The San Francisco call., 1896-06-26
It Tends to Prevent the Union
of All Foes of the Money
Power.
HOW TO DEFEAT M'KINLEY.
He Says a Combinatian of Silver
Forces Can Alone Accomplish
This End.

WASHINGTON, d. c., June 25.-Sena-
tor PETER of Kansas does not expect Nc
Kinley's defeat this year except by
union of all the free-silver forces. On the
other hand such a mbination, he be-
ieves, will sweep the country. This was
the central thought of Senator Peffer's
utterances upon the political outlook
to-day with United Press reporter. In
cidentally the Kansas Senator sharply
criticized Mr.. Taubeneck, the secretary OF
the Populist National Committee, for the
party manifesto issued by him in st. Louis
few days ago.
"This manifesto" he said, ''was in the
nature of an appeal, signed by Mr..
Taubeneck and other gentlemen, advising
our people to support Senator Teller for
the Presidency when the Populist Conven-
tion meets. 1t was a mistake and it was
wholly unauthorized.
"The leading IDEA of our people, when
we formed our party, was to bring about
ultimately union OF all the different re-
form elements of the country in opposition
to the power whicn is. now recognized by
the term money power, so that we might
be ready at any tiHae to join forces with
the other organizations which, like us, are
in this opposition. But we want them to
do what we have done; stand with the
present organization, so that together we
may form one party which will combine
these various elements of opposition. Ii
the silver Democrats and silver Republi-
cans meet US on that ground, we ought in
turn to make an equal advance, and by COM
bining, form a solid organization against
the common enemy; for l believe that all
the signs of the times indicate that the
gold men-Republicans and Democrats
will unite to defeat the silver movement.
l think also that our party should main
tain its present organization solidly, until
some arrangement can be made for per-
manent union of all the elements l refer to-.
"In case the Democrats adopt their
usual platform at Chicago, making no
allowance for recruits from other sources,
and naming ticket composed of old
school Democrats, pledged to no reform
except that of silver, our people will refuse
to act with them. We could, however,
form an offensive and defensive alliance
west and west and still keep our several
organizations intact. In that way we
could bring all the strength of the silver
people to bear in the electoral college"
When asked if this would not be tants-
mount to indorsing the Democratic nomi-
nee Senator Peffer said:
mo; it would operate this way and take
States like those in the Northwest, the
Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado,
Nevada and others in that region, where
the Democratic vote is very hight at the
best. There we would have only Populist
electors, because the Democrats are not
sufficiently strong to change the political
complexion of the vote. In some of the
Southern States, where there are more
Democrats than Populists, there could be
mixture of electors representing both ele-
ments in proportion to their voting
strength, with the understanding that the
solid electoral vote be cast whichever way
it could be made the most effective in de-
gliding the election for President. see no
other way to maintain our separate organ
izations and get a combined strength
against the Republican candidate"
ain this event, who would be seated
the PopuIist or the Democratic nominee?"
THAT replied Senator PETER, ''is q
matter of detail which could be seItled
after the election"
"Under the circumstances, could you
defeat Nc Kinley?'
81 shall not say that | doubt it; but
fear it would not be successful. l don't
believe that such policy would bring out
anywhere the full silver vote of the coun-
try. 1t would have the appearance OF
division, and that alone would deter a
good many who would support single
organization, National in it's character.
Hence, say, the importance of union
of all the silver forces in one new body.
If we can secure such an organization we
shall carry the election"