The San Francisco call., 1896-03-21

will meet in st. Louis on the same date as
the silver convention.
Joseph Asbury Johnson, an able writer
in the cause of Populism, has attracted
the attention of politicians throughout the
State by his letters in THE CALL. Mr..
Johnson outlined several weeks ago the
policy that will probably be followed by
the National conventions of the Popullst
and silver parties, namely, to hold concur
rent but not Joint sessions; to adopt sepa-
rate platforms with concessions to both
sides, and join forces in making nomlna-
tons for President and Vice President of
the United States, both conventions noml-
mating the same candidates.
George w. Baker, chairman ofhthe Bl-
metallic League and member OF the Ma
tional League, said yesterday that the
silver men would insist on the free and I'M
limited coinage of silver at the ratio OF
is to l. In case of the failure OF either the
Republican or the Democratic National
conventions 10 insert a free coinage plank
and TO nominate candidate friendly to It,
the silver men propose to nominate
candidate for President themselves, upon
that issue alone. An effort was being
made, he said, bv Republican Senators
and manufacturers in Pennsylvania and
elsewhere to urge the question OF silver
and protection, but Mr.. Baker had not
much faith in their ability to persuade the
National conventions. The Republican
State conventions in the East are in favor
of what they call sound money, by which
they mean gold.
81 cannot see any reason to oppose the
proposition to insert in our platform the
Populist plank of direct legislation or the
submission to the people of any great
question affecting the en- tire people for
ratification before it becomes a law, con-
tinued Mr.. Baker. Il am Republican in
politics, but, at the same time, believe
In the submission to the people of all
great public questions, such as the election
of United States Senators. l don't believe
that the people of the United States, or of
any State herein, should be denied the free
expression of their will upon any great
question that affects them in their do
mestic economy or personal liberty, and
for that reason l am in full accord with
the proposition of direct legislation.
Mr.. Baker added that the Bimetallic
League recognized the fact that the Popu-
lists are silver men, and in order to head
off Debs and Taubeneck, who is chair
man of the Populist National Committee,
the Bimetallic League sent three men 10
California to the meeting of the Populist
National Committee with the view of in
ducing them TO postpone the meeting of
the Populist National Convention until
after the Democratic and Republican
conventions had framed their platforms
object was also to persuade, if possible, the
Populists to leave out the Omaha plat
form this year, "for the reason added
Mr.. Baker. ;.that it is overloaded with too
many issues for one campaign, and to join
with us in the bimetallic free coinage of
silver. the restriction Of banks of issue and
the issue OF m oney by the Government, so
that gold, silver and paper would be legal
tender for all debts, public and private.
.sThe result of this movement was that 1t
was agreed TO hold both conventions in st.
Touis on. the same day. On that occasion
there viii be a strong effort made to fuse
the two parties and to eliminate from the
platform what we considered the OBJ
noxious features. i am in favor OF the
re,irlng of the National banks and the
issuing of money by the Government.
,sDnring President Cleveland's admins
tration we have had $260,O00,00O OF bonds
issued to form basis for the establishment
of more National banks"
Mr.. Baker added that w. H. Mills had
informed him that out OF 13l newspapers
in California. the editors OF which had been
interviewed by him, more than 100 were In
favor of bimetallism, against either OF the
old parties, should it come to dlrectlssue
Fifty-five delegates will be sent from this
State 10 the Bimetallic National Conyen-