The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-13
POPUL|STS WILL
STAND ALONE,
Leading Members of the
Party Say There Can't
Be Fusion.
THE CRY OF "THIEFw
Democracy Charged With Steal.
ing a Plank From Their
Platform.
WOULD PREFER DLFEAT NOW.
Anything Rather Than Compromise
on Cond tions That Would Not
Help the Country.
WOULD PREFER DLFEAT NOW,

WHEREAS, The Peoples party OF he
United States is now n National party
and has cast 1000, 900 votes on a plat
form involving a full financial reform,
direct legislation and the abolition OF
trusts and oppressive mOnOpolies. and
whereas, the Democratic party in its
death throes has stolen one little silver
plank only from our platform and now
again masquerades befor tho country.
RESOLVED, That we the County Com
Eittee of the Peoples party of the City
and County of San Francisc are unal-
terably opposed to any fusion whatever
with either of the old political parties;
therefore be it further
RESOLVED, That we insist that our
National convention must take no retro
gressive steps whatever, but must adj
here to each and every principle laid
down in the Omaha platform.
The Populists will have nothing to do
with the Democrats because silver plank
has been inserted in the Democratic plat
form. Their principles, they proudly
maintain, are like truth-unchangeable
and consequently the Peoples party under
no consideration can afford to go so far as
a compromise by fusion with the Demo
Gratis all on account of siIver-which the
Populists claim was filched from their
code of principles. Lest any one might
mistake their attitude on this subject the
Populists have come out boldly and de-
nouneed the possibility of fusion with
Democrats-at least with the silver half
of what used to be the Democratic party.
At 8 meeting Saturday night the San
Francisco County Committee discussed
this question in all its phases, so that
there remained no point unconsldered.
They asserted in their preamble that
the Peoples party was no longer a side
show in the political arena, but potent
factor of more than 1000, 600 votes; that
their principles were immutable and more
sacred than personal aggrandizement or
temporary benefits, or something to that
effect, and then they resolved that they
were unalterably opposed to any union
whatsoever with the silverites. They also
insisted on their National Convention adj
herring to the principles laid down in the
Omaha convention.
But the lines that cut to the quick were
these:
The Democratic party in it's death
throes has stolen one little silver plank
only from cur platform, and now again
masquerades before the country.
These sings and arrows are hard to bear.
They have widened the breach. They
have branded the Democratic National
Convention with crime, and here rec
ognized organization of the Peoples party
cries at the Democrats, Thief Thief"
So how can they fuse now2
The local leaders of the Populists are no
Ia.u IN thar opi n
ions. They, too, cry ''Thiefl" And they
declare that the Democratic silver scheme
does not even come up TO their views,
since 1t is not at all the same proposition
as that formulated Iby the Peoples party
concerning money.
E. S. Barney, chairman of the San Fran
cisco Peoples Party County Committee
claimed yesterday that fusion with the
silver wing of Democracy was utterly i'm
pc ssible.
mo doubt Bryan has been put up for a
purpose" said he. "He comes from a
State nearly all Populists. This resolution
from our committee last night is not an
instruction to our delegates who 90 to St
Louis, for they go uninstructed. They are
free TO do as they please. but these resou-
tons show the sentiments of the Peoples
party on the question.
Zone thing 1 can assure you, if Mr..
Bryan wants the support of the Peoples
party, he will have to indorse the entire
platform of tn Peoples party. But r nj
sure they'll not give it to him, nor do
believe that he will do this. If he won't
there is no earthly show of indorsing him
''The sentiment of the majority of the
County Committee is carried out in these
resolutions. The Populists have advo.
Gated silver for eight years and it ha:
gradually grown till adoDted by the Demo.
cratic party. Why should we adopt Mr.
Bryan because be has taken up one of oul
planks? 1t is not a vital question of our
platform, but merely one of them. The
Peoples party is a reform party. 1t NAV
never get into power, but it stands for the
reforms of the day, and some day these re.
forms will take root because they have
been made by honest people. 1t makes
almost 8 political martyr of man to be.
long to the party. There is no Office in
sight.
"a genuine Peoples party man will
never leave the middle of the road. OF tho
old-line men who have been in the work
for years one plank cannot scatter them
The sentiment expressed last night wa
that we had every confidence in our dele
gates and that we left it all to them. The
Peoples party goes further. We are fight
ing for direct legislation and that w
should rule ourselves. 1t would certainly
be plain from this that the party canno
flop over to the Democratic party. /
would destroy the integrity of the party
The bitterest enemy the people have in tn
South is tue Democrat. If there be an,
fusion in the South it would be with thu
Republicans, who assist the Populist
there against their com mon enemy"
DR.. Daywalt, who is prominent mem
Der of the executive committee OF the
Populist county committee and grand
medical director of the Ancient ordel
United Workmen, was bitterly opposed t.
fusion.
1.-THE trouble is, he saie. ''the Demo
Gratis want silver restored as redemption
money. whereas the Populists demand
that silvar hA raafored tn Mn Ii United coin.