The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-08
Chairman Washburn REPLIES
TO Secretary Edgerton.
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT WANTED.
In Fighting Campaign Fusion In
Beneficial but In an Educational
Campaign liz May Prove Destrucs-
May BE the Issue OF the Next Cam
paign-PopuIisss Need Now TO Act
independently of All Allies.

BOSTON, Feb. 7-Georse = washbarn,
chairman OF the executive COMMITTEES Of
ths Peoples party of Massachusetts. who
recently issued a manifesto caHiag fog
the Peoples party 60 separate the Peoples
party from the Denlocrats. ard Suggested
the calling OF 3 convention. which appeal
was replied 70 by Hon. J. A. Etxerto<l.
secretary OF the national coG3Inittse os
the Peoples party. has made the oollow
ing reply 20 Mr.. Edgertons sester. dated
Boston. February Z:
Hon. ]. A. Edgerton. Secretary Peo-
Pies Party National Committee. Lincoln.
Neb--Dear Sir. / congratulate you on
your very able letter. Il Is plausible and
would do credit 10 adrost lawyer with
weak case, but you have not made plain
why TWO parties should force one issue.
nor have you reasoned away the actual
dangers that threaten the life OF cur party
and the reform press l do not favor the
abandonment OF silver or any change in
the PLATFORM, and my appeal must not DC
construed 10 mean that you do not dis
criminate between planks. We made q
subordinate plank OF the issue. trusting 20
win by the aid OF the alliance
In the order OF the platform, scien-
tlnc money comes first. We forced the
Democrats TO champion silver, hut we
stand ready 10 defend Il when necessary.
j nave received hundreds of letters, from
nearly every state IN the Union. repre-
Senlng every faction of the party. and IN
cluding nearly every leader, and the unan-
letters bears the distinction Of being the
only one opposed TO the Rocky Mountain
News, the only paper 80 far as received.
While I do not ascTibe 70 You the in
tent, nevertheless your plan of having an
Identical issue with the Democrats would
result in union OF the Populistie lamb
and the Tammany tiger. but with the
former inside the latter. While IL was pos
sihle 10 unite during a fighting campaign,
IL is not wise TO continue the union dur
Ing an educational one. Your plan would
force US 10 follow the Democrats under
their banner. when We should lead them
under our own. Your plan would humii-
ate our brave people. while mine would in
spIre and ennohle them. You favor re-
tanning a subordinate plank as an issue.
i favor making the main one, which In
cludes yours the issue. You favor a plan
that would factionize the party and d.
vide the West and South. favor a plan
that would unite all factions and lead TO
victory. You favor plan that would sup
press our main planks- favor a plan that
would open the discussion when the peo-
pie want TO talk about them You favor a
plan that would add thousands OF aiher-
ents 10 another party. l favor one tnat
would add thousands OF adherents TO our
own
Fusion for campaign may be polite.
but permanent fusion on identical issues
means absorption and disntegrauon for
our party. Disintegra ton from the same
cause killed the Greenhack party. Why
should we invite a similar fate?
You favor an issue that may be ahan-
form Of compromise I favor a plan that
would not be affected by these changes.
You favor plan that would enable the
Democrats 10 absorb the Peoples party
and pave the way for union OF The two
wings Of the Democracy, leaving the fu-
ture of reform forlorn hope. | favor
plan that would force the Democrats 10
advance TO our position rather than 70 re-
cede 10 theirs. You favor plan that
would wreck and ruin all the reform pa
pers OF the land. ! favor a plan that
would preserve and prosper them.
Should other questions s1 aosoro the at az
ternaffona agreement be reached by the
Republicans, II would leave the silver
forces stranded without any issue and az
ford them an excuse for backshding The
issues favor are the ones that win COM
-nand the attention OF the people during
the next four years. Why attempt 20
force one issue when the people wiz dis
cuss the others2
This move. on the part OF the Popu-
lists. Will place our party at the head or
the column Of reform with the Democrsts
backs viii add thousands Of voters TO our
ranks. The radicals Of today are the con-
servatives OF tomorrow. II We educate
the peopie between elections or scfenttfic
money. metal money VIII become the con-
servatfve measure OF she future untH the
Fnvarfa bic nap per dollar shall firmly take
It's turn and become the money OF AZ na-
tons The next battle may be fought on
the lines OF scientific money VS.. metal
There will he an informal. unofficial
conference IN Memphis. Tenn. February
- II WI be attended by leaders or the
Marty from every section Of the country
I believe the resolutions adopted Al ne
time will be 50 ernphaticaHy IN tsvor o,
independent action as 70 lead 70 Official
Endorsement BY our national committee
In calling a separate conference you nave
unwisely added 10 The confusion Yours
ITe''si many ..rropGr = wAsHBTrRN."