The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-18

virginia NGoVeEuDE Js.sssss.a NS1sS &lorlAA
Vermont (governor) ........ 74O 5s.OIs
Washington (congressman). 24,eS3 1885
Wisconsin govern orl-......s 25so1B B755u
wyoming (governor)........ S,l7e 1924
Republican fusion. tho Republican candi-
date. Effected as a Democrat and Populiss.
sElected as Republican and Populst- 5Sil-
ver1te elected against Republican, -Populist
and Democrat.
The platform adopted by the Populist
convention of four years ago repeated most
of the provisions of the Ocala platform. It
demanded the free coinage of silver and
gold at 16 to /; that the circulating medi-
UNI be increased to $50 per capita; a grad
uated income tax; limitation of state and
national revenues to the necessary expenses
of the government economically admins
tered; the establishment of postal savings
banks; government ownership of telegraph
and telephone lines; reclamation Of all
land held by railroads and other corpora
tions in excess of their actual needs and all
land held by aliens.
In addition to the resolutions embody-
ing these principles, the convention adopt
ed a long series of resolutions, which were
said expressly not to be part of tho plat
form. In these were contained indorse-
ments of the Australian ballot; the appli-
cation of the revenue from the income tax
to the reduction of the burden of taxation
resting on the domestic industries of the
country; fair and liberal pensions to ex-
Union soldiers and sailors; better irnfni-
grafton laws; the eight hour law, with q
penalty clause attached; the abolition of
the Pinkerton detective system; the initia-
tive and referendum legislative system;
the limitation of the presidency to one
term and election of senators by direct
vote Of the people, and finally the resolu-
tons opposed subsidies Of any kind
It will be seen that the Peoples Party
was the first to indorse the free and unlim-
tied coinage Of silver at Is to 1. For this
reason the Populists asked the Democrats
at Chicago to cOnsider their wishes in the
selection of a candidate last week.
Since the election of 1890 the Populists
have gained strength in congress, partly
through success in elections and partly
through accessions from the older parties.
Marion Butler has been elected to the SEN
ate from North Carolina and William Y.
Allen from Nebraska Senators Jones and
Stewart of Nevada have broken away from
the Republican party, though they claim
merely to be independents and silver men.
And now four other senators, walking out
of the convention Of the Republican party
last month, have allied themselves with
the independent movement in which the
Peoples Party is the chief factor. Some
of these men will attend the POpulist con-
vention. Others will be here to attend the
convention of the Silver party.
The Silver Party.
Inc kol4V6I party WHICH mas Q5bu CAll6u 10
meet in St. Louis on the same date as the
Populist convention, July 20, is as yet
without form and substance. 1t exists
only ia the hopes and plans of the friends
of silver in ala parts of the country. Its
organization was Recommended by the FREQ
silver propagandists before it was thought
the Democratic party would commit ITSELF
to a free silver resolution. Word was sent
to the friends Of silver everywhere to send
delegates to St Louis to form a Silver par
ty independent Of all other political organ
izatiops. Delegates have been chosen from
all the states some of them in convention
and some IA conference. These delegates
meet under chaotic conditions. No precise
rules can be observed ia the preliminary
meeting of a new party. But undoubted-
1y committees en- credentials, resolutions,
permanent organization and order Of BUSH
ness will be appointed, and as far as possi-
BILE the usual routine of q national conven-
ton win be observed There would have
been no doubt Of the nominee Of the con-
vention if the Democratic party had not
declared for free silver. The logical
candidate OF the silver men is Mr.. Teller
of Colorado, and many Of the delegates
still believe he Will be named by the con-
vention. Others think the Democratic
nominee may pe Endorsed.
DR.. J. J. Mott will call the silver con-
ventton to order. The Populist conven-
ton will be called to order by II. E. Tau
beneck of Illinois, the chairman Of the ma
tional committee 1t will follow the usual
procedure Of national political conven-
tions. Committees will be appointed on
the Arst day, and on the second a perna-
nent organization will be formed, rules
will be adopted and the other business Of
organization will be completed. Probably
the platform will be adopted on that day.
But the candidate will not be nominated
until the silver convention has acted and
-I-oZ naesa hot il
the general expectation Of the delegates
L Tic silver men iBdorse the Democrats
nominee the POpulists will consider the
question Of doing likewise, and so uniting
the silver forces against the Republican
party.
If the silver men nominate Teller, there
Is little doubt the POpulists will indorse
that action, though there is some opposi-
ton to this plan from Mr. PETER and 9th
ers who hold that Mr.. Teller agrees with
the Populists in only two principles-the
free coinage of silver and the levying Of an
income tax. Many of the Populists expect
the silver men to come into camp inInc-
diately after they have named a candidate.
But the representatives of the silveFite5
say an Independent party will be formed,
and that while it may work in harmony
with the POpuhsts and possibly with the
Democrats in the coming campaign it
will preserve its independent identity.
One plan which will Be considered in
both these conventions is known as the
Breidenthal plan. 1t is to nominate fusion
electors in the west and south on the Pop
ulist, Silver and Democratic tickets, thess
electors TO vote for whom they please in
the electoral college.
No preparations have been made by the
citizens of St Louis for the entertainments
of the delegates to the two conventions ex-
cept to prepare the halls in which they
will meet and to decorate some buildings.
The convention is not expected to be as
lively as the Republican convention in