The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-28
NO FUSION IN GEORGIA.
PopuIists do Not Regard sewall Factor
in the Contest.

PopuIists do Not Regard sewall Facto
in the Contest.
ATLANTA, Ga., Oct. 20.-The Demo
cratic executive committee of Georgis
met here today for the purpose of tax
ing action concerning the party prim
ary for the nomination of four Associ
ate Justices of the Supreme Court t.
be elected at special election on thu
| 18th OF December under the new con
stitutional amandment, and also fol
the purpose of considering Populis
proposition published last week re
garding a fusion electoral ticket. A
State Convention to nominate four
Justices was called to meet in Atlantis
on the 18th of November, each county
to choose its delegates on the 14th day
of November.
In regard to fusion with the Popu
lists the committee refused to accept
the Populist ultimatum, which de.
manded that the full electoral vote O
the State be cast for Watson for Vice
President, but offering to withdraw
seven of the Populist electors, retain:
ing six to run with seven to be named
by the Democrats. This action was
taken by the Populist executive COM
mittee last night, their communication
being formally delivered to the Demo.
cratic committee today. The com.
munication declares that an inferen-
tial contract exists as the result of the
st. Louis Convention by which the
Populists were to support Bryan in the
event of the withdrawal of Mr.. Sewall
It then proceeds to express the belief
that it is the intention of the leaders
of the Democratic party to defeat, and,
if possible, to humiliats Mr.. Watson,
and attacks the Democratic party
of the State. It then makes the fusion
proposition above outlined, qualifying
it with the express understanding that
the thirteen electors so agreed upon,
shall cast their vote for Bryan and
Watson, and concludes by resolving,
"that our central committee is author
lied and empowered to withdraw if adj
visable, our remaining electors or re-
instate those that are now Withdrawn,
if the Democratic party does not ac'
cede to the foregoing just and reason
able proposition within five days from
date"
The communication was dated the
18th instant, the Populists' ultimatum
expiring today.
The matter was fully considered by
the Democratic committee, and it was
the unanimous agreement that the
Populists were seeking to prevent a
fusion, and that they would listen to
no reasonable terms, though the con-
sensus of opinion among the members
present was that if the Populists them
selves had not locked the doors against
fusion the committee would cheerfully
have negotiated for settlement. The
ultimatum of the Populists, however,
refusing to consider Mr.. Sewall as a
factor ia the contest, settled the mat
ter, and the following resolution, OF
fered by Mr.. Clark Howell, OF the
national committee, was unanimously
adopted:
! Whereas, the Populist State execu'
tive committee hasa proposition which
completely ignores fusion by eliminat
ing the candidate OF the Democratic
nominee of Vice President, Mr.. Sew
all, and has cut off the Democratic
committee from further consideration
by fixing an arbitrary limit which ex
pires today giving this committee nc
opportunity for consideration OF 8
movement for proper fusion: There
fore
Be it resolved, That the chairman
of the Democratic State executive com
mittee appoint committee of five, o1
which he shall be the chairman, te
properly present to the public the at
titude Of this committee in its refusal
to accept the unreasonable and unJus,
ultimatum of the Populist committee
clothed as it is in offensive and unbe
coming language. .,
! At midnight the executive commit
tee agreed to appoint subcommittee
with plenary powers to continue nego
tiations with the Democrats. Mr.
Watson's letter of acceptance may be
given out by himself on Thursday.