The San Francisco call., 1896-05-13

Those who advocated the latter course
declared that the party had gathered
strength in the past by totally ignoring
the tariff, and prophesied that similar
policy now would result advantageously.
AT this Gator declared that if there was
nothing in the Omaha platform on the
tariff he would be pleased to withdraw his
resolution. He produced copy of this
much-referred-t but apparently little
known document, and read section D of
the finance plank, as follows:
"We believe that the money of the coun-
try should be kept as much as possible in
| the hands of the people, and hence we de-
mand that all National and State revenues
shall be limited to the necessary expenses
of the Government, economically and hon
estly administered"
| He then continued:
Here we have declaration on the sub
! ject, and one that has always, so am in
| formed, been interpreted as favoring the
| Democratic idea of creating a tariff for
creating revenue to carry on the Govern
ment. economically and honestly admins
| tered"
He urged the adoption of his resolution,
| as he said, both Democrats and Republic
! ans would be attracted to the Populist
party, as his resolution would virtually
! take the tariff question out of politics.
Objection was taken to his interpreta-
tion of the Omaha plank he had read, the
| claim being made that 1t did not cover the
tariff issue or touch that question at all.
| Mr.. Gator at this juncture evolved new
and interesting issue by asking Chairman
D. T. Fowler of Fresno to call the roll, in
| order to get an expression from the COM
mittee as to whether or not the Omaha
platform dealt with the tariff issue.
1t was then P. NJ, and one mem ber sui
fering from the pangs. of hunger begged
for adjournment pending the discussion
and vote on this question, and a recess
was taken until 7:15 P. NJ.
After a protracted discussion Mr.. Gator
announced that he took the ground that
the tariff question was referred to in the
Omaha platform, and the question was
put to the committee by Chairman Fowler
in this form: "1s there any reference to
the tariff question in the Omaha plat
form?"
I On the call of the roll there were sixteen
unqualified ayes, TWO unqualified noes and
five qualified answers of both kinds. The
qualified ayes were, Eyes, but it does not
deal with the tariff
The question was accordingly decided in
the affirmative and the discussion began
all over again. Mr.. Gators resolution
was again before the committee and Mr..
Murphy was again on the floor. He OBJ
jected strenuously to the tariff part of the
resolution.
He called attention to the fact that the
Populists had fought the old parties on
tudI ISSUE lOT IOuT years OH t00 lines JnaL
the proper adjustment OF the tariff ques-
ton was an important matter. The Popu-
lists had said that it was not so that the
important questions were those of land,
currency and transportation.
"All our speakers throughout the United
States have said that those are the ques-
tions that have forced the old parties and
their representative men to say publicly
that the tariff question is not the great
question before the American people
to-day" continued Mr.. Murphy. land now
we propose in this State Convention to say
how and in what manner we will dispose of
the tariff question, and l say that it is
dangerous thing. 1t puts into the hands of
the old party men a club to beat US over
the heads with. We have to contend with
men who have made deception a study,
and who have skiilfully practiced for years
and years the art of pulling wool over the
eyes of the people"
Mr.. Murphy went on to argue that the
people could not be educated up to the
new idea in six months.
whenever we strike the rock of dealing
with the tariff" he added, "our ship will
go TO pieces"
Burnette G. Haskell said that the Gator
resolution, if incorporated into the State
platform, would be the means of winning
to Populism the votes of tens of thousands
of workingmen from the Democratic and
Republican parties. The larger proportion
of the workingmen in this State believe in
protection, and some few of the Democrats
believe in limited protective tariff.
|. "I know that the trades unions to-day
are socialistic," he said. 'and they con-
denim this plank in the Omaha platform.
If you pass this resolution of Mr.. Gator
you will go into the shops with double
edged weapon; we can say to the laborer,
we can protect you by keeping out the
competition of cheap labor that will suit
the Republican and the Democrat as well. ="
nf Cotn
luton bitterly. The Populists had accused
both Republicans and Democrats of strad-
ding issues in their platforms, and the
Gator resolution made the Populists
straddle the tariff question.
"If Mr.. Haskell is a straddler, / am
not" continued Mr.. Vann.
81 am a straddler on that proposition" :"
retorted Haskell.
1--WE expect" continued Mr.. Vann, Ito
catch Democratic and Republican votes
with straddle platform, in face of the
fact that all the victories have been won by
/ coming out seuarely upon issues straddled
by the old parties. You interject tariff
plank here and you admit that every ut
| terance of the party for the last four years
is false. Every one of the speakers in favor
of this resolution has said that it is SIM
ply molasses to catch flies l, as man
who helped to organize this party and who
has made more than 100 speeches on the
Omaha platform, beg of you not to inter-
: lect into that platform any proposition of
[ straddling nature"
]. Asbury Johnson of San Francisco
said that the Gator resolution was a buzz
saw with which Popufists should not
, monkey if they didn't want to have their
fingers cut off. The tariff commission, he
/ explained, would be created, undoubtedly,
by act of Congress, and the members
would be elected by the votes of the peo-
pie of the States represented by them.
If we want to get business men with us
we must take a stand on this tariff uues-
, tion and get into line with the business
men who are trying to take the tariff ques-
! ton out of politics" said Mr.. Johnson.
, ]. V. Webster condemned the PROPOSE
ton. "It had been admitted by alf the
| speakers in its favor" he said, "that it was