The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-06


tion would then have been made certain-who
was utterly and absolutely opposed 10 its
schemes of every kind or character, and who
was not afraid to boldly and defianty place
himself upon record in that particular
SecondIy-Tne railroad would have had to
face the prospect of the election OF man who
had the Iemerity to do all that could be done
to secure the punishment OF its president and
Oh ief manipulation Tor the least of his crimes.
Thirdly-John Daggett would have been
compelled TO either support or oppose Popu-
list Endorsed by the Democratic party who
stood pledged and determined TO use every
possible endeavor to, drive this same Mr.. Dag
gett from the Mint which he had disgraced by
the fragrant use of its patronage for the I'M
clean purposes of boss politics
Fourthly = Thomas J. Geary would have
either had 10 support a Republican or else
man Endorsed by his party who stood In direct
and positive opposition TO MT. Geary IN ms
fight for Mr.. Huntington's funding bill.
Fifthly-Mr. Geary, Clay Taylor. Mr.. Rud-
dock and the other gold men in that conven-
tion who dominated its operations would have
been obliged either to support straight-out
silver candidate or leave their party.
This was, indeed, a perplexing situation
which required all the art and craft of those
most skilled in the Herrin-Levy school of poll
tics to deal with. At last the genius that fills
the gap of emergency came 10 the rescue OF the
storm-driyen and weather-b beaten prophets of
gold and monopoly.
garded as absolu tely essential to the destruc-
ton of the anti-monopoly cause. To ALLEVIATE
il from its then definite prediction for the
Populist candidate was seen to be absolutely
essential That could best be done by securing
the nomination OF some man whose name
would raise strong feeling OF local pride on
the one hand and control suthcie Mt influence
among the Populists the other to gain
fooJhold for those WHO would thus engage In
this attempt to destroy my own chances OF
success.
Mr.. Sellers was then chosen to be the diplo.
mat who should educate his neighbors upon
the absolute necessity of union upon silver
alone and incidentally awaken local interest in
securing Humboldt candidate. He had no
concern with union in opposition TO railroad
monopoly. Indeed, he told me on the way
down from Napa when met him Tor the first
time that Humboldt had no railroads, but he
was not for union on Bryan and silver. The
same was true OF his distinguished prototype,
Colonel Mulberry Sellers, whose well-knOwn
fidelity to the old flag is matter of history.
He lsbored with me on the way down from
Napa TO bring me TO his plane of patriotism
only TO meet with that stern obstinacy that is
born of q consciousness OF being right, for
when l realized as l did at Napa the nature of
the forces arrayed against me 1 was at once
convinced OF the strength OF mycandidacy and
the absolute necessity OF its continuance.
When l parted with Mr.. Sellers 1 did so still
ignorant of the fact that he had been delegated
by the Humboldt people to support me and
not to assassinate me.
On his return to Humboldt am credibly in
formed, he at once began the missionary work
that was placed in his hands. simultaneously
with his reappearance in Eureka that place
was flooded with all sorts OF silly canards and
charges a bitter personal attack was MADE
upon me. My character, which is always open
to the seYerest scrutiny and investigation, was
subjected TO the vi est and cruelest O ISLANDERS,
secretly aud stealthily made with all the subtle
and covert art OF men schooled in such con-
temptible business.
Then again the enemy carried their insioi-
Gus attack into the house of my friends. NV
party was offered anything and everything
that would result in my sacrifice The fire
came from every quarter; the selfish ambitions
OF those who should be naturally with US in
the fight were appealed to- and in some in
stances not in vain; but wlthal thank God
ii never moved me one 1ota from my absolute
faith in the integrity of my position. Offers
of other political preferment met with the
utter contempt they deserved. But all these
attacks were not without effect. Your pro-
posed candidacy naturally awakened in the
minds OF yourself and your friends the warm
est sense Of appreciation. The interests of the
vast majority and the great principle at stake
were rapidly lost sight OF in the awakening
pleasures OF newborn aspirations. The work
in Humboldt was well done, its local pride was
aroused, it was made to believe that l myself
was but an unworthy STUN bl1ng-block in the
way OF any union and success on silver, union
against railroad monopoly was for time for
gotten.
The crafty influences that were made in their
desperation to secure my overthrow were over
looked. The intense color and gla amour of the
new born situation was used even 10 drive
some good and sincere Populists into partial
acqutescence in the new project. This newer
condition had been wrought wholly by eX-
parIe and untrue statements having no foun-
! dation in fact Your good uncle ana partner,
rated with the cloud of monopoly vapor and
! he at once interes ted himse to secure my
withdrawal i'll your fsvor; he came to san
Fraucisco ana made me proposition. He
/ suggested TO me that your nomination was
/ conditioned wholly upon my withdrawal and
! that you predicated your acceptance of the
| Democratic nomination upon my agreeing 10
| make a campaign with you about the district.
| 90 not think that your uncle realized the
! full import OF his proposition. 1t was in effect
| that 1 should commit political suicide and
| then have my political corpse paraded around
! the district to give the anti-monopoly flavor
| to a Democratic candidate nominated by q
! convention controlled by the friends of the
abroad.
On Saturday your nomination followed, and
you are now the nominee. Your friends had
| applied to me TO withdraw in the interest oil
union upon silver Now that you are nomi.
| mated, and in view OF all the circumstances
and of the fact that am placed in a condition
| where no honorable man could retire, and in
| view OF the nature of the attack that is made
upon me and upon grounds which / believe to
leave the field to me III the interest of both
free silver and the fight against railroad mo-
| nopoly.
1t is unnecessary to go into detail in regard
| to my position upon the railroad question
| which is too well known to require any argu-
convention gave currency something that
| brings the railroad question more prominently
| before the people of that district than any
other issue il his statement be true, and dc
not see how he could have publicly made it
! unless it was
J Until / read that statement in the paper |
have always given Judge Barham credit for
being sincere in his opposition to the railroad,
but if Mr.. Geary's statement be true it en-
phasizeS all the more strongly the necessity OF
! my remaining in this fight and in giving the
| people in this district complete opportunity