The herald., 1897-02-01
A CALL FOR A CONFERENCE
Advised by the PopuIist Party
Leaders
FREE COINAGE OF SILVER
To Be Supplemented by Two Other
Issues
Free Silver, Fiat Money and Govern
ment Ownership of Railroads and
Telegraphs
Associated Press Special wire

Populist Secretary ]. A. Edgerton of
Lincoln, Neb., has written call for a
national conference of Populists at Kan
sas City, Mo-, February %, 1897, and
forwarded 1t to Chairman Marion But
Ter. urging him to issue the same.
Chairman Roselle Of the Missouri state
Peoples Party committee has been in
formed of the proposed conference and
he is heartily in favor Of 1t. Mr.. Roselle,
who is also secretary Of the National
Reform Press association, says that no
date could be more opportune for ma
tional gathering of Populists than the
one mentioned, as 1t follows so close up
on the day named for the national meet
ing Of Peoples Party editors in Kansas
City, q call for which has already been
issued for February 18th.
About two weeks ago George F. Wash
burn of Boston, member of the Peoples
Party national committee, issued an ap-
peal to the Populists of the United States
which was generally published all over
the country. This appeal practically
advised Populists to abandon the silver
issue and to take up the question of the
government issue Of paper money and
government ownership Of railroads. j.
A. Edgerton Of Lincoln, Neb., secretary
of the Populist national comittee, soon
after received the following letter from
Mr. Washburn:
! My Dear Mr.. Edgerton: Inclosed I
send you copy of my appeal which is
sued last week. The Boston Herald has
requested me to secure a symposium of
letters from the leaders of our party
| giving their views on the proposed
change to Independent party action, as
we'll as changing the fighting issue to
scientific money and government owner
| ship Of rail roads. 1 would be pleased,
therefore, II you would mail me a brief
comment indicating your attitude in this
| matter, which 1 trust meets with your
concurrence. Fraternally yours.
G. w. WASHBURN.
| In his reply. which is dated Lincoln,
Neb., January 30th, Secretary Edgerton
| Says
Hon. George F. Washburn-My Dear
Sir: The Peoples Party has always
contended for scientific money 1t has
always contended for the government
ownership OF railroads No change of
the dghting issue ID necessary to bring
these questions to the front, as far as
Populists are concerned.
1t has always contended also for the
free coinage of silver. 1t should not
abandon this issue simply because an
Pother party has taken 1t UP, but should
rather support 1t the more zealously. It
should welcome the assistance and
should vie with the newcomers as to
who shall give the free coinage the most
united and effective support.
The Populist party was the first to
raise the free silver standard. Must it
abandon that standard simply because
another party has come to its support?
No. Right does not cease to be right
because 1t gains new adherents. And to
say that we will not advocate a night
principle simply because another party
promises to share the credit for carry
ing 1t to success seems to be playing the
boy.
That is too narrow and selfish
course for the Peoples party. For the
Populists to abandon free silver now
would be like an army's leaving the field
when one more charge would win the
battle. There can be no change of the
fighting issue until this cause is won.
The lines of the fight are already drawn.
No question is ever settled until 1t is
settled right McKinley's election was
secured by bribery. misrepresentation
and outright fraud. 1t was not the de-
liberate verdict Of the American peo-
pie. That fight must be made over again
and next time it will be won. Next time
1t will be harder to misrepreSent. Next
time the majority will be so large that
the tide cannot be turned by bribery
Next time the people will be so alert and
determined that fraud will be we'll nigh
impossible.
1t does not pay to swap horses while
crossing q stream. The saw may be,
homely, but 1t Is true.
You ask me then: What is to be the
distinctive mission Of the Peoples par
typ"
This: To push the fight as in the past,
on all its principles. only with more
vigor than ever before for silver; for a
supplemental issue OF paper money d.
rect by the government; for the gov
ernment ownership of railroads and tel
egraphs; for direct legislation. Let the
work of education proceed on all these,
abandoing nothing, changing no issue,
but standing firmly upon the platform
made at Omaha and renewed at S..
Louis.
I believe that more and more of the
reform sentiment of the country is turn-
ing to the Populist platform in it's en-
tirety. believe that more and more the
people are concluding that these reforms
must come together. 1 believe that more
and more OF the toiling masses are
turning to the Peoples party as the
Moses to lead them to deliverance. It's
manly and unselfish attitude in the last
campaign has inspired confidence. The
six and half million of voters who have
espoused one of its principles are now
studying its other principles. The atti-
tude of the railroads in the last cam
paign has opened the eyes of the peo-
pie to the transportation problem, and,
I believe, with the continuous educa-
tion which must go on through the COM
ing years that in 1900 the great reform
army will go forward to success, advo-
eating practically the entire Peoples
party platform.
To sum 1t up. agree with you that the
fight should be pushed, but not that the
issue should be changed; and, in place
of abandoning one plank and taking the
two which you propose, will hold fast
to all three, and, In line with the admir-
able suggestion Of Wharton Barker IN
the Philadelphia American, I would car
ry on the work Of education for, first,
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
at IS to l; second. supplemental issue
Of paper money direct by the govern
ment; third, government ownership Of
railroads and teleeraphs Very truly
yours, j. A EDGHRToN.