The San Francisco call., 1896-11-12
Its Wording Ample Reason for
Its Suppression by the
Managers.
FLAYs sEWALL AND HIS PARTY
Chairman Marion Butler Accused of
Playing Traitor to the
Populists.


written on October IA last 10 Senator But
tee and manager of the Populist campaign.
1t was suppressed by Senator Butler dur
ing the campaign for reasons that are
obvious from pernsal OF its contents.
The document would make seven columns
in 4 newspaper. Mr.. Watson publishes
the letter in full in his official organ, the
Peoples party paper, which comes out
tomorrow. Extracts from the letter
follow:
Hon. Marion Butler, Chairman Ea-oficio for
Not ifcation Committee-DEAR SIR: Your letter
giving me formal notice of my omination by
the Peoples party for the office of Vice-Presi-
dent has been received. 1t is solely because of
my promise to do so that l accept the nomina-
ton The unusual conditions colfr onting us
musl be my excuse for submitting to the pub
lie fair statement of the facts touching this
campaign in order that all unprejudiced may
reach just conclusions.
As the time for beginning the Presidential
campaign of 1896 approached the Democratic
party found itself in dying condition and it
resorted to desperate remedy to save itself
from dissolution. II publicly renounced the
Republican policies which it has already en-
acted into law and espoused the Populist
creed, which it had bitterly assailed.
Having closed the doors OF the mints to sill
yer and having sustained Mr.. Cleveland in his
refusal to allow the seigniorage coined; hav-
ing eondoned his issue of bonds in violation
OF law; having acquiesced in his contraction
policy of destroying the greenbacks; having
helped to feed the trusts by the passage OF the
Wilson-Gorman-Jones tariff bill, the Demo-
cratic party, realizing that it had lost the re-
spect the confidence and the patience of the
people, determined to anticipate the triumph
of Populism by public confession of politi-
cal guilt, an earnest assertion of change of
heart and a devout acceptance of Populist
principles and modern demand that the
Peoples party should yacate its quarters and
surrender its political possessions.
A very staggering piece of political impu-
dence was this. 1t was not q minority of the
Democratic party which murdered silver in
1893. 1t was majority that did it-a ma jor-
ity in the House, majority the Senate.
And the men who committed the deed cannot
now promise more solemnly TO undo their
work than they promised in 1892 10 do it.
During the years of 1892 93, 94 and 95,
when Republicans and Democrats alike were
falling over each other in their effort to be
first at Wall streets feet and lowest in the
dust of political establishment TO the trusts,
the National banks, the railroads, the bond
holders aud gold Spectators, the Peoples
party was the one champion of the people.
1t stood fearlessly against the hungry
hoTdes of class legislation. 1t proclaimed con-
stantly its undying antagonism to Wall street
and its policies. 1t held aloft the sacred ban
ner OF peoples rights and called for patriots
to rise and defend the Republic. Since the
bugle note of Roderick Dhu awoke the High
lands, and the fiery cross sped through glen
and from glen TO hamlet, there has been no
such spontaneous outburst of pooular enthusi-
asm as marked the growth of the Peoples
party One creed, one purpose, one hope. one
inspiration, moved US all and had we sternly
put temptation aside and nominated straight
Populist ticker at St. Louis, one man from the
West and one from the South, we would have
swept this land from sea to sea.
At Chicago the Democratic managers, hav-
ing adopted the leading Populist principles,
nominated for the first place on the ticket
candidate who indorses those principles.
Mr.. Watson reviews the fight in the
Populist convention at st. Louis between
the Bryan Popullsts and the midde-of-
the-road men. He proceeds:
was asked to allow the use of my name to
harmonize all the differences which existed
in the convention, and consen ted upon that
express condition.
There is no doubt that among the voters of
the Democratic party, South and West. there
was an earnest desire that the Populists should
be met half way They wished for union
among the advocates OF silver, and they felt
that union could not be accomplished by de-
manding any abject surrender at the hands of
the Populists.
The leaders of the Democratic party, how
ever, secured Populist Endorsement of Mr..
Bryan By direct vote in the convention, de.
teTmined to secure it for Mr.. Sewah also. and
for this purpose they have resorted to the
policy of fusion. Instead of meeting the Pop
ulists half way the Democratic managers have
which the occasion requires. and they not
only refuse to make any concessions al all, but
they treatwith public Insult the party whose
votes are necessary TO Democratic success By
listening to the overtures of Democratic man.
ayers our party has been torn into factions
our leaders deceived and ensnared and the
cause we represented permanently endan-
gered If not lost. The labor of many years is
swept away aud the hopes OF thousands of
ood people are gone with 1t.
The Democratic managers, however, not
only claim the Popuifst vote for Mr.. Bryan,
who is our nominee, but they claim 1t also for
was Overwhelmingly rejected wnen offered TO
the st. Louis convention. We are told
that we must not say anything against Mr..
Sewall; we must not explain 10 the people
wherein he is an objectionab'e candidate, and
We must not mention the fact that he is
National banker, bondholder railroad
Iuaguate a corporate millionaire, an enemy
to organized labor, beneficiary of trusts,
seek er afler subsidies of the merchant marine
n nd a protectlOnist OF the Mckinney variety.
These things must be kept from the people,
am told. Why so? Haven't the voters right
TO know for whom they are voting?
Both Kansas and Colorado are Populist
States and yet the Populist nominees are not
10 receive a single electoral vote in either
state. The Democratic ticket, Bryan and
Sewaii, Wilt receive them ali. In Kansas the
people have been soothed By the assurance
that the eewall electors would vote for Wat
son provided Watson got more votes else
where than Sewnll got.
Thus the Populists In Kansas and Colorado
have been disirar chised worse than that
they have been delivered TO a fusion where
none OF their votes count for the Populist
ticket. The y must vote 1or Sewall and thus
violate their principles
In North Carolina, where fusion had been
arranged with the Republicans on the State
and county ticket and with the Democrets on
tie Nation nj ticket, Mr.. Sewall gets a maj Jrity
of the elector,.
North Carolina is supposed to be a Populist
State. Upon that idea she was allowed 80
votes in our National convention. The fact
that in North Carolina we have now conceded
a m malority of the cleo tors to Mr.. Sewall would
indicate tnat our vote in North Carolina has
Undergone disastrous shrinkage since our
Natlonal convention adjourned. or that the
National ticket has been used for mercantile
senator, reform party has no right to