The San Francisco call., 1896-11-18
Letters From the eop1e.
OUR CITY POPULISTS.
Were They "Wrecked" by Intrigue in
the Recent Election?

Were They "Wrecked' by Intrigue in
the Recent Election?
Editor San Francisco CclE-sIR: quite agree
with Senator Butler of North Carolina, chair
! man of the National Com mittee OF the Peoples
party, in his address after the election "to the
people OF the United States," in which he
reaches the conclusion that "the Peoples
party will be the nucleus around which patri-
otc hosts must and will gather" in future
contests, Notwithstanding the stubborn fact
that umboldt County, which went Populist
two years ago. did give Mckinley 500 major
ity, and that Alameda County, which was
nearly Populist two years ago, as it then ap-
peared, is now the banner county of the Re-
publican party, and the further fact that San
Francisco, which had Populist vote of more
than 5000 two years ago, now has less than
haif that number, according to the vote OF
November g.
Many explanations have been offered,
some claiming that the Populists refused to
"fuse," and Others that the Democrats were to
blame. My own judgment is that both are
right But / cannot agree with the view
sitlon' In THE CALL, that the City Populists
were wrecked" by intrigue, though / grant
that every man must judge according to his
light and his range of vision.
MY cnlef reason for dlstrusting the 1udg-
ment OF Mr.. Reynolds is the fact that he was
one OF the most conspicuous and most strenu-
Ouo uQfOCdttS OI SLf1CL ''mlQule-Oi-IQe-TOAQ'
policy for the City Populists, aud yet he re-
ce1ved but 1882 votes, according to the re-
turns, less than half the accredited Populist
vote He at least should have received the
full vote OF two years ago, about 5000, for he
not only was consistent advocate OF pure
politics, but man well known throughout the
Gity as an advocate OF municipal ownership.
HIS zeal for pure politics was not well re-
warded.
1.-The heaviest blow struck" against "fusion,"
according TO Mr.. Reynolds, "was the nomina-
humble proprietor of q machine-shop," whose
"open. frank and honest face and square build
OF the telephone company" Mr.. Eaton, by
Just three votes in convention of 104. AS
Mr. Potter was drought out'' by Mr.. Rey-
nolds as "true Populist," but was unknown
while Mr.. Eaton was old citizen ana had
served the City as Supervisor twenty wears be-
fore when he worked hard 10 secure City
ownership of the Spring Valley Wafer Works
ana had clean record as a Supervisor and
business man, while Mr.. Potter had resided in
the City but three years and was not well
known, 1t was thought that Mr.. Eaton, who
had fully Endorsed the platform adopted by
the City Populists, would be q stronger candi-
date than MI Potter and that there could be
no nope OF eiecting either of them if both re-
malned as candidates in the Sixth Ward.
IN view OF these facts l took the response
bility upon myself of inviting Mr.. Potter and
Mr.. Eaton to appear before the campaign COM
m1ttee. which is also the executive committee
OF the Peoples party, composed of twenty-one
lhcluUtIct I'll OF Ilem OlQ mem DerS OF the
county committee, but only three of the COM
mittee were favorable TO Mr.. Eaton. They
appeared before the committee, both being
present at the same time. Mr.. Eaton was first
lnierrogated as to his views and his standing
ana voting strength" as a candidate, nearly
every member of the committee taking part in
the examination, which lasted about an hour
He was then excused and left the hall, when
Mr.. Potter had the same chance 10 state his
views and availab ility as candidate and was
requested TO remain in an adjoining room 10
m MI
diately on his retirement motion was made
to invite Mr.. Potter 10 place his resignation in
the hands of the committee, and IL was put
without debate and adopted by a full and
unanimous vote. All this is matter of
record.
This is what Mr.. Reynolds SAYS in regard to
Mr.. Potters resignation: ''These men who
hypnotized Buckley and others who attend to
the Spring Valleys business, and others who
were playing for Buekley's favor, directed a
series of annoyances, intimidations and mis-
representations against Potter's candidacy
after the convention adjourned and made the
matter so bothersome to him that the young
man resigned" The entire campaign COM
mittee knows how utterly false and misleading
| is this statement made by Mr.. Reynolds and
addressed .'to the fifty thousand Populists of
| California"
| And who is John NJ. Reynolds? Is he COM
| petent 10 speak for the Populists of San Fran
| cisco? Mr.. Reynolds is the "business man.
| ager" OF the Socialist newspaper, published
| in this City, and has not been connected with
the Peoples party here within the past six
| yCaAs, ~ lai Us nave ever hnOWu, uulli u lew
| days before the municipal convention
met He then joined club and came
in as a delegate to the convention.
| His occupation is that of merchant" dealing
| in hardwood finishing and writing his views
on public questions for publication In the
newspapers, more especially municipal
ownership, in most of which PopulisIs agree
with him; but he does not seem to be quite
fair in dealing with Populists, and may be sus-
| pected OF trying to make it appear that they
| have been wrecked"
| To the Populists of California desire to say
that they need not feel worried over the 'reve-
| lations' made by Mr.. Reynolds, for they are
all of a piece with the Potter matter over
which he is so much exercised. They will
| readily see that he has not much standing
with the City Populists as their selfappointed
champion. # we may judge by the size of his
| vote OF 1882, and make any allowance for his
| personal following outside of the Peoples
party. At first thought no reply to Mr.. Rey-
nolds need be made. but as he is skillful
manufacturer and made plausible story
which might mislead Populists outside of San
francisco, have written this reply to him.
JOSEPH AsBURY JOHNSON.
IL Essex street, Nov. 16, 1896.