The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-03-30
CALIFORNIA SPEAKS OUT
OUR NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN ARE
ALL SQUARELY AGAINST FUSION.
They Give Their Vfews-A Straight
Fight for Principle-The Demo-
Gratis Ought Not to Receive
POpulist VOtes-CheerinR
Words.

wi A1u6, CSal, + Gu. 20, 1898.
Hon. A. Bretz-Dear Sir: Replying to
your recent inquiry as to my views up
on fusion between Democrats and Popu-
lists, have to say that as am a men,
Der of the national committee of the
Peoples party and was delegate at St.
Louis in 1896, who voted to nominate
Bryan, will explain why voted for the
anti-fusion resolutions as a member Of
the state committee in October, 1897, and
why l am opposed to further fusion.
When Bryan was nominated at st. Louis,
it was believed by the great majority
that Sewall would be taken down and
Watson accepted as the joint candidate
for vice-president. This is why large
majority of the convention voted to
nominate vice-president before it
nominated Bryan. 1t was also believed
that Bryan would squarely accept our
nomination and be as much our candi-
date as he was of the Democrats. We
were deceived in both of these respects.
Sewall, national banker, was kept up.
Watson was treated badly. Bryan re-
fused to accept our principles or our
nomination, and as soon as the conven-
ton adjourned we found that he had
sent telegram to withdraw his name
if SewaH was not also nominated, which
was suppressed. Had this been known
to the majority, Bryan would never have
been nominated. We found that Bryan
not the purpose of Democrats to pay
gold debts in silver. This being SO the
full legal tender plank is false. With
thousands of millions of gold debts in
this country, then gold must be bought
to pay such debts.
This would mean great premium of
gold. Populists do not believe in any
money that is not to be full legal tender
for all debts, gold debts as well as any
other. So we do not agree with Demo-
Gratis, even on silver. We also find that
the leading silver Democrats, so called,
are kept in close company with gold
Democrats, kept in caucuses and in the
party from the states that reject the
Chicago platform. Also that several
strong Democratic legislatures have de-
feated bills to prohibit special contracts
in gold; also that strong newspapers
that supported Bryan oppose his silver
views and favor a gold congress. Vast
numbers of gold Democrats are every
where actively managing the Democratic
party That party favors state banks.
It favors the doctrine that all paper
money must be redeemed in metal It
is opposed to government operation of
transportation. 1t in the main seeks to
get back to the tariff again at the great
ISSUE
I has leading men who are opposed to
an income tax and in every respect re-
ject the fundamental principles of Popu
lism. 1t also rejects fusion or any CO.
operation with Populists in Democratic
states, only seeking 1t in Republican
states. All these things show that it has
use for our votes but not for our prin-
ciples. It has been shown that fusion
is a failure.
Men of principle will not support a
ticket made up in parts Of candidates
who decline to accept their platform.
The Peoples party cannot survive unless
it stands for candidates only who accept
it's platform. For these reasons favor
a straight out Peoples party ticket with
principles first and offices second, and
fighting as we did in 1892 and 1894,
when we made gains.
Very truly,
F. HOUGHTON,
Natinnal Cnnnn1ittanrna