The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-08
PopULIsrs IND DEMOCRATS.
George +. Washburn Unaiterabiy Opposed
to Future Fusion.

10 II
Boston, Feb. IA meeting of the
state central committee oe tha peoples
party of Massachusetts, vas held in
Commercial hall, Saturday. Officers
We're elected, as follows:
Chairman, G. f. Washburne Of Dos-
ton; secretary, DR.. p. p, Field of Bos-
ton; treasurer, Albert r. Perkins of
Wakefield. The executive committee
consists of the above namel officers and
Warner Johnson Of Boston, Levi r.
Pierce of Lynn, E. NJ Eldredge of Wor-
cester, George Leonard McNein CT
Somerville, F. Gerry Brown of Brock
ton
1t was resolved that the state CEN
trail committee of the peoples party
afflrms their allegiance to the St.
Louis platform and do not recognize
any other authority as political ac-
ton.
The following was given out by
Chairman Washburne:
tional Peoples Party, Lincoln, Neb. :.
My Dear Sir-I congratulate you on
your very able letter It Is plausible
and would do credit to an adrolt law
yer with a 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 our party and the reform
press do not favor the abandonment
Of silver or any change in the platform
ana my appeal must not be construed
TO mean that. You do not discriminate
between planks and issues. Our plat
form contains many planks. but the
campaign was fought on one issue.
though We did not abandon the other
planks. We made subordinate plank
the issue, trusting to win by aid of the
alliance. In the order of the platform
scientific money comes first. We forc-
ed the democrats to champion silver
put we stand ready to defend it when
necessary
nave received hundreds of letters
from nearly every state representing.
every faction of the party and includ
ing nearly every leader and the unani-
lmous sentiment sustains my appeal
Your letter bears the distinction of be-
ing the only one opposed and the Rocky
Mountain News the only paper. so far
as received
While do not .ascribe to you the in
tent nevertheless your plan of having
an identical issue with the democrats
would result in a union of the populist
lamb and Tammany tiger, but with the
former inside the latter. While 1t was
possible to unite during fighting cam
palgn it is rot wise to continue the
union during an educational one.
Your plan would force us to follow
the democrats under their banner
when we should lead them under our
own. Your plan would humiliate our
brave people, while mine would inspire
and ennoble them. You favor retain
Ing a subordinate plank as the issue
favor making the main one, which
includes yours, The issue. You favor a
plan that would faetionize the party
and divide the west and south. I favor
plan that would unite all factions
and lead to victory. You favor plan
that would suppress our main planks.
favor a plan that would open them
to discussion when the people want to
talk about them. You favor a plan
that would add thousands of adherents
to another party. | favor one that
would add thousands of adherents to
our own. Fusion for campaign may
be politics. but permanent fusion on
identical issues means absorption and
disintegration for our party. Disinte-
grafton from the same cause killed the
greenback party. Why should we in
vite a similar fate?
You favor an issue that may be
abandoned by the democrats through
some form of compromise. I favor a
plan that cannot be affected by these
changes. You favor plan that would
enable the democrats to absorb the
populists and pave the way for a union
of the two wings of democracy, leav-
ing the future of reform but forlorn
hope. + favor plan that would force
the democrats to advance to our posi-
ton, You favor a plan that would
wreck and ruin the reform papers of
the land I favor plan that would
preserve and prosper them.
Should other questions absorb the
attention Of the people, or should the
republicans secure an international
agreement, it would leave the silver
forces stranded without any issue and
afford them an excuse for backsliding
The issues I favor are the ones that
will command the attention of the peo-
pie during the next four years. Why
attempt TO force one issue when the
people will discuss the others? This
move on the part of the populists will
place our party at the head of the col
umn of reform, with the democrats
protecting the rear Our defence of the
greenbacks will add thousands Of vot-
ers to our ranks.
The radicals of to-day are the con-
servatives of tomorrow. If we educate
the people between elections on scien-
tific money, metal money will become
the conservative measure of the future
until the invariable paper dollar shall
also take its turn and become the mon
ey of all nations. The next battle NAV
be fought on scientific versus metal
money.
There will be an informal, unofficial
conference in Memphis February o. 1t
will be attended by leaders of our par
ty from every section of the country
| believe the resolutions adopted at
that time will be so emphatically in
favor of Independent action as to lead