The San Francisco call., 1896-02-26

rated, as it was not last time. My impression
is tnat our State platforms this year viii also
be brief and contain little more than the
National platform
anticipate that when the Populist and Sill
YER conventions meet al ST. Louis there Will De
appointed conference committee to agree
upon candidates and do not foresee any dill
Guilty in effecting such an agreement. 1T IS
anticipated that the Populists and silver men
will be able in many States to vote for the same
Presidential electors, and 10 agree upon Con-
greSsional and legislative tickets. In such
cases the Populists would divide the repre-
sentation with the silver men. There may
and likely will be union in some States upon
State officers, but the main com bination would
naturally be upon electors and upon leglsia-
tive tickets.
There is a feeling throughout our party that
we are sure OF carrying a number OF States
without any assistance. We are particularly
strong in Texas, North and South Carolina
Alabama and Georgia, and we expect to be
able TO carry those States. In the West we are
similarly strong, in Colorado, Kansas Ne
braska and North Dakota. In all these states
we will show greater strength than ever before
and, as say, think we Will be able 10 WIN
without assistance.
My impression is that the silver men are
thoroughly IN earnest and that they will go in
to fig hit fer their one principle irrespective OF
party, and will not be deferred from 1t by any
thing. 1t takes courage to do that and re-
spect men who will do it. In our opinion the
money q pestion rises in importance above the
tariff and other questions, We now have tel ten
representatives in Congress including the fye
Farmers Alliance congressman from North
Carolina, and we expect to make large Con-
gressional gains in the coming campaign.
AT the session of the Reform Press Associa-
ton of Illinois, which l attended, there were
seventeen papers represeL ted, two of which
were Prohibitionist organs, and Mr.. Harvey OF
unanimously decided to advocate a union of
all the forces in the State advocating none
tary reform. There will this year likely be a
union everywhere 10 large extent with the
Prohibitionist element. Our principles are
the same with the sole exception OF prohibit
ton.
Governor Waite, whom I saw, is not very
active man now. He is an excellent man. but
too radical 10 be great success in politics.
But he is man OF generous impulses and
honest and true.
only Presidential electors and congressman,
and | cannot predict what will be done here
until after the conference of the silver men
and Populists in ST. Louis in July. As far as l
have been able to observe there is the best OF
feeling between the Populists and silver men
In this State. No party in this State is IN
better condition than ours. 1t has no factions
and no bosses; 1t is having big accessions
right along.
In the last campaign our average vote on the
State ticket was 900. l can't say how big
vote we will poll this time, but my opinion is
we will carry the State. The ProhibiIionists
in this State will vote for prohibition first and
@isa us $, ne th They are gehefaily PSpus,
10000 Prohibitionists in this State, and we
Will get at least half of this vote for our State
ticket which We did not get before. The lead
ers OF the Prohibition element this year favor
getting the reform elements together.
Then the amendments to the Australian bal
lot law passed at the last session of the Legis-
1ature will give US one man in every polling
booth in the State, and that will be worth
many votes to us. The amendments regarding
the voting OF illiterates viii also give us many
votes. Then apprehend that the silver men
In this State will not stop at Presidential cleo
tors, but will vote with US for Congressional
and Legislative nominees The natural growth
OF the party will give US many thousand votes
without any combination or reform forces,
and for these reasons predict that we Will be
strictly in it this year.
/ haven't had time vet to talk to many sill
yer men since l returned, but il the effort al
combination succeeds at the National Conyen-
tions l suppose it will succeed here.
There will not be any great activity in the
party in this State or elsewhere before the
National Convention meets because our action
National Convention. In the meantime there
Will be little talk about the men who will De
nominated at the National Convention. Our
nominees there will depend largely upon the
conference with the silver men, and in the
meantime nobody will be doomed for office in
our party.
The State Central Committee held meeting
last October. at which il was decided that the
state Convention should meet in Sacramento
at time TO be designated by me. Within q
short time | shall issue q call for primary and
for meeting of the State Convention early in
besides the distribution of literature which will
especially consist of the speeches of Tillman
and Butler.
Mr.. Wardall will remain in the City for
two or three days and then return TO Los
Angeles,