The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-22


from throughout the State as to what
action should be taken by members or
the Peoples party at the coming election
1 am constrained to offer the following:
Except as matter of independent Yot-
ing the party has been for the present
wiped out of existence
Firstly the action of the fusionists OF
the late Peoples Party Convention at
Sacramento, aided, encouraged ana
brought about by the attendance and par
ticipation therein by the then chairman
of the Democratic State Central Commit
tee of subcommittee of said commit
tee and a body of persons styling them
selves Silver Republicans;
Secondly the decision of the Supreme
Court in favor of the fusionists.
The most influential person in the be-
trayal Of the Peoples party in the con-
vention was E. NJ. Wardall, chairman OF
the Peoples Party State Central Commit
tee who holds the position Of secretary
to Congressman Barlow, at a salary OF
500 per month, and who, no doubt, wished
to perpetuate himself in that, to him,
very important place, by bringing about
fusion and the denomination and re-elec-
ton Of Mr.. Barlow. John S. Dore, for
mer leader of the party and a then
fusion nominee for Supervisor in Fresno
| County, took a prominent part in that
| behalf. In fact, the fusionists from the
country districts in the convention were
nearly all interested In bringing about fu-
sion for the purpose of securing local or
other offices for themselves or friends
! Twenty-six delegates from San Francisco
voted for fusion despite their instructions
to the contrary, and since the convention
the two leaders of the number-h1nne' ana
| Gillesp ie-have been actively engaged IN
bringing about Endorsements of both
Democrats and Republicans In the city
nd I'm San Francisco,
conditioned, of course, on the payment Of
assessments into the hands of their COM
mittee 1t goes without saying that Meth
er Democrats nor Republicans have in
dorsed nor nominated any member OF the
Peoples party in San Francisco.
AS a State question the Peoples party
has been traded out of existence for
few nominations that carry nothing with
them, even in case of success at the polls,
other than the few dollars that would
reach the pockets Of the incumbents If
elected. There is nothing in the office
of Lieutenant Governor, Controller or
Superintendent of Public instruction (the
nominations allowed the Peoples party
fusionists) of an executive, administrative
or other character that could possibly
impress the people of the State with any
idea of the reform measures contemplated
by the Peoples party. The bargain made
by Afford ct al, to allow Wardall ct al,
one member Of the State Board of Equal
cation was promptly rescinded by the
Democrats. The nomination of Mr.. Dry
den for Railroad Commissioner was a
worthless concession, as the Board of
Railroad Commissioners have been SO tied
by decisions of the courts as to make its
abolition desirable. Since its establish
ment eighteen years ago the commission
has cost the State for salaries, rents and
incidental expenses over $500 900, not TAX
ing into account fees paid by the State
to special counsel employed by the board.
AS a result of this enormous expenditure
Of money nothing has nor ever will be
accomplished by Mr.. Dryden or any other
Commissioner in the equalization or re-
duction of freights and fares. 1t is true,
railroad companies have made some vol
untary reductions, but never by reason
of the power exercised by the commission.
This brings to mind that the only solu-
ton of the transportation question is
governmental ownership and operation
of railroads.
The whole legislative ticket of the State.
with one or two exceptions, has been
turned over to the Democrats.
| With neither Legislative, executive nor
/ judicial nominations given the People S
party by the fusion bargain how can that
! party maintain the semblance of exist
/ ence to say nothing of it's identity, under
/ the arrangement made? The so-called
/ Silver Republican party, consisting large
ly Of Nathan Cole Jr., H. A. McCraney,
/ Walter Van Dyke and ]. Noonan Phillips
/ has Jared better in the fusion deal. In
! case of success Mr.. Van Dyke will be
/ Justice of the Supreme Court for twelve
! years, Mr.. McCraney clerk of that body
! J. Noonan Phillips State Senator, while
Mr.. Cole will occupy the dual position of
/ q party boss and an admring party con-
stituency. The election of Mr.. McCraney
would mean as little as that of the Peo-
pies party fusionist nominees, but the
election of Phillips would give him the
| opportunity to propose laws in two SEES
! sions of the Legislature and of Van Dyke
to file opinions as Justice for twelve years
/ to come.
From the foregoing 1t will be seen that
/ the fusionists of the Peoples party were
willing to and did sacrifice every office
/ that in its nature would give any oppor-
tunity to carry out or perpetuate any prin-
/ ciple Of the Peoples party. In other
words, the fusionists have been careful
| to prevent a nomination for any office
| falling to the Peoples party that by the
enunciation, advocacy, maintenance or
carrying out of principle therein would
permit Peoples party incumbent to pe
| heard of or from in the ensuing four
| years.
1t may be suggested that the nomination
! OF castle ana Barlow (IWO OF seven nOfnl-
nees for Representatives in Congress) is
at variance with the foregoing; but such
| Is not the case Their reelection would
only mean that they would be again in
cluded in what is popularity known as
Thomas B. Reeds list of reconcentrados
without power under the ruler of the
House of Representatives to carry or be
heard on any question except with the
consent of the Speaker, IN whom the en-
| tire power of the House is at present
vested. On the other hand, If the Legis-
lature is carried by the fusionists. the
| Democrats will be represented in the
United States Senate for six years by a
| Democrat who will have the right under
the written and unwritten rules of the
Senate to call up measures for considera-
ton and to advocate or oppose any and
| all measures before that body. SO it will
be seen that the Peoples party fusionists
have practically given up every office that
would tend to perpetuate the life of the
Peoples party.
The Democratic party is not a national
party in any sense at the present time
The Democratic platforms of New York
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connects