New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-23

The difficulties encountered In certain Western
and Southern States in fusng the motley and
heterogeneous political elements which support
the Tillman-Altged-Brya programme Of Repu-
diatlon must have raised, by this time. In the
minds of the Democratic Populis managers the
awkward suspicion that they have before them
a task which will strain to the utmost their re-
sources OF tact and diplomacy 1t may be that
no really intelligent and painstaking effort to
accomplish n DemOcratlc-Po pulist fusion on cleo
tors has yet been made-an effort such as that
which, in 1899. uncer Mr. Germans experienced
direction gave the States OF Kansas. Colorado,
Idaho and Nevada to the PoIulisl candidate for
the Presidency and divided the electoral vote
Of North Dakota in n strange three-cOrnered
fashion between General Weaver. Mr.. Cleve-
land and General Harrison. Yet the conditions
Of electoral fusion in the South and West are
this year so confusing and paradoxcal that Mr..
les and his Populist allies might well sigh
for recurrence of the problem which Mr. Cor
man solved so successfully in 1892. For if the
two chief factors in the coalition have this fall
a more definite community OF political interests
and common Presidential candidate. the per-
plex;ties and embarrassments OF n dual Vice
Presidential nomination seem to have more than
monious political action. The natural antago-
nisms Of the Maine and Georgia rivals dangling
rs divided tail to Mr. Brvan's Presidential kite
have. in fact. introduced personal and fac
tonal bitterness into the necessary negotiations
for fusion which threatens to upset the carefully
laid plans of the campaign managers for joint
electoral tickets in many Of the Southern and
Western States
SO far the progress Of the Democratic and
Populst machines toward harmony and unity
OF action has been by no Means encouraging.
In Kansas. it Is true. the recent Popullst State
Convention lndorsed a Bryan and Sewall cleo
tora ticket put in the field by the remnant Of
the Democratic organization in the Sunhower
State-the price exacted for rhls piece OF treach-
cry to Mr.. Watson's interests being a wholesale
Endorsement by the Democratic Convention of
Populst nominees for Congress and fc: State
offices In Nebraska Senator William V. Allen. in
return for similar favors I'm the way Of State
and local nominations. succeeded in preventing
a choice Of straightout Populist electors. and in
obtaining authority TO open negotiations with
the Democratic State machine, which are more
than likely to lead to the floating Of ticket
nominally fusion" but in reality committed to
the support Of the candidates of the Chicago
Convention. A coalition OF Democrats. POpusts
and frec-conage Republicans has been formed
after much friction in Minnesota, and com
posite electoral ticket is to be put in the field
there. The Democratic and Populist forces have
also coalesccd in California. where five Bryan
and Sewa electors and four Bryan and Wat
son electors will ask the Joint support OF all the
elements friendly TO the Reputation programme.
The fusion movement In Idaho has taken
curious form. In that State. where the ex-Re-
publican free-coinagc crusaders led by Senator
Fred T. Dubois probably onnumber either the
Democrats or the Popusts. the two latter fac
tons in the Bryan camp have combined to
freeze OUT the boiling Republican Senator aud
his following Democratic electors have been
nominated. and Popust State and legislative
tickets Endorsed by fusion convention. 1t ia
also proposed by the Democratic Populist lead
ers to defeat Senator Dubois for reelection. The
exclusion of the Republican silver forces from
the fusion movement in Idaho has naturally
greatly alarmed and angered the Republican
seceders TO the cause OF Reputation in the other
Rocky Mountain States. and any repetition else
where Of the ostnclzing tactics used against Mr..
Dubois will probably end all hope Of a general
or substantial fusion Of the silver factions in
Pacific Slope States.
In Texas Missouri, Kentucky. Alabama.
Georgia and North Carolina neither of the par
ties supporting Bryan for the Presidency has
as yet shown any practical disposition 10 fuse
with the other on Presidential and Vcc-Presi-
dental electors In Texas the Democratic State
Convention declared recently against any form
of coalition with the Populists. In Georgia also
separate electoral tickets will undoubtedly be
rum while In North Carolina Mr. Butler the
chairman Of the Popust National Committee.
IS insisting on the right TO name six Bryan and
Watson electors out Of a total of eleven as the
price Of his cooperation in any fusion scheme.
II will be seem therefore, that the prospect OF
a successful Democratic POpullstlc coalition on
electors is In many quarters far frotn reassur.