The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1898-03-05
SENATOR nOLT ANALIZED
His Position Against Union AssaiIed by
Mr. kroner

His Position Against Union Assailed by
Mr. kroner
PORTLAND, Feb. %, '9S.
ED. TINES s-MoUNTAINEER:
t Is becoming tiresome to read
the middle-of-the-road communications
that fill the pages of the Oregonian
and other gol bug papers, and more
tiresone to reply to them. There is
not single argument advanced in
Mr.. Holt's letter, which is not based
On false Prescriptions, not single
argument. which has not been fully
answered. Why, instead of repeating
this talk about party machines, in
sincere reformers, populist piehunters,
why does rot the spnator- meet union
men uupUu the 1ssuss formed? Why
does he not qudt scolding and debate
the question upon It's merits or still
better let the voters decide it for
themselves? Mr.. Holt deplores the |
lack of party harmony and the loss of
energy of our people in reform agita-
tion. Both of these assertions are
partly true but so far only the middle |
of-the-road people haye disturbed |
party harmony by declaring or threat,
ening that they will organize a new
party if they fail to control the policy
of t peoples party: so far as | know
the union people have been willing TO
let the people decide by majority vote
aud abide by their decision. Here in
Multnomah county every body is work.
ing to build up the party and greater
financial sacrifices are made than ever
before, but the ''Simon Pure populists
are refusing to join our clubs, cir
cumstance which, think we have no
reason to deplore as they are not very
and have never roted our
ticket before.
l have said that the Holt letter was
based upon erroneous presumptions
and will show it. But fist let ME
express my indignation at The scanda-
lous twaddle about 1.-The democrats
trading their state and county officers
to the populist piehunters for Sewall."
l do not for a moment believe that
this is the truth, but if it were true
what horrible reflection would il
cast not upon the democrats but the
populists. Would it not argue the
complete control of our party by the
piehunters and machine politicians,
the very thing that prevents MIR. Holt
from recognizing Bryan democrats
and silver republicans as reform
party. What weapon for the enemy
is this declaration, coming, as it does,
out of the mouth of one of our trusted
leaders. No wonder the gold standard
press eagerly snatches and publishes
the effusions of our middle-o of-the. road
states men and send them broadcast as
plate matter to the county papers and,
ought not this latter
fact to open the eyes of our senator
and others of his conviction to the
danger of their course? Would not
the reform people outside our party be
justified TO rule the populists out of
the reform movement if they haye
made such record as traders and
piehunters as Mr.. Holt discloses? At
any rate. as the democrats and silver
republicans in Oregon supported Wat
son, it is manifestly unfair to charge
them with what has been Gone else
where, but let US have no more COM
promising and misleading ''breakes"
from prominent men bers of our party.
We have had too many of them al
ready.
Now as to the question of party prin-
ciple it is certainly understood all
around by this time that the union
platform will include direct legisla.
lion, government legal tenders and |
free coinage of both precious metals at
the legal ratio. Why then this persist
ent harping about the insufficiency of
free silver as a reform issue? What
can the peoples party gain by CRYING
down one of its principles? Would it
not be more PATRIOTS for men like
Senator Holt, who have the honor of
our party in the state
to dwell upon the import.
ance OF all of our principles? The
popnlis's who are in favor of union
purpose TO unite all the voters who
will subscribe to the above named
rrincipl. upon one ticket, and to sup
rort Candidates only who will pledge
themselves to their support. They
propose to select candidates from ali
parties constituting this union, giving