The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-15
BRADLEY GETS BACK AT BLAKE.
The Democratic Chairman's Pertinent
Letter Answered in Kind.

The Democratic Chairman's Pertinent
Letter Answered in Kind.
Dallas. Tex, Oct. 10.-(Special.)-
Chairman j. s. Bradley of the populist
state executive committee today mailed
Chairman J. w. Blake of the silver dem
ocratic committee a rather interesting re-
ioinder to Il letter from Chairman Blake,
published several days ago. Bradley's
letter in part is as follows:
Dallas, Tex, Oct. .9.-Hon. j. w.
Blake Chairman Democratic State In
ecutive Committee, MeXia, TeX.-Dear
Sir-Referring to your letter of October
). which was evidently given to the press
without the courtesy of an answer, and
in which you reply to my letter just
twenty-one days after it was written,
permit me to say that should | take the
same length of time to reply to you that
YOU did to me, my answer would not ben
eft you so far as this election is con-
cerned. hence | reply now, and through
the press, as you did.
You say that the democratic party
has always favored fair and honest cleo
tons. | do not know whether you are
making this statement seriously or
whether this is a choice bit of sarcasm.
You are certainly aware Of the gross
wrongs upon the purity of the ballot in
Alabama. Louisiana, Arkansas. Missis-
sippi, Georgia, Tennessee. and even
Texas.
In Harrison. Cass and Bowie conn
ties i'll the last election in this state
frauds were notorious. Also in the cOun-
ties bordering on Mexico. In Cass and
Bowie counties mules voted the demo-
cratic ticket, and negroes who had been
dead for twenty years. In Tennessee the
democratic legislature stole the govern
Orship from the republicans after being
fairly beaten at the polls. In Augusta
Ga. in the novel election of 1894. one
vote, was cast for each two and one-half
of the population. The outrage was so
notorious that even democrats them
selves denounced the frauds.
IF. as you say, your party favors hon
est elections, why do you still refuse to
join with me in the joint recommends
ton to our respective party managers!
You say the law affords ample pro-
lection. | contend that it does not. The
selection of election officers is left en-
tirely with the managers. Again. they
are only to come from different political
parties as far as practicable. The stat
ute affords very little real protection.
asked you to join me in recommends
ton 70 our respective party managers
tive party committees be placed upon
the election boards. | again renew that
request.
"Rcplying to your question for list
of electors of our party. permit me TO say
that this list has been twice printed in
the Galveston-Dallas News. is printed
weekly by most of the reform papers of
the state, has been issued to all the
houses that print blanks for Texas and
it had not occurred TO me that you did
not have a copy
You ask me how the electors will vote
for president and vice president. | have
not been in communication with our
electors since the acceptance of our NOM
nation by Mr.. Bryan, and can not for
that reason, answer your question. They
have never. with possibly one exception.
expressed an opinion as to what they
would do in their official capacity as cleo
tors. Three or four of them. prior to
Bryan's acceptance. have said. as indi-
viduals. that they would vote for Bryan.
They are all middle-of the-road populists
and would certainly be bound by the
wishes of their constituents. They are
all loyal to the south and to Tom Wat
SON They believe that the south is Il
part of the federal Union and entitled
to recognition upon national tickets You
ask if fusion arrangements has not
been entered into between the populists,
republicans and sound money democrats
whereby our party will get six electoral
votes. the republicans six and the sound
money democrats three | answer no.
Our full electoral ticket will remain in
the field and will be voted for November
>. | presume the full fifteen republican
electors will remain in the field also and
be voted for in the general election next
month. You could get this lat
ter question answered authorita-
lively by writing to republican
state headquarters.
And. now. my dear sir. having an
swered your questions. permit me to ask
YOU some. which the members of even
your party are interested in.
"First-Pease tell us what the agree
ment was. entered into between yourself
and the free silver democracy. with Geo.
Clark and his crowd at the harmon
meeting at Dallas in 1894?
"Second-Please tell us why your party
endorsed Cleveland's administration as
'eminently wise. patriotic and statesman
like by unanimous vote in your state
convention of 1894? Did you believe it
was wise. patriotic and statesmanike
then. and if so. has there been any change
in his policies since then? You now de-
nounce his administration. Were you
right in 1894 or are you right now:
"Third-Why was Daniel. who intro
duced the resolution in the senate COM
mending Grover Cleveland for sending
troops to Chicago. made permanent chair
man of your sO-called reform democratic
convention this year, which denounced
the sending of troops to that city:
"Fourth-Please tell us what arrange
ments were made between your national
committeeman. Jas. II. Jones and Sena-
tor German. by which the latter was APP
pointed TO raise 'slush' fund for the ma
tional democratic committees. Is it true
as alleged. that he refused to act as said
agent until he was also given authority
to diSburse the same. and is it true that
he was also given authority TO diSburse
the same, and is it true that he is now
using this fund for the purpose of elect
ing gold standard democratic congress
men?
"Fifth-ls it true. as alleged. that your
party now has ninety-two gold standard
democratic candidates for congress?
"SiXth-ln case either or all of these
men are elected. how will they vote upon
the silver coinage question? The public
and the members of your party are both
interested in these questions.
"Seventh-Why was CatchingS. the
ablest gold standard democrat in the
lower Mississippi valley. nominated this
year for reelection to congress by free
silver democrats, and why did Crisp, the
Pontius Pilot who presided over the house