The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1896-09-04
Democrats Want Fusion.

Dear Strive, a Sub-Commit-
tee appointed by the Democratic
Campaign Committee with full
powers of said committee, request
that you as Chairman of a commit
tee appointed by the Populist Con-
vention ut Alexandria, call your
committee together to meet this
committee at Shreveport, La, or
any other point that your commit
tee may prefer, on Sept. LIST, or at
such other date as you may sug-
gest for the purpose of agreeing on
one set of Electors, composed part
ly of Democrats and partly of
Populists, in order to insure the
casting OF every Silver vote for
one set of electors, thereby making
sure the success of Mr.. Bryan in
the State.
An carly reply will oblige,
Yours truly,
j. NJ. Foster, Chairman.
Geo. Ii. Ellis.
w. W. Heard.
ID. G. Scarborough.
J. T. Mcclellan.
r. B. Milling,
The special committee referred
to in the above letter was created
and its powers limited by the fol-
lowing resolution of our State
convention at Alexandria, Augs
4th.
Resolved, that a committee of /
from each Congressional District,
and 2 at large he selected by this
convention, with the chairman of
the State Central Committee as ex-
| officio chairman of the same, which
shall be authorized to make such
changes in the electoral ticket put
up by this convention as may be-
come necessary by any action of
| the national committee of the Peo-
pies party.
Realizing that we were without
power to grant the request of the
committee, we hesitated, and con-
suited many Populists as to assum-
ing undue authority to effect an
honorable union of the silver forces.
After second letter from the
chairman of the Democratic COM
mittee urging q reply we sent the
following:
Aug. 31st, 1896.
Mr.. j. M. Foster, Chairman,
Shreveport, La.
Dear Sir The letter of yonr
committee dated August 22nd, al
so yours dated Goth August, refer
ring to same, was received by me
and duly considered.
| | should have answered your
committee letter earlier, but for
the fact that the object for which
you ask me TO call the committee
over which / have the honor to
preside, is not within the powers
delegated to said committee, hence
l have been consulting with mem
bers of the committee and leading
men in my party before assuming
such questionable authority.
| | find the universal sentiment
among Louisiana Populists to be
{, Bryan and Watson, and they will
not be satisfied with division OF
electors that means nothing to
Watson. -
If Mr.. SewalI were out of the
way there would be no trouble tC
get our respective parties to agree
on an electoral, but it is certain
| that Populists in this State will
never support an electoral ticket
the majority or any other part OF
which is pledged to Sewall fol
| Vice President.
Allow me therefore to suggest
that YOU and your committee di
rect Your efforts to securing the
withdrawal of Mr.. Sewall as the
surest means of getting Populist
support for your ticket, which viii
then be our ticket. :
Believing and hoping that this viii
be accomplished in the next few
weeks, and that our conference
committees will then have common
ground to work upon, | will say
that the special committee which
you ask to meet, will be convened
in Alexandria, on Thursday, Sep
TENDER oath, at 1880 a. M, anC
will be pleased to meet your com
mhtee, provided Mr.. Sewall has
been induced to withdraw, or YOU
committee be authorized to pledgt
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