The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-19
ALL FOR FUSION,
Democratic and Populist Committees met Yes
teriay 10 Divide the Ofices,

The Democratic and Populist committees
met yesterday at the office of Ed O'Bryan
| on North Main street TO agree on a divis-
ion of county offices and so far as they
went everything was harmonious They
did not complete their work and will go
at it again Friday whenShe result will be
publicly announced. 1t was not a hard
matter to come TO an agreement as the
Democrats had made up their minds be-
tore hand TO fuse On any terms. Their
motto was we'll take what we
can get and rustic for more;;' but
they took good care not to betray their
motto to the Popuiists. The Democratic
committee was made up Of some of the
slickest statesmen in the party in this
county. They were Tom Fitch, Edwin
White Moore Harry Stewart, Charlie
Mossbacher, Johnny Ratliff and j. K.
Brown. They agreed in caucus a few
days ago, that they would fuse with the
Alliance if they could get the Office of
county attorney, bat also agreed that they
would demand state senator and COM
missioner. Some OF the leading DEM
ocrats insisted on getting commissioner
first and take chances on the county at
torney and senator afterwards, hut a ma
jority opposed this on the grounds that the
Office OF county attorney was the most val
liable to the fusion element of the Democ-
racy for reasons which are apparent to ev
cry thinker. Everybody is not thinker
in the Democratic party and they could
not see at first why the Office of county at
torney should be sought after so hard but
when they were told that the local Democ-
racy would be given control of the police
department under the Alliance admins
tration, if Lewelling should be elected,
they soon caught on and said I'VE must
have democratic county attorney by
all means. And so county attorney was
first demanded and the Alliance commit
tee conceded. The Democrats then asked
for the state senatorship and without hest
tation they gave that up too. Emboldened
by their success in getting really more
than they wanted to make them vote
solidly for the Alliance, they asked for the
office OF commissionership and here the
Alliance people began to shake their heads.
Asking for the commissionership was
bluff on the part of the Democrats in the
first place but now that they had taken
the step they tried to make the bluff stick
and they were, wise too, as one of them ex-
pressed it last night for they were then in
a good position having everything
to make and nothing to loose. The
Alliance committee refused to give
up this Office and advanced reasons for it.
They thought that they should be given
the commissioner so that in case of sue
cess the Alliance would then have two of
the members of the board, and would
therefore be responsible to the people for
their acts while if the Democrats were al
lowed to nominate the commissioner. and
in the event of his success, the board would
then consist of one Democrat, one ALI
ance man and one Republicans; no people
having a Majority and in consequence no
party would be responsible to the party
The Alliance committee stuck by this
theory and will. OF course, have their way
for the Democrats are more than satisfied
now, or at least the Democrat
ic administration" is. By that,
of course, is meant that part of the
party that is running political affairs. II
the Democrats will not be given commits
sioner they will probably ask for the
Office of district clerk, and if they get
that they will keep on asking till they
will have asked for all the ticket. The
rank and file of the Democrats would
sooner be given the Office of district clerk
than either the attorney or senator for the
sake of Jim Dorsey who is popular with
the boys, but Jim is not as smooth poll
tician as Amidon and OBryan and his
office, therefore, stands in iminent danger
of getting lost in the shuttle. Sam Amidon
49,, - $
committee for the last year and has also
been candidate for county attorney and
he is entirely too smooth politician not
TO have placed himself in a position to be
struck by lightning when the time came.
OF course he has not been given the
nomination yet but in ali human
probability he will be. Willard
Boone will run against him but Amidon's
friends say that Boone is not in it although
he has hosts Of very strong friends in the
front benches OF the fusion element of the
party. Ed O'Bryan wanted to be senator
and it was agreed that il two offices could
be secured for the Democracy that the
seratorship should be the second choice
SO that O'Bryan could be fixed ont all
right. Ed wants to go to the senate real
q
leaders thought it would be good idea to
give him the office so as to be in position
to receive his most earnest endeavor in
nominating Jerry Simpson for congress.
The meeting was adjourned till Friday
so as to give the Alliance committee a
chance to consult with Alliance leaders
with reference to the commissionership or
a substitute office for it. The Democratic
side of the committee was well pleased
last night over what they bad secured and
have agreed to close the deal as it is il the
Alliance don't choose to give any more
MIR Moore says the meeting was very
harmonious.
ODDS AND ENDS.
- Nr-II frrln