The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-11
SHALL THEY Be
BUT STRlGGLERS 2.
Appeal to Populists Raising
Financial and Party
Questions.
Popocrats the Kite and the
Democrats Are Called
the Tail.
An Official Call for National Con.
fereIce of Forty Leaders
ard Workers

Washburn. member of the Peoples party
National executive committee and chair
man OF the Western headquarters during
the late campaign, has issued the follow
ing appeal to the Populists of the United
States:
We are to be congratulated upon the growth
OF our party and the fact that in the recent
election nearly half the voters of the Union
Endorsed much of our platform. Our party
alone has voting force larger than that
which elected Lincoln, and an able, effective
reform press of nearly 1000 papers. We hold
the balance of power in the United States Sem
ate and have four times as many Congressman
as before.
We united with the silver forces in the re-
cent campaign-not because We believe free
coinage of silver is the solution of the fnan-
cial problem, but because 1T would better ex-
listing conditions; would meet with the least
resistance and become the entering wedge for
our main issue, viz: Full legal tender paper
money, issued and regulated by the Govern
ment alone. Having proved our loyalty at
the polls we are free to act separately on adj
yanced lines and to emphasize the real issues
our party was born to advocate. We cannot
in honor lay down our arms and cease our ac-
tivity until the war for which we have enlisted
has ended in victory.
I he Democratic party proposes to continue
the silver fight The parties cannot exist on
the same issue. The greater absorbs the
smaller. Therefore If we remain mere camp
followers of another party disintegration will
result. Our party success alone forced the
Democrats to adopt the Chicago platform and
nominate Popocrat for President. Converts
made by party regularity cannot be trusted
with the reforms of the future.
We are not Democrats, and cannot be
classed as such. We simply united for sim
gle campaign. The Democratic party is but
the rear guard of our own. We do not stand
for redemption money, but for a scientific dol
lar, kept invariable by proper regulation OF
the money volume.
The millions OF converts to silver during the
recent campaign must advance. They will
not remain where they are. We must educate
them up TO the main issue, and the time to do
it is now, not just before the Presidential cleo
ton. We must also hold the Democratic party
to its present position or compel 1t to advance.
President Cleveland supplies US with fresh in
centive for renewed effort in his official de-
mand for the retirement of the greenbacks and
the issue and control of paper money except
coin certifcates) by the banks. Senator Quay
says this should be made an issue by the Re-
pubHcans, and advocates the substitution of
United States notes, payable in gold, for the
greenbachs.
We have living issue with both wings of
the gold forces, which brings our main ques-
ton to the front: Shall the paper money of
the country be issued and regulated by the
people or by the banks? This will precipitate
a hot debate in Congress that will focus public
attention upon the relative merits of scientific
and redemption money, which win become
the absorbing question OF the day, just as the
silver movement followed the silver debate o
will of ord in
Congress an opportunity to measure the true
attitude of the silver Democratic and Repub-
lican leaders on an issue vital to our party and
the welfare of The country, and determine to
what extent our recent allies can be depended
upon.
The proposed retirement of the greenbacks
and the discussion of the Pacific railroad
question will bring before Congress the two
strongest measures of our platform; and what
ever the issues the other parties may adopt.
the logic of events will SO force upon both
Congress and the people the consideration of
these measures as to overshadow all others,
and win to our ranks thousands of voters from
both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Let us act with patriotism, courage and
sagacity. Let US lose no time. If any lack in
centive it will be found in the intense
suffering everywhere and in the increas-
ing arrogance lawlessness and heartless ness
of the trusts and monopolies. Against their
power we put principle; against their money
we match manhood, and urge all Populists to
continue this contest during the next TO ur
years, then hold an early National convention
and strike the keynote of the next Presiden-
tiaf campaign. or, ii desirable, establish an
honorable alliance on leading issues.
would also suggest that National confer
ence Of party leaders and workers be held as
soon as practicable that we may have full
and free expression of opinion regarding our
future work. We hope, therefore, that the re-
form press will give the fullest possible expo
sition OF their views on this important ques-
ton, and our friends are invited to write me,
or the National chairman, expressing their
ideas on the independent party action herein
proposed.
Shall we march to victory under our own
banner or continue as stragglers under an
other?