The San Francisco call., 1896-10-20
Letters From the People.
THE CITY POPULISTS.
Are They " "Bunkoed" aud /" SscallosCed
Up" by tire Democracy

Are 1hey /" "Bunkoedo aud SsUallosCed
Up" by tire Democracy?
To the Editor of the San Francisco Call STR:
For me to remain silent at this time as to the
cnarges made by all the daily newspapers OF
San francisco that the Populists have been
'punkoed" ana swallowed up'' by the City
democracy, or either wing of IL, would lndl-
cate that wished to dodge these charges or
tnat the evidence to support them is so con-
elusive that deem it prudent not to say q
word about it,
The old-line Populists of San Francisco, those
VINO used to be able to muster all the way
from twelve to eighteen men, one of whom
was the writer of this letter, to meet in coun-
Gil once week in this great City, and to pay
the hall rent at great self-sacrifce, for more
IMAM year, for the sole purpose of trying to
iorm the nucleus of the Peoples part seem
20 be less concerned than anybody else in the
Slty over tie dreadful fate which, If we are to
Deiieye the unfriendly newspapers. has over
taken the party in the present campaign. If
these old-line City Populists and their older
coworkers of the last four years were inclined
to grieve over their present deplorable situa-
ton, as the newspapers picture it, their lacer-
ated suscepuDilities might find somewhat OF
soothing balm in the generous recognition,
delayed though it be for about six years, OF
their sturdy virtues as citizens above the
reach OF the evil boss influences which have
ruled both old parties in this City for many
years.
To these old-line Populists 1t seems singu-
lar circumstance that they were regarded by
these same newspapers as political lunatics
not worth noticing, except now and then
when there appeared to be chance to poke
fun at them, but who are now credited with
having possessed great civic virtues while
they cut no figure in politics, and are charge
with having suddenly lost all these virtues
the moment they appear likely, by an honor
able union with free-silver allies, to be able to
defeat The boss-nominated candidates of their
political opponents, who are striving 20 main-
tain the present gold standard till other ma
tons, which favor the gold standard, consent
to adopt international bimetallism.
suppose, however, that these City Populists
mad taken the advice of their political enc
mics and had nominated only good "middle-
ot-the-road" straight Populists for municipal
officers and refused to form any alliance with
the free silver ana Bryan forces of the City in
the face of the powerful and all-pervasive
sentiment in favor of union OF the reform
and silver forces which has taken form in the
united support of Bryan all over the Nation,
and OF Congressman and State legislators in
nearly every State of the Union, would not
these City Populists have justly earned the
title of political lunatics? Would not this be
the more emphatical.y true when it is remem-
bered that Populists regard the present politi-
cal struggle as fraught with great peril to the
plain people of our country?
lime alone can prove the wisdom or the
folly OF the alliance made by the Populists
with the free-silyer Republicans and free-silver
Democrats in the support OF Bryan for the
Presidency, and in like alliance with the same
free-slver forces to secure the election of Con-
gressmen and State Legislatures where United
States Senators are to be elected that will sus-
tain Bryan's administra tion, but present indi-
cations as to the political situation seem to
afford ample Justification for these alliances,
and but lew of the strictest Populists now
doubt the wisdom of the course adopted by
their party. Now, as monopolies rule San
Francisco and City politics in this Presiden-
tlal year, with the two o.d parties hoplessly
divided into opposing actions, with the Non
Partlsans in the field, Populists believed that
~ dor>r
anti-monopoly and silver forces on a sixth
ticket and by nominating unimpeachable and
capable men on purely Popuiistic municipal
platform they would have fair chance 10
elect these men on such platform, these nom-
inations to be made in true and honest
non-partisan or above-partisan spirit.
When the Peoples party municipal conve III
tion met the writer of this letter wrote out
resolutions proposing such all alliance with
the auSi-monopoly and silver forces of this
City, and providing for committee of six ON
conference on candidates, and these resolu-
tions were adopted by the municipal conven-
ton by all almost unanimous vote, and the
committee was duly. appointed. This COM
mlttee was made up of old and tried Populists
who had and still have the confidence and
respect of the Populists OF this City. was
honored with place OH that committee and
know that overtures were at once made to the
Non-Partisans and the Junta Democrats, and
several informal conferences were held with
prominent and active members of both OF these
organizations. Indeed, several days were lost
in this way, as these on-Pariisans and Junta
Democrats finally ignored our overtures and
failed to meet us even informally. In the
meantime, overtures came to us from the other
Democratic organization which had openly
declared for Bryan and free silver, our natural
allies in the present political contest. The
good Nom Partisans and the respectable
Junta Democrats, evidently under the gold
standard influence, declined any alliance wi h
Popuists TO secure good government Tor the
City of San Francisco and Boss Ellert nomi-
mated his ticket and named it Non-Partisan,
while Boss Rainey nominated his ticket and
named 1t Regular Democratic.
In the meantime the ignored Popu ists
Drawing the wrath OF the virtuous and un-
biased newspapers, met with honorable over
lures from the silver and Bryan Democrats
and these overtures were made by men in
stead of the half-humaa ogers pictured by the
newspapers. The wary Populsts dictated the
terms OF an agreement which is now revealed
10 the public IN the ticket nominated by their
party and which was published in the news
papers of Sunday, October 1S. The natuie of
that agreement is at once seen in the fact that
our candidates are not confined to the nomi-
nees of any one convention or political orpani-
Zation. Indeed, the full extent and exact
character OF that agreement will be better un-
derstood when thorough and careful exami-
nation of the ticket is made, and the standing
and character of each candidate have received
the closest scrutiny. But that is not all
These candidates all stand on our municipal
platform pledged to onr principles as applied
to municipal government while their first
pledge was the support of Bryan and free
silver.
After three weeks OF conscientious work on
the committee in investigating candidates and
in aiding to nominate good men on our ticket
am willing to go on record in this City and
all over the State OF California in the columns
OF THE CALL as saying without reservation
that our Popu4ist ticket con tains the names of
at least nine candidates for Supervisors who
will be 'solid" for the City, and against any
corporate influence, no matter what tempta-
tions may be urged upon their consideration
have, indeed, no apologies to make Tor the
Populist municipal ticket taken as q whole,
but am proud OF 1t. JOSEPH AsBURY JOHNSON.
San Francisco, Oct. 10, 1896.
THE CANDIDATE