The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-30
wAsHBURN TAKES A HAND.
Chairman of the PopUIist National
COMMITTEES Appears.

OI tEF IOpNtISt
Committee Appears.
1t would be difficult to imagine more
humorous situations than that presented
yesterday in the efforts of the Popocrats
and Populists to come together on a basis
of fusion. The only persons to whom the
Populist State convention delegated any
power in arranging ticket was the spe-
cial committee of thirteen. and the only
power delegated to it was in reference. to
electors The convention nominated its
State ticket with the intention of having
it stick. When the committee of thirteen
met here a couple Of weeks ago it put Il
full electoral ticket in the field, but left
a string out in order that this ticket might
be pulled in, in case Sewall should get off.
Since then the national leaders of both
the Populists and Popocrats have taken a
hand and endeavored to bring about fu-
sion. NJ c. Rankin, treasurer of the ma
tional committee came here a week ago
and slipped announcement into tho
Associated Press that the Populists had
agreed to fuse and that fusion had been
accomplished after consulate ton with the
committee of thirteen. When the commit
tee heard Of this its members Were filed
with wrath. and meeting of the commit
tee was called for yesterday at o'clock.
George H. Washburn, chairman OF the
tee. came down from Chicago and
spent the morning in consulta-
ton with the Popocratic campaign
committee. After talking until noon the
Popocrats told Mr. Washburn that if the
Populists would make proposition to take
five of the fifteen electors, withdraw their
State ticket and withdraw their congress
sional candidates in the six districts
where there had been fusion up to date,
this proposition would be accepted. Mr..
Washburn agreed to endeavor IL bring
this about.
During the morning the members Of the
committee Of thirteen were gathered at
the English Hotel, and though they held
no formal session the matter was talked
over informally. 1t was found that instead
of standing twelve to one against fusion,
at the former meeting, the committee
now stood ten to three against fusion.
fusion side were l.. w Iub5ell. Who
claimed when he was here before that
keep in the middle of the road, and julius
Rosenheimer who claimed that he rad re-
ceived d mysterious visit from a Rcpub-
lican of his own nationality, whora he
strongly suspected of an effort tc bribe
him. though nothing, was said. N W.
Motzinger who was chairman OF the state
convention, was also present and staEdIng
out against fusion. Motzihger is not
member of the committee, but IS chairman
of the State convention it lies with him
to certify to the nominations made by the
convention, and this gives him something
of a whip hand over the procea IingS.
While the middle -the-roaders held
forth and caucused at the English Hctel,
the fusionsts gathered at the Grand, de-
claring that matter what the toirHnit-
tee of thirteen did they were going TO fuse
anyhow Each side thus claimed to rep
resent the Populist party and each side
poured its troubles into the ear o. Ration
al Chairman Washburn; Each M, ma Tiher t6d or
agents of the Popocratic managers and
great efforts made to persuade them to
go into fusion on the basis arranged:
Finally all but two or three members of
the committee were gathered into Chair
man Martins private room al The Grand
Hotel where the Popocratic campaign
committee in session. and Io1nt ses-
sion was held lasting a couple of hours.
In the meantime Charles x Matthew's,
editor of the NonconformiSt, and enc or
two other leaders who have been strongly
patiently at the English Hotel for the
committee to go into session there accord
ing to it's call.
After being in session with the campaign
committee a couple of hours the two com
committees told the same story of what
was done at the conference. The story of
Chairman Martin has been detailed above
Another member of the Popocratc cam
paign committee said that they had not
been able to agree upon plan of fusion
but that they parted with the understand
ing that the Populists would put out
fusion ticket of their own.
The members of the Populist committee
FASTENED to the Hotel English, lodging re-
porters and even running to keep out of
their way and went INTO session IN m IN oRoom
conformist appeared before the committee
and addressed it., pleading against fusion
which he had received q couple of hours
before from Watson. 1t had no effect upon
Carroll, of Evansville, who made speech
against fusion. The other members of the
committee present We're Julius Rosenheim-
Gregg, DR. Keightly. N. 7. Butts. Samuel
Walker, A. G. Burkhardt. w. F. Polk: 4. r.
Bunger and f. NJ. Garriott. None of them
had anything to say while Mathews re-
manned, and shortly after his speech they
adjourned for supper.
After supper the committee reconvened
and sat around waiting for Patterson. Pat
terson appeared shortly after 9 o'clock and
the deal was closed up. 1t did not take
long. Both parties understood what
expected and Mr.. Patterson returned to the
Chairman Martin, of the Popocratic COM
mittee, and Chairman Washburn, of the
Populist 1,S national executive committee;
together until midnight to hear the report
of the committee of thirteen. After Mr..
Patterson,s departure TINS committee pro-
ceeded with the work Of completing the
deal according to the agreement. Watson's
telegram did not cut any ice at all. A reso-
luton was adopted by vote of II to l.
the opposing man being Carroll. resembling
the action of Sept. II and pulling down the
entire list of electors then put up. Then a
resolution was adopted apologizing for the
present action on the ground that it
the list of electors was selected printed
above. Two of the five Populists on the
list are al present congressional candidates
and will be pulled out Of the congressional
race. They are Thomas Cope. in the Fourth
district, and John S. Bender in the Thir-
teenth. This leaves the Populists with but
two congressional candidates of their own
Lee, in the First district. and Motsinger
in the Second. Motsinger was made to be-
lieYe Yesterday that the Popocrats intend
pulling off Miers in the Second.
\ National state Ticket
The National Democrats have threatened
right along that. if fusion with the Popu-
lists should be accomplished. they would
put State ticket in the field. One of the
chief reasons advanced by the Popocrats
for not putting Populist electors on their
ticket was this threat. 1t was midnight
when the Populists announced their pc
culiar action, and none of the National
Democratic leaders could be seen; but it
is probable that Chairman Pickens will at
once call his State committee together to
consider the situation.