The San Francisco call., 1897-02-16
Letters From the People.
POPULISTS UNITED.
Vietcs of Leaders Gire Cold Comfort t
Bfu0nftes,

Vietcs of Leaders Gire Cold Comfort to
Bryonttes.
To the Editor Of the San Francisco CdU-DEAR
SIR: In a recent issue OF the Examiner l find
these headlines in large type over a letter
signed by J. A. Edgerton, secretary People
Party National Committee: "sNo Surrender
Their Motto. Bryan Wing of the Populist
Party Will Remain Steadfast. Decline to Al
fliate With the Middle-of-the-Road Faction. :"
The letter is addressed TO "Hon. George F.
Washburn, Boston, Mass" vice. chairman of
the Peoples Patty National Committee, in
which Mr. Edgel ton says: "If. as you say, you
DO not favor the abandonment of silver then
there is no difference between u.s."
But Mr.. Edgerton closes his letter (which by
the way, is from Lincoln, Nebr. the home of
Bryan) with these significant words: Your
plan seems to me to foreshadow a practical
shelving of the silver issue by the Peoples
party. This l shall oppose, even If | am the
only Populist in the United States that does
oppose It," n word, MIR. Edgerton is a Bry-
anlZed Popnlist and writes with all the assur-
ance OF the compromising politicians who did
what they could during the last cam paign and
will do what they can in future to compromise
and then disrupt the Peoples party. But he
Will not make much headway. Mr.. Washburn
received other letters and from the real lead
ers OF the party Let us see what they say.
Senator Allen, also of Nebraska does not now
seem TO be m uch of a Bryanite. He was chair
man of the National Convention at St Louis
and is a mem ber of the National Committed
he gave great offense to strict Populists dur
ing the recent campaign because OF his zeal
for Bryan, but now he says unconditionally:
THE Popullst party must march under its own
banner. II must not be absorbed by any other
party" He further says: ~ am in receipt of
copy OF your appeal TO the PopuliSts OF the
United States" the address which so greatly
disturbed the Bryanite secretary, Mr.. Edger-
ton, and what does Senator Allen think of II?
Hear him: II have read this document very
carefully, and fully approve of It's language
and policy"
Senator Butter of North Carolina, chairman
OF the Peoples party National Committee, does
not seem to be much OF Bryanite. He writes
to Mr.. WasEburn: "Allow me 10 congratulate
you on the address which you have issued I
agree with you that we should push other
issues to the front along with the free coinage
OF silver. On account of the conduct of the
TO me that the time is ripe to push our trans
portation plank along boldly, side by side
with the financial plank"
IN an address issued last December Senator
Butler said: "If Mr.. Bryan desires to head
the reform forces in the next hight he must
10 80 under some other name than that of
democrat" 1--WE have done with any man
anything that may bear the name or hayetha
smlrch OF he word Democrat on itn
~ Aoehator Peher said: al have no symnetbv
WIN the Democratic party. There is nothing
ielI loI US AS Populists to do but hold II !, onr
oanneT and stand by it, come veal or come
woe. Frlncipie before policy" Colonel s. r.
Norton said; 'There is no course for POM
lists in the future except straiTStabesd nu5er
the banner of greenbsckism' Texans were
not Pleased with their great orator s.Cvelone,,
Davis, because OF his warm support of Brvan.
nut ne "rltes TO Mr.. Washhurn: 81 have read