St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-12
COUNTRY POPULIST
Airs Ills Views on the Question o.
Fusion.

Airs Ills Views on the Question Of
Fusion.
AS a rule, one Populist does more
talking than any four men OF any
other party, and as rule the Populists
are more prolific of letter writing than
any other sect or party. David Coch-
rem, OF Waverly, Wright county, who
was nominated by the Fourth judicial
district Populist convention for mem.
Der OF the district court bench, and who
resigned from the ticket. has written a
letter in which he criticises the local
Pops for "fusing." He says that fusion
Is base surrender, and that it will be con-
ducive of no good for the Populist
party. Following is his letter. which
will be read with interest, especially by
the Pops:
In declining the nomination to the
iudgeship of the Fourth judicial dis.
trict. so generously rendered to me at
the Peoples party judicial convention
in Minneapolis, on the 4th of Septem-
Der, desire to explain briefly the
reasons why l am compelled to refuse
an honor which, under other circum-
stances, should cordially accept.
The Peoples party nominated three
Democrats and one Popuiist for judges.
the understanding being that in case
the Popullst was not Endorsed by the
Democrats the three Democrats should
be removed from the POpulist ticket,
and three Populist candidates substi-
tuted. This was not. in reality, fusion.
The Populists, in consideration of the
Democrats supporting one POpuliSt,
agreed to vote for the three Democrats.
The action of the Democratic con-
vention is only too well known. Four
Democrats were placed in nomination,
preference being tgiven to an attorney
whose record i'll connection with rail-
roads is known alike in Hennepin and
Wright counties.
Now, do not complain OF this in the
least. Nor has any question arisen with
regard to the ability and personal III
tegrity of the respective candidates.
But when the POpuiist Judiciary com.
mittee decided to keep OH the ticket
the three Democrats without receiving
any return for the favor. feel that |
can no longer remain in the field.
My attitude toward the two political
parties differs widely from that of our
Populist Judiciary committee. do not
believe i'll an entangling alliance with
either, and have no desire to return to
the Democratic fold Tor the express pur-
pose or pulling the hot cheStnutS out of
the fire for them. Republicanism and
Democracy have got to be distinction
without difference. l have no per-
sonal antipathy to either. But feel as
little confidence in their professions as
their record of broken promises merits.
While fusion OIL Democratic terms is
in my opinion senseless, and will result
disastrously to all concerned. have
always favored coalition on the Iegis-
lative ticket. In this state presidents
are firmly established on existing laws,
and by these presidents our judges are
bound. But what the judiciary cannot
accomplish may be brought about by
wise legislation and patriotic amend.
ments to the constitution. The defeat
of w. ID. Washburn for the United
States senate would be glory enough for
one day.
Fusion that barters everything and
comedies nothing may be better de-
scribed as a base surrender to the en-
envy. To this capitulation l do not
propose to be party.
When the Democrats nominated
| George l.. Becker for the express pur-
pose of electing Knute Nelson governor
they gave us clearly to understand that
they had no use for us except as a cats
paw; and while ONT men are weakly
thro Ring up the sponge and declaring
that they prefer Democrat to Re