The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-18

full ticket in the field and then in case the
Democrats receive the largest representa-
tion in the electoral college, they unite
with the latter and cast their vote for
Bryan. This is the scheme which Chair
man Taubeneck has promulgated.
Taubeneck is charged with being a
trimmer and the siIverites are sus-
picious of him. II was he who wrote Tel
ler's address to the people when that sill
ver-plated statesman bolted the st. Louis
convention. His conduct at that time
was censured by the middle -of-the-road
Populists, who did not favor Teller for the
Presidency. Since the nomination of
Bryan the Taubeneck followers who were
favorable to Teller have deserted him and
gone over to the Nebraskan.
On the other hand, the middle-of-the-
ROAD people returned to Taubeneck, and
are now shouting for Teller; therefore, the
reader will clearly see that the situation is
most complicated one. But above all
this discontent suspician and uncertainty
in the Populistic ranks, the strong and
steady arm OF the Silver party is seen up
lifted, and rallies forward the struggling
forces. Whether it will eventually sue
ceed in bringing about the much desired
harmony: whether it will triumph over
the opposition that is daily growing in
volume; whether it will command the
forces of the two conventions and dictate
compromise nominee, is question
at this time which can only be conjectured.
The question of Bryan's Endorsement
will be decided by conference committee
of the two conventions. The silver COM
Ha, -
jority of the Populists likewise favorable
to the boy orator can be secured, it is
thought there will be little difficulty in Sc
curing a joint resolution recommending
Bryan to both conventions. The greatest
opposition to Bryan comes from Tennessee
and other Southern States. The Populists
from that section are struggling to inject
new life into their party.
They are weeping over its prospective
demise. To tie outsider their comments
upon the situation are amusing. "Cy-
clone" Davis of Texas is especially vehe-
ment in his remarks. He was cooling him
self in from Aof the Lindell to-day when he
fred few shots at the enemy. Become
Democrats againf' he said. mot in hun
dred years. We Populists out in Texas
have left the Democrat party for all time
to come and will never return to it. No
matter what the action of the Populist
National Convention will be the party will
still exist. The Democrats have cursed
and traduced US. They have stolen our
ballots. They have stuffed our ballot
boxes. They have coerced our voters. In
Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas the Demo-
Gratis have been in the minority for years,
yet they have beaten US by counting the
votes of dead negroes and clubbing us
down with the repeated votes of live
negroes. We might have combination
on electoral college if given the right sort
of recognition; but, to give up our organi-
cation, that is to indorse the nomination
of Bryan without putting him under obli-
cations to us before and after election and
keep out of the field in the matter of elect
ing members of Congress and representa-
tives Of our State Legislatures which will
elect United States Senators, is something
entirely out of the question. If this is
asked of us, or expected OF US, the Bryan
sentiment in our party, not only in the
South but in the entire country will vanish
like snow before southern sum-
NJ owen of Tennessee, and a dele
gate to the Peoples Party Convention
from that State is very bitter toward the
proposed fusion ticket. Like Ex-Governor
Buchanan and Sergeant-at-arms McDow-
ell, he is an old line Southern Democrat.
He joined the Peoples party four years
ago, and is now one of the bitterest op-
pone6ts of the organization founded by
his fathers.
II am delegate from the Ninth Con-
gressional District of Tennessee" began
Mr.. Owen, in discussing the grievances of
his party in the South with me to-day,
"and deeply regret that some of our lead
ers have become weakened and ready to
throw up the sponge and indorse the nom-
inee of the Chicago convention. This is
what certain far-seeing silver Democrats
have been working for long before their
convention met. The fact stared them in
the face that it was their only hope for
success, and to avoid a disastrous party
defeat was to set trap to catch Populist
votes, and nice trap they have set in
deed. They know very well that if we are
caught in the trap our party is forever