The San Francisco call., 1896-07-21
THE BOSS OF THE ROAD.
4fter a design bu Thomas WorthT

1t was sprung this morning it rather stag
gered the silver leaders for the time, but
they soon recovered and commenced ham,
mering the Vandervoort boom with great
vigor. Vandervoort is the only Populist
from Nebraska who does not favor Bryan.
He is highly regarded by the middle-ot-the-
road faction because of his extreme views
on all things Populistic. Before joining
the Peoples party Mr.. Vandervoort was a
Republican. He left his party, however,
in 1892 and has since been a cofirmed Pop
ullst. He is now president of the Reform
Press Association and commander of the
Industrial Legion and editor of the New
Nation. party organ published at Omaha.
Mr.. Vanderyoort has had a varied and
exciting political career. He served as a
Republican in the Nebraska Legislature
and was several times the party candidate
for United States Senator.
81 am certainly opposed to the indorse-
ment of Bryan" said Mr.. Vandevoort to
me to-day. '1 am not now conceding
anything and after the election will be
time enough 10 talk division OF electors.
If We should make any compromise we
could never deliver ope-half of our votes.
Our people will not stand being traded
about any more, as they have been in the
past. The Populists have had enough of
that kind of business. The course of the
National Committee has got us in this
muddle and now since we are where we
are the only way out of it all is to keep in
the middle of the road"
Colonel Frank Burkett, who is expected
to be put up for VICE President, is from
Okalona, Miss. and was candidate for
Governor in that State last year. He is
member of the National Committee and
vice-president of the National Reform
Press Association and editor of the Okla
Iona Messenger.
81 am unalterably opposed to the in
dorsement of Bryan" he said 'tI myself
served four years in the Confederate army
and was in the Democratic party for
twenty-five years. l once thought Abra-
ham Lincoln was the man who upset the
country and brought on the rebel
lion, but of course I was mistaken.
1 was one of the boIting delegates
in the Democratic Chicago Conven-
ton in 1892. After I came home from
that convention my house was burned and
l still carry scare left by some one shoot
ing me in the dark. Even if we should in
dorse Bryan it would do no good so far as
the South is concerned. The Democrats
have always treated the Southern Popu-
lists like dogs and to now indorse the
Democratic nominees would mean social
ostracism and ruin of business for us
Southern Populists. 1 am in favor of
putting up straight ticket, and in case
we get the proper recognition, to throw
our electoral vote to the Democrats"
The silver men do not seem to be worry
ing over the change in the situation.
They will harmonic the anti Bryan forces
in the Peoples party if they can. If they
fail in this they will then drive them from
the council chamber. They say that the
vast majority of Populists will vote for
Bryan anyway and if they cannot run the
machine in their own way they will at
tempt to destroy it. Many of the silver
leaders want Bryan nominated by the
Peoples party in case they cannot secure
his Endorsement.
Thomas M. Patterson of Colorado thinks
this way. He will even allow the Popu-
lists to make a platform; one that is not
too radical and one on which Mr. Bryan
can stand. But If the middle-of-the-road
platform so extreme that it will make
Bryan's hair stand to read it. Patterson,
however, has been working hard all day
to have his ideas carried into effect. He
has had frequent conferences with Senator
Jones, chairman of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, and Senator Stewart,
the shrewd and venerable silver boss.
The Colorado editor says that Bryan will
accept the nomination of the Populist
party. This is embodied in an address
which he has issued 10 the leaders of the
obstreperous anti-Bryan faction. The ad-
dress opens with the statement that the
Bryan people agree with Chairman Taube-
neck that the all-absorbing question with
the Populists is and should be how they
can assist in the speedy restoration of
silver to its former place and at the same
time maintain and advance their party
organization.
The Bryan Democrats, in the address,
state that they believe that the Peoples
party is necessary to the country, and that
should it become disbanded or inconse-
quential for want of members, the money
power would soon resume complete sway
over both the old parties and the masses
be deprived OF protector from the greed
of corporations, trusts and syndicates.