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


| give US the cold laugh. For years the
Democrats have fought Populists and their
| principles.
Down South they have been particu-
larly bitter against US. When Cleveland
was elected the last time the Democrats
in our district resorted to tie most un-
manly and un-American methods to carry
the election. They resorted to Dallot-bo
| stuffing and other disgracefuI means in
| order to gain their ends. Populists were
cursed and insulted for no crime but
| claim to the right of a fair count and an
honest ballot. Our leaders were branded
as traitors. Time has proved that we
were IN the right. Now the Democrats
want to get in our band-wagon. We have
| noble leaders in our ranks who will not
desert the rank and file in the heat of
| battle, men in whom the people can de-
pend for the safekeeping of their princi-
pies. There is one route for the Peoples
| party, and that is in the middle of the
road. To the right there is dark gulf,
to the left an impossible mountain. We
must stand on the Omaha platform or be
destroyed"
Sergeant-at-arms Mcdowell is vigorously
| com batting the efforts of the free-silver
men to secure the Endorsement of Bryan.
He and Tauheneck are leading the Popu-
listic forces in this direction. With them it
is anything to beat the Nebraskan To show
that the sentiment in the South is strongly
against fusion ticket, Mcdowell displays
letters received from influential Southern
Populists, declaring that they will support
straight ticket and that alone.
letter signed by John L. Quarles and
others of the Fourth Congressional Dis
trict of Tennessee is significant.
"In. the name of the Peoples party of
the Fourth Congressional District - reads
this forcible declaration, 1--WE solemnIy
and earnestly protest against any intus-
tice of the Peoples party by reason of
fusion with either of the old political par
ties, and especially do we protest against
the Peoples party National Convention at
st. Louis indorsing or in any way ratify-
ing or countenancing the nomination of
w. ]. Bryan by the Chicago convention.
The platform of that convention is a
fraud. 1t was issued under false pre-
lenses.
I'VE have inves tigated the feeling and
sentiment of our people" continues the
letter, 'and it is unanimously opposed to
fusion, and any other course but straight
ticket we will regard as treachery to our
party"
On the other hand, the leaders of the
Silver party are very much encouraged by
the number of Bryan people that are COM
ing over from the Populists and joining
in the procession. AS each delegate ar
rives in the city he is approached by
Bryan emissary and solicited to cast bis
influence with the white-metal brigade
Fred L. Bailey, Bryan boomer from
Oklahoma, waved into town to-day, carry
ing life-size picture of the boy orator of
the Platte.
Mr. Bailey is young man with smooth
face and large supply of nerve. He orig
inally came from Kansas, and for time
was one of the chief advisers of Jerry
Sim pson, the sockless Congressman of the
grasshopper State. He says that Mr.
Simpson will be here next week and will
do little shouting for Bryan. Mr.. Bailey
was not long in town before he made his
presence known. He ran large banner
across Washington avenue from the Lin
dell Hotel. On it was inscribed the toll
lowing: "Oklahoma Headquarters for
Bryan" To demonstrate that there is no
superstition lurking in the Oklahoma del
egation it selected room 13 at the LindeIl
as its headquarters.
1--WE are going to indorse Bryan"
shouted Bailey as he walked through the
lobby of the hotel. "Oklahoma is for him,
and whoever Oklahoma declares for is GO
ing to win. Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado
and the other Northwestern States are
falling into line, and if the convention
were to be held tomorrow there would be
lu in ho fold nd =;
name would be Bryan of Nebraska"
The managers of the Silver party are to-
night holding secret conferences and are
devising plans to bring about stampede
for Bryan in the Populist convention.
Themselves a unit for the Nebraskan, they
will leave nothing undone to bring about
his Endorsement by the two conventions.
As their platform simply declares for sII-
yer, without touching upon any of the
other great issues of the day, they are
satisfied with Bryan as standard-bearer,
and should the Populists finally consent
to likewise favor him there will be no.bap-
pier people in all his broad land than
those who have so assiduously and sin
cerely champloned the cause of silver.
The hotels are filling up rapidly with
delegates and visitors from all parts of the
United States. While there is less enthu-
siasm than was manifest at Chicago dur
ing the preliminaries to the Democratic
National gathering there is not less ear
nestness on the part of those com missioned
with authority to faithfully perform the
duties expected of them by their constltu-
ents. Certain it is the two conventions
next week will be historical. The one
may mark the rise or fall of silver; the
other may signal the death of Populism.
Some people, however, are inclined to
think that the Populists may survive
being run over and killed should they con-
tlnue down the middle of the road.
FRANK MCGUIRE.
SILVER BOLTERS TO MEET.