The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-06


explanatory:
SAN RAFAEL, Cal, September 5, 1896.
P. Il. Cutler, Democratic Nominee for Congress
IN the First Dtstrict-MY DEAR SIR: In view OF
your recent nomination by the Democratic
convention al Napa l hasten TO address you
upon some matters OF mutual interest.
Some two weeks ago, at the earnest sugges-
ton oil numDer OF prominent Democrats who
oppose Mr.. Huntington'S corporation in its
effort to tighten its grip upon this com mon
wealth as OF paramount importance, went 10
Napa at the first meeting OF the convention
which nominated you.
The prevailing opinion at that time as that
the party, which from motives of the highest
patriotism had rallied TO the support OF the
National Democratic nominee, was in our dis
trict entitled to some similar exhibition of
patriotism upon the part of Democracy, The
National issue which hovers about the silver
question and that in the State which centers
about the anti-rairoad question should I'M
doubtedly go hand-in-hand in this fight. Prior
TO August 10 your own party In Humboldt
County had taken the same view and en-
deavored to secure a union of forces upon my
self as the joint Candidate OF our respective
parties II was then believed that such G
coalition would be formed.
Upon the assembling OF the Democratic
Convention on August 10 this deluslon was
completely exploited. The fact that the conven-
ton, under the membership OF Thomas j. Geary
Walter H. Levy, Clay Taylor (sipce elected
a delegate tc the gold Democratic Conyen-
tion), j. c. Ruddock and sundry other friends
and acquaintances of SUPERINTENDENT Dapeett
the granting OF this small concession to Popu-
lism, l have no hesitation to assume that
these gentlemen were acting in the interests
OF the railroad. This is not due to direct evil
dence, but to evidence circumstantial in its
nature, but which to my mind leads to that
inevitable conclusion. When a set of men
undertake to accomplish an object which is
clearly against the interests of the party they
represent and OF the people who support it,
and which is at the same time in the Interest
oil the southern Pacific, / always conclude
that they are acting In its interest, although
IL is of course possible that it may be coinci-
denee, which If so renders their position
peculiarly unfortunate.
1t is only fair TO you that before coming to
the proposition with which l shall conclude
that draw your attention TO some matters of
history connected with the present case.
cannot believe that any high-minded gentle
man would Willingly become the agency by
which Mr.. Hunungton's monopoly could be
rendered more secure in the position it I'M
lawfully maintains in this State.
Immediately after the nomination of BRYAN
py our convention strong effort was made by
the Democrats in Humboldt to effect a union
OF forces with the Populists in that COUNTY
The proposed union embraced the indorse-
ment OF my own candidacy by your party for
congress IN this district, and when the Mana
convention was about to assemble the eight
delegates from your county placed their
proxies in the hands of d. K. B. Sellers with
express instructions to work and vote for
my Endorsement. Up to this time YOU were
mentioned.
AAN OSbSSb Va M luuOTseneuJ at n apa was
a matter OF grave apprehension to two ele-
ments-the railroad monopoly and the gold
standard men-and they deemed it necessary
to secure my defeat at all hazards. They first
desired the nomination of one friendly TO
their interests; if that could not be- then one
who would be passive or negative upon mat
tiers in which they were interested, and If that
failed, then any one at all other than myself
At Napa, on August Is. Mr.. Sellers held nm
doubtedly the key to the situation, and had he
faithfully obeyed instructions your name
would never have been mentioned But the
ruling powers at Napa at that time were con-
fronted with "a condition, not a theory" The
Endorsement of myself would have made cleo
ton certain and would have produced some
interesting complications.
In the first place the railroad would have