The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-05-27
THE CAMPAIGN STRUGGLE.
Two Authorities Differ Slightly as to the
Sources of Strength.


H. E. Taubeneck Chairman National
Executive Committee Peoples Party, st.
Louis-Dear Sir: Your favor of the 17th
inst is before me. In reply to your inqui-
ries regarding what ''the Silver Republi-
cans and Silver Democrats will do in your
(our) state, providing they are rebuked by
their respective national conventions" will
sey, that in my judgment, most of them
will after railing at the conditions i'm
posed, simmer down" and find excuses for
remaining within their Old party lines;
while the best informed and most indie
pendent members thereof VIII join the
Peoples Party ranks, and fight along that
line during the approaching canvass.
I do not "reaize," as you suggest, chat
our recruits in the future must come from
the silver forces not yet with u.s. That
large accession to our party viii come from
this source there is no question, but not
nearly sufficient to give it anything Ike
national success.
Neither do l realize that we have alb
sorbed all the political and sem.-political
organizations throughout the United States,
which have anything N common with our
principles, except the silver force, not yet
with us.
l assume that every Populist who voted
the ticket at the last general election was,
and is, "silver force" Moreover. there
are millions Of voters in the towns and
great commercial centers, more Or less as
scciated with political, or semi-polt.cal Or
CARNATIONS. deeply interested in the prin-
ciples which We advocate, but because OF
extraneOus circumstances, and mis.nforma-
tion of issues involved. have never been
able to reach 1.-THE middle of the road that
leads to the great goal, where ali are equal
before the law, with equal chances in the
race of life
Take San Francisco as an illustration.
At the last election she polled 59.643 votes,
of which the Populst state ticket received
6,459-one IN ten Of the votes cast; when
it is manifest to every one familiar with
the facts that more than half Of all the
voters Of the city, If fully informed Of the
issues outlined, would be with us: yet fully
$4,000 Of said people supported the tickets
of the old parties And t is certainly fair
to assume that at least this proportion Of
the voters of every city in the nation may
be counted in the same category. Hence
here is an element by the million, white
unto the harvest without the gathering Of
which. into our fold. the principles we ad-
vocate wi, never secure political success.
l concur in the suggestion that "our
press and leaders, should do nothing to
outrage or offend this great silver ele-
ment;" but in this connection allow me to
call your attention to the fact that the lead
ers and abettors OF this "silver party move
ment" are not OF the common peop.e-not
of the bone and s:new of the land, but am
bilious men; men of means and shrewd
politicians, who are willing to succeed in
their undertaking. even though such sue
cess should destroy the Peoples Party.
1t may be, as you indicate, that the party
cannot succeed in 1896 on the lines of the
Omaha Platform. Probably you are COR
rect in this conclusion, for It would be al
most miraculous If we did, but I assume