Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-28
THE SITUATION.

Senator Marion Butler. chairman OF the
Populist National Committee. was asked
the other day why. II his party desired
union Of the silver forces. they nomi-
mated another candidate for Vice-Presl-
dent
Mr. Butler answered:
Because" he said, 1--WE found that by
so doing our party organization could
DE better preserved in support OF MT.
bryan than by the nomination OF Mr..
Sewan."
..Does not this selection lead TO much
embarrassment
"Oh, yes. but 1t was our only alterna-
tive"
.sWiu the Democratic and Populist Ma
tional Committees make some arrange
,nent TO unite their vote2'
1.-THE two party organizations VIII De
kept entirely separate and distinct, ana
ths two campaigns will be conducted sep
arateiy on parallel lines. but We hope to
vote and be united. MI Sewall is the one
man in the United States who now has 1t
In his power to completely unity the Sill
yer forces and make victory over the goa
combine absolutely certain. This Is the
unanimous opinion Of our Executive Com
mittee"
1t is not clear what Mr. Butler means. but
we guess that he hints at the propriety OF
SewalPs withdrawing TO make place Tor
Watson. Our own idea is that watson
ought to withdraw and leave the field TO
the Chicago ticket. But If both mean
10 stick. possibly in some States fusion
electoral ticket might be arranged;
ticket OF electors, some Of whom are Pop
ulists and some of whom are Democrats.
We say In "some States" because we do
not believe that this plan would work In
all OF the states. In some localities many
Democrats would not consent TO vote Tor
populists; in other localities it may be
that the Populists would not agree 10
vote for Democratic electors.
THE 81. Louis convention foresaw that
MANY difficulties Of this character would
arise, and It, therefore, passed a resoiu-
ton giving its National Committee pienary
mower. That committee has nov an
tho mower that the convention had. 1t
can withdraw Mr.. Watson and put
sewans name in place of his, or 1t can
leave the name blank. 1t can run fopu-
list electoral ticket in some States ana
can agree to run none In other states. OF
II can agree 10 arrange a fusion ticket IN
some States.
Mr.. Butler was elected chairman Of the
National Committee by large majority
and will, no doubt. be influential in direct
ing its action. We understand him TO be
On favor OF throwing the Populist vote in
favor Of Bryan; but. as we have SAID II
is not clear how he proposes to 90 IT,
vet II can be done in one way oniy-by
Democrats and Populists combining
theIr vote on one set OF electors in each
state.
II. L. W.. the widely known special cor
RESPONDENT Of the Washington Post teie-
graphs that paper from st. Louis that
In nearly all the Western States-more
probabiy In all-the Popuisti ana Demo-
cratic electors will be the same men, lhls
Is certain to be the case IN Kansas anu
Nebraska. for Jerry simpson, from me
erst state. and Senator Allen, from The
second. openly admit It, In the mining
s,,tes and out on the Pacific slope the
same plan will be followed. West OF the
rfiSs5ssippi and north OF the Ohio there
will he no votes for Watson. He is but
mummy to catch the southern vote
This correspondent also thinks that
fusion tickets may be necessary in North
Carolina and Kentucky, and possibly In
Alabama and Florida. He is further OF
fhe opinion that Mr.. Bryan Will never be
notited OF his nominatioH-that the com
,nittee appointed for that purpose will
IAN to act. and that, therefore, 1t VIII
not be necessary for Bryan to endorse
or repudiate wholly or partially the Popu-
lists platform. Says il. L. VIZ
Ninety per cent OF the Populists want
10 vote Tor Bryan any way, because they
regard him as being in thorough sympa-
thy with them, and they do not care
whether he accepts or dechnes. Oh the
ofher hand, Bryan wants their votes, so
mat the present situation is mutually sat
lsfactory.
OF course, Bryan wishes 10 secure all
The votes he can. but We may rest as
sured ne will consent TO nothing mimi
cal to the interests OF sewall. AS TO this,
his position IL well known, and is per-
fsctly satisfactory 10 Democrats. Nor
will he run upon any other than the DEM
ocratic platform. Here. too. his views are
well-known, and 1t would. therefore. be
vcod policy for the Populists TO omit the
formality OF notifying him OF his nomi-
nation by the st. Louis convention. II
~ notified. Mr.. Bryan can only point 10 the
differences between the 81. Louis and the
Chicago platforms. and say that the Chi
eago platform must be his guide.
We expect now long course OF negotia-
lions 10 be entered upon, with the OBJ
3ect OF consolidating the votes OF the two
parties. but we expect Mr.. Bryan never to
forget that he Is the nominee OF the
Democratic party. And It seems TO us
that b. has a good and visa counsellor IN