The San Francisco call., 1896-08-16
MON TE|TH IS
TURNED DOWN,
Democrats Break Faith
With First District
Populists.
THE RAILROAD ACCUSED
Its Policy Said to Be Anything
to Beat the Peoples
Party Man.
OCTOPUS ATTORNEYS SCORED.
Votes Will BE Thrown TO the Re.
publican Nominee Rather Than
10 Monteith.

NAPA, CAL, Aug. 15.-The First Dis
trict Democratic convention, which met
here to-day, turned down George w. Mon
teith very effectively. Mr.. Monteith, who
is the Populist nominee for Congress from
the First District, expected to be indorsed
by the convention. but his name was not
even mentioned. A committee was APP
pointed TO meet the conference committee
from the Populist party and if possible
agree upon a fusion candidate for Con-
gresham.
1t is whispered that the Democrats are
willing to support anybody but Monteith.
Ii the Populists, however, insist upon put
ting him on the ticket it is asserted that
the Democratic vote will be thrown to
Congressman Barham, the Republican
nominee. Monteith claims that this state
OF affairs is the result of railroad interfer-
ence. He said last night:
"Our experience to-day is an evidence of
what we are going to receive at the hands
of the Democrats. Apparently the only
use they have for us is to secure our votes.
did not come to Napa with the idea that
personally had any right to a Democratic
nomination. l am not Democrat, but
am Populist, and had been given to un-
derstand that this would be conceded, not
to me, but to the party.
There were quite number of delegates
here who sincerely wanted to deal Justly
with us, but Mr.. Geary and his proxies
were too much for them. | am satisfied
that the railroad company is at the bot
tom of this matter and that 1t has devised
this method OF keeping me out OF posi-
ton. in which they know / would be able
to Illustrate some of their schemes.
''The Populist party had been led to be-
lieve that the Democratic party would join
in the union of forces to secure the free
coinage of silver. We heartily and freely
nominated their candidate for President.
In return we expected to obtain their in
dorsement of at least three out of the
seven members of Congress in this State,
besides concessions upon the Legislative
ticket. This performance to-day is good
indication that they are net sincere in
their professions. They have begun work
and have nominated candidate in every
district in which we had nominee in this
State except this district, and they will un-
doubtedly place one in nomination here.
The result of that will be that they will so
disgust and anger our people that it is hard
to tell just what will be the final outcome.
"Ihe plea of the district convention
here Is that the State committee has no
control over the district convention. and
II this proposition is carried to its logical
conclusion it will apply to every Assembly
and Senatorial district in the State, and
the Populists will get beautifully left.
We were perfectly willing to meet them
in spirit of fairness and Justice, while on
their part they are disposed to take ad-
vantage OF the situation. have seen
enough here to-day to satisfy me. and do
not intend to be q party to any further
negotiations at all. begin my campaign
week from to-day, and l shall go to
work and make straight Populist and
anti-railroad fight all down the line. The
Democrats can do just what they please.
81 have delayed my campaign Tor
several weeks upon the promise that they
were going to do something. Indeed l
have done everything that could be done
to bring about an understanding. Now,
alter having made all my arrangements
and having got my fight fully organized,
they deliberately come to me and suggest
that I withdraw. That / certainly will
not do in any event. am on the ticket,