The San Francisco call., 1897-06-09
IMPENDING POLITICAL DEVEL.
0PMENTS.

To the Editor Of the San Francisco CaLl-SIR:
Portentous signs in the political sky begin TO
be discernible by men who usually pay little
heed to politics until the storm of a campaign
bursts upon them. Not the least sigm ticant
of these is the approaching delegate confer
ence OF the Peoples party at Nashville. 1t is
nota matter of surprise that the Organized
Populists view this conference with alarm or
that the fusion ofice-holders should strenu-
ousiy oppose 1t, for If they had not become the
benefclaries Of fusion they would still be in
the ranks fighting for principle instead of
scheming 10 become successful office holders
The chairman of the National or organization
OF the Peoples party is Senator Butler of North
Carolina. He was elected to the United States
Senate by Republican and Populist votes and
quite naturally Is a pronounced tuslonist.
Senator Allen of Nebraska was the auto
cratic chairman OF their National con-
vention at st. Louis and it was by
his tactics and arbitrary ruling chiefly
that the unorganlzed majority of the delegates
was cAjoled. misIed and bulldozed into nomi-
mating the Democratic candidate for the Presi-
dency. He was elected TO the United States
Senate by Democratic and Populist votes and
is strong fusionist. And so on through the
list OF lead rs" at Washington. Moreover
many OF the National committeeman and State
chalrmen are rank fusiUnists. In word, by
preconcerted sche eming the party organization
Is now practically under the control of tu-
slonists who have no relish for the "sweets of
edversliy, which are the only sure reward of
political reformers.
1t was under the conditions here briefly in
dlcated, but not fully stated, that the Ma
tional Reform Press Association met on Feb
ruary ~ last, ana after much deliberation de-
clded that the interests of the party demanded
the assembling of a National conference for
consultation with intention TO reach Il deci-
sion as 10 party policy with reference to this
question OF fusion, and also to consider such
new questions as have arisen since the last
elecuon' and at the same time to use every
posslpIe means TO promote the harmony and
awaken anew the zeal and confidence of the
party. A committee was appointed TO take i'm
mediate steps to call such conference. They
nrst ialG the matter before the chairman of
the National Committee, Senator Butler He
NOT only declined 10 call a conference but set
hlms ell strongly against it. THIS only empha-
sized the necessity for it in the judgment of
the ommittee, and the call was soon issued.
owing TO the absence from the State, and the
open opposition TO the conference, of Z. NJ.
marosil, the chairman OF the State Central
committee OF Cal fornia, no concerted action
has been taken iii this State to send delegates
ana II mas peen left TO each county 10 take the
necessary steps, although the State of Wash
ington and many Western aud Southern States
VIII send full delegations. Accordingly, on
Saturday night, June 5, the local organiza-
non, with large attendance, passed The fol-
lowing resolution almost unanimously, there
pelng but TWO votes in the negative:
"ReSotVed, By the mem bers of the County
committee OF the Peoples party OF San Fran
cisco, as an expression of our most profound
CONVICTIONS, that we do most heartily approve
OF the holding of the proposed National con-
IeIence at Nashville, July 4, for the purpose
set forth in the foregoing preamble, and that
the County Committee me ct on Saturday even-
Ing, June IL, AT Labor Bureau Hall, 9l51& Mar
kel street, ana that the active Populists OF the
City be invited to attend and unite with the
committee to choose delegates 10 attend such
National conference, and to take such further
action as SAID meeting NAV determine"
am assured that a full attendance Is desired
by the com mmittee and that all Populists who
attend vii! be entitled to an uutram meled ex-
preston OF opinion and d chance to take part
in the election OF delegates
JOSEPH AsBURY JOHNSON,
S55 Market street, June z, 1897.