The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-30
TO FUSE, OR NOT TO FUsEq
That is the Question Agitatlng This
Section.
Whistler IT'S Noblsr In the Republicans 10
Suffer Defeat, or Win by COalesclng-
Some Expressions Pro and Con by
Prominent Members Of the
Party.

city. Probably no protector o polltlcAlh a'
ture has been more talked Of, pro and con,
for several years. Thinking an expression oil
opinion on this subject from those citizens
who are recognized as thinkers Of intelli-
cepce and observation would be Of inter-
est, as well as OF value, as showing the
general tendency Of public sentiment
in relation to the proposition, an ISTELLI-
oEScrR representative has in the last day
or two taken occasion 10 converse with a
number Of local politicians in relation to
thematter. Below will be found recorded
the general drift OF some OF these talks,
both in ioyor Of and opposing coalition.
The scribe first sought
w.P. HUBBARD,
whose name had been mentioned some
what prominently as iayoring fusion, and
proceeding at once to the matter in hand
propounded to him this query:
"Mr. Hubbard, l believe you are in
favor OF fusion. viii you please give
YOUR ideas OF the question--whether you
think 1t offers an advantage without ar
accompanying disadvantage
"Well, said Mr.. Hubbard, with some
hesitation, ~ think neither Republicans
nor Greenbackers alone can carry THU
State, but that together they can carry it
and both OF them would regard that US ar
advantage. Both agree that change In
the administration OF affairs in this State
would certainly advance It's material In
terest, attract capital and Immigration
which now seem to shun 1t, improve tue
matter and form Of It's legislation, save
much OF the time and money that are
wasted on its present judiciary, system
and, in short, realize the blessings FOL
West Virginia which Mr.. Wharton in
yokes on her in Wednesdays 1NTzLLI
GRNcER. What is the use on newspapers
or individuals crying for these things II
they won't help get them when the
chance oGersP
WThe success OF this movement includes
the control Of the next Legislature, which
under the new census may re-apportion
the State for legislative. congressional and
judicial purposes, re'apportionment un'
der which political contests must be iough'
for ten years to come. Republicans, with
two.Gfths OF the vote OF the State, have
not Congressman, and have one Sena
torial district out OF twelve. Judges, oil
ali officers, ought not TO be selected on po
litical grounds, but the Democracy has so
arranged judicial circuits as to make sure
OF eight Judges out OF nine. This can ot
rectiiied. Even in 1878 the Republican
and Greenback votes, II combined, would
, have elected a majority Of the House o
Delegates, and so reduced the Democratic
majority in the Senate as to surely change
its complexion now. Republicans canno
. afford TO disdain Greenback aid-ther'
} were II Greenbackers to 10 Republicans
in the last House.
81 don't know what disadvantage coult
attend the movement. II 1t failed w
should be Just where we are now, ant
what other plan offers hope OF success
Some may hesitate because there can b.
no assurance that three Congressman WHIT
are financially sound can be elected. How
many OF the present ones are financial!
sound? This movement may elect one
two who are"
"As you look at II can tpossibly involv
a sacrifice Of principle2" put in the INTEL
LioEScRR.
ali know anything about what Is pro
po,ed. there would be none. The move
ment proceeds on interpretation that lie
publicans and Greenbackers have certail
purposes in common, and others that differ
and contemplates that they shall by con
certed effort secure what they oott
want and shall 90 on differing where the!
differ now.
"Nobody is asked to change or concea
. his views about anything. l don't know
OF any fusion Republican who wouldn'
be willing to have his financial platform
written by the editor otthe ISTELLioEScER
or his platform in State issues either, 10
that matter, for as to them the INTEL
LIeRScER seems TO be like minded with us
Why not 20 on aud get what we all want
instead OF wishing for It, and making lace
at the only men who can help US get 1t?
"If a fusion should be agreed upon d.
You suppose there would be any difficult!
In inducing the masses OF voters TO iall Il
with the programmed"
AT a fusion Is agreed on at all, 1t mus
be by the Conventions OF the partle
which may be presumed to represent tn,
masses OF the voters. But the answers
have given to your other questions max
the best answer can give TO this one.
don't think the masses OF the voters ar
to be induced to do anything except q
their judgment may dictate. The reason
which exist in favor OF this movement
ought to commend themselves to tina
Judgment, and am told that the idea I
being embraced as last as it is mad,
known and understood. 1t may be necess
ary in some cases TO free it from some mis-
representations which have been mad
about it" :.
"You have read the extract printed ii
Wednesdays issue Of our paper iron
what purported to be an interview be
tween Mr.. Sturgiss and the editor OF thu
Register last summer"
eyes, sir"
Wouldn't you regard Mr.. sturgiss
position as embarrassing il he should rur
on aiusion platform alter his utterancei
in that conversation"
Gwen II Mr.. Sturgiss Is correctly reported
his embarrassment in running as the nom
inee Of Republicans and Greenbackers (
don't know anything about fusion plat
iorm) would only be such as often attend'
people who have opinions and express
4 them. His situation couldn't be as awk
ward as, for example, that Of the INTEL
LIoKScER II General Grant should be nom
mated at Chicago. We complain OF the
Bourbons because they learn nothing
and forget nothing Mr.. sturgiss Is anti
Bourbon and may have learned some
thing. But my information about this
Interview shortly after 1t took place was
that 1t did not give Mr.. Sturgiss' views
correctly"
No other point suggesting itself Just at
that time, the reporter thanked Mr.. Hub.
bard for his courteous responses and
Withdrew, TO hunt up some one who was
publicly recognized as an opponent OF the
fusion programme, and whose views might
be set over against those expressed In the
foregoing, as portion Of the "sympo.
stun" for which material was being col
lected,