The San Francisco call., 1896-11-24
NO MORE FUSION
FOR POPUL|STS
They Have Renounced the
Works of the
Devil,
And Therefore Are Divorced
From the Bedridden
Democracy.
Other Great Issues Besides Finance
That the Bourbons Cannot Handle
to Any Practical Advantage.

The executive committee of the State
Central Committee of the Peoples party
held secret session in the State House
in Sacramento last week to bury the dead,
to care for the wounded, and to discover
what it was that had knocked the party
and its Democratic rider to smithereens.
The situation was exhaustively dis
cussed by the gentlemen present. namely;
E. M. Wardall, chairman; r. e. Bush,
secretary; S. G. Houghton, Assem- blym
elect from Tehama and Trinity counties;
G. A. Barlow, Congressman-elect from the
Sixth District; T. V. Gator, NJ. E. Dittmar
of Redding, J. S. Barbes of Los Angeles,
L. M. Landsborough and J. E. Camp of
Sacramento.
But one opinion was expressed, and that
was that the Peoples party had gone and
made a fool of itself by marrying the relict
OF the Democracy; that many OF the So
called Democratic newspapers of the
State had not made faithful and sincere
fight for the fusion candidates for the
Legislature, and that the Peoples party
and its principles had suffe red rather than
gained by reason of the political miscege-
nation during the recent election CAM
paign.
1t was decided to issue a manifesto to
the mem bers of the party throughout the
State. In order that the executive COM
mittee might test the statement that the
San Francisco Examiner was not sincere
in its pretended fight for the fusion candi-
dates, copy of the manifesto was sent to
that peculiar paper, and, as had been ex-
pected, the Examiner refused to publish
It.
The following is the manifesto:
To the Peoples Party of the State of Califor-
mia: Our party sprang into existence a child
OF necessity. 1t will remain the champion of
our demands on the great questions OF finance,
transportation and land until the reforms we
advocate shall have been prosecuted to sue
cessful issue and the great struggle now pend
ing becomes matter OF history.
The great campaign just closed has sue
ceeded apparently in crushing out hope in the
heart of the people The success is more ap-
parent than real, for q policy that menaees
human liberty cannot be permanently sus-
tained in a land where liberty is an inborn
right Bunker Hill had Its Yorktown and
Bull Run it's Appomattox. So surely as right
will finally prevail, so surely Will the cause OF
humanity be eventually sustained at the bal
lotbox. 1t therefore becomes positive duty
to close ranks, align ourselves anew and be
prepared not alone to check future onslaught
designed TO further entrench class privileges,
but to take the aggressive in the struggle that
has for its final object broader recognition of
the brotherhood oil man.
The object of the Peoples party was not ac-
complished when one of It's demands was made
the cardinal principle of another great party
Great as is the silver question, il is not as
great as the whole money question-a question
that involves the abolition of the be nix of issue
and the establishment of postal savings
bank. Great as is the money question in its
entirety, 1t does not oversnadow the issue that
involves Government ownership of our trans
portation monopolies, direct legislation and
the destruction OF land monopoly.
These demands are all near and dear to
Populists; and while one of the great issues
that we have contested for this campaign was
not accepted at this time, if we do our whole
duty not alone will monetary reform be car
ried to a successful issue in the next CAM
paign, but other demands will also receive the
favorable consideration that their merits will
command.
Our party in 1896, by reason of the action of
the Chicago convention, felt 1T duty to re-
spond to the demand that we support William
j. Bryan and unite all reform forces in an
effort to defeat the gold power. We cannot
complain OF the action OF our National con-
vention.
By fraternizing for this campaign with the
silver forces we have widely extended knowl-
edge of and belief in our principles. We have
also, by honestly supporting Mr.. Bryan, placed
the Democratic party in q position where it |
cannot attribute defeat to our party. 1t is |
now plainly seen that the reason the Demo- |
cratic party did not succeed was because that |
party could not be held together in contest !
against plutocracy. We have done our whole |
patriotic duty in the demand for our alliance |
and the event proving that Democrats cannot |
attract Republicans in sufficient numbers to
fill the gap made by the wide desertion of gold
Democrats.
We are forced to conclude that the fu ture
of a National struggle for relief |
against Republican plutocracy requires COM
pact organization within our party of all who
would rescue the Nation from industrial ruin. |
To the end that there may be harmony in
our policy and purpose and uniformity in the
action of the party in the several States, we
request that the National Committee call a
National convention of our party tor such pur-
pose, to be held before April 1898.
In the meantime let us begin the next cam
paign now. ready to accept any aid that is
offered with an honest motive to accomplish
our object-the amelioration of the condition
of the wealth creators of this land.
With unlagging zeal every voter who holds
allegiance to the Peoples party should at
once giro his loins and face the foe. An or
ganization that will command the respect will
also command the support of the pc ople. We
will command the one and achieve the other
What the future may have in store for the
country in the way of political alignment none
can foretell In the mean time II will be the
purpose of the young political giant-the
State and local, all along the line
to the end that none in a eceptive mood can
go astray through lack of opportunity because
of the inactivity of those charged with the
duty of directing the forces.
With courage and hope inscribed upon our
banners we will press forward battling for the
right. knowing that truth is mighty and will
prevail.
J. L. Gilbert (chairman), NJ E. Dittmar (sec-
retary), Thomas v. Gator, c. A. Barlow, G. H.
Castle.