The representative., 1897-02-10
NO FUSION IN THIS.
Chairman nWashburn's Reply to Sec-
retary EdgertOn.
Gives Reasons Why the Peoples Party Should
Continue to Act independently and on Its
Own Platform of Principles.

VWu IldtIOPUl OI TPlUClpleSs
Boston, Feb. 7.-George F. Wash
burn, chairman of the Executive COM
mite of the Peoples Party, of Massa-
chusetts, who recently issued the man
ifesto calling for the Peoples party to
separate that great party from the
Democrats and suggested the calling
of convention, which appeal was re-
piled to by Hon. j. A. Edgerton, sec
retary Of the National Committee Of
the Peoples Party, has made the fol-
lowing reply to Mr.. Edgerton's recent
letter:
II congratulate you on your very ablo
letter. 1t is plausible and does credit
to an adrOit lawyer with weak case,
but you have not made plain why two
parties should force an issue, nor have
you reasoned away the actual dangers
that threaten the life Of our party and
the reform press.
II do not favor the abandonment
of silver or any change in the plat.
form and my appeal must not be cons
strued TO mean that you do not dis.
criminatc between planks. We made
subordinate plank, the issue, trust
ing to win by aid OF the Alliance, in
the order of the platform, scientific
money comes first. We forced the
Democrats to champion silver, but we
stand ready to defend it when neces-
sary.
Il have received hundred of letters
coming from nearly every state in the
union representing every faction Of
the party and including nearly every
leader and the unanimous sentiment
sustains my appeal. Your letter bears
the distinction Of being the only one
opposed and the Rocky Mountain
News, the only paper SO far as re.
ceived.
"While no not ascribe to you the
intent, nevertheless your plan Of hav-
ing an identical issue with the Demo
Gratis would result in a union, of the
Populistic lamb and the Tammany
tiger, but with the former inside the
latter. While it was possible to unite
during a fighting campaign, it is not
wise to continue :he union during an
educational one. 80"
"Your plan would force US to follow
the Democrats under their banner
when we should lead them under our
own. Your plan would humilate our
brave people, while mine would inspire
and enable and ennoble them. You
favor retaining subordinate plank
as an issue. | favor making the main
one which includes yours, the issue.
You favor plan that would faction
ize the party and divide the West and
South. favor a plan that would
unite all factions and lead to victory.
You favor plan that would open
them to discussion, when the people
want to talk about them. You favor
Il ho vun,,1J odd
adherents to another party. / favor
one that would add thousands of ad-
herentS to our own
DANGERS OF FUSION.
"Fusion for campaign may be
polite, but permanent fusion on iden-
tical issues means absorption and dis
integration for our party. Disintegra-
tion from the same cause killed the
greenback party. Why should we in
vite similar fate?
You favor an issue that may bo
aba ndoned by the Democrats through
some form or compromise. favor d
plan that would not be affected by
these changes. You favor plan that
would enable the Democrats to alb
sorb the Populists and pave the way
for union OF the two wings of De-
mocracy, leaving the future Of reform
a fOrlorn hope. favor plan that
would force the Democrats to advance
to our position rather than to recede
from theirs.
"You favor plan that would wreck
and ruin all the reform papers Of the
land. / favor plan that would pre-
serve and prosper them. Should 9TH
er questions absorb the attention OF
the people, or should an International
agreement be reached by the Republi-
cans, it would leave the silver folc.s
stranded without an issue and afford
them an excuse for backsliding. The
issues favor are the ones that will
command the attention OF the people
during the next four years. Why at
tempt to force one issue when the
people will discuss another?
This move on the part Of the Pop
ulsts will place our party at the head
Democrats protecting the rear. Our
thousands of voters to our ranks.
1.-The radicals OF today arc the con-
serYatives of tomorrow. II we edu.
cate the people between elections on
scientific money, metal money will be-
come the conservative measure of the
future until the invariable paper dol
lar shall finally take its turn and be-
come the money OF all nations. The
next battle may be fought on scientif-
ic VS.. metal money.
''There will be an informal, unoffi.
cial conference in Memphis, Tenn, on
Feb. %. 1t will be attended by lead
ers of the party from every section of
the country. l believe the resolutions
adopted at that time will be SO en-
phatically in favor of independe ac-
tion as to lead to official Endorsement
Of our national committee. In calling
a separate council you have unwisely
added to the confusion. Yours fra
ternally, GEORGE +. MAsHEUHN."
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