair on either Saturday or Monday |
lext At this meeting permanent organ
cation will be effected. Then or soon |
hereafter the executive committee will |
Se announced, and this executive COM
nlttee will at once decide on the plans, |
cope and methods of the campaign work |
hat will be at once instituted.
The most notable of the letters read at |
he initial meeting was a long one from
Attorney John T. Doyle, in which he ex-
dressed his regrets at not being able to at