The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-08-15
IN fAVUR OF FUSION
RESULTS AT ELLENsBURG DEPEND
ON IT'S ADOPTION.
Chances i'm Its Favor-Opposition
to Ii From several Quarters
and Bolt May Follow.

| Sentiment, winch hdu throughout the Jay
been on the wane, received a decided i'm
petus at $50 p. m. by the adoption of the
report of the populist committee on rules
and order of business, recommending that
a steering committee be appointed to con-
fer with a like committee from the demo-
cratic and free silver republican conven-
tions to consult as to the feasibility of
appointing three conference committees
from the several bodies to arrange a gen
eral fusion plan. Considerable opposition
was manifested in the debate preceding
the adoption of the report, but the propo-
sition carried by a substantial majority.
There has been no friction thus far
regards fusion on the part of either the
democrats or free silver republicans.
Spokane has been accorded one of the
three permanent chairmen in the person
of r. b. Blake, who is presiding over the
dongs of the free silver republicans In
the populist convention A. F. Gill, f. l..
Evans and Fl. A. Mcclure, all Spokane
men, were awarded places on the commit
tees and II. r. Jones. another Spokane
man, won the distinguished honor of be-
ing made chairman of the democratic
state central committee. James r. Fen
ton was made member of the democrat
ic steering committee and still another
Spokante, James Monaghan, received
recognition in the appointment to a place
on one of the democratic committees.
Indeed Spokane men are much in evil
dence in this convention-ridden town AS
rule they are earnest and energetic
workers in the committee rooms. on the
floor or wherever placed or assigned to a
duty.
With the possible exception of King,
Spokane county is also furnishing more
oratory than any other county in the
state This has been a good opportunity
for a comparison of popularity from an
oratorical standpoint of the strength of
the two favorite sons. Judge Turner and
James Hamilton Lewis, and it may be
truthfully stated that the former has not
suffered by comparison
This afternoon while the populist con-
vention was waiting for the report of the
credentials committee and was being re-
galed with speeches, Colonel Patrick Hen
ry Winston delivered a happy address.
His remarks were well received. In re-
ferring to his many political acrobatic
feats, Colonel Winston declared that he
had in the peoples party at last found
party with every member of which he
accord with it's principles and felt per-
fectly at home.
Mayor BeIt's Chances.
A. S. Dibble a Spokane populist, is
authority for the statement that the q
members of the Spokane peoples party
delegation will go down the line voting
for Mayor Belt for governor Discussing
Belts chances this afternoon with a
|
Dibble said: IF we have another day
like this Mayor Belt. in case of fusion,
will be nominated on the first ballot
Since his arrival last night he has more
than doubled his strength The addi-
tions have come thus far from the smaller
counties of the state on either side of the
mountains"
Nevertheless it is told on pretty good
authority that some of the ablest men IN
both the Spokane democratic and free
silver republican delegations will oppose
Belts nomination on the ground that he
is vacllating and too much endowed
with the gift of an oily tongue, which he
has used. it is alleged. to cover up his
real meaning and purposes.
Some of the chickering's.
Throughout the day the old charge hes
repeatedly been made. but not with APP
parent justifica ion, on the floor of the
convention, that Pierce, Spokane and
King counties had formed a coalition or
combine against the smaller counties for
the purpose of bringing about fusion. 1t
was met whenever made by a stern and
emphatic denial, though no one contended
but what a majority of the delegates
from these stalwart counties sought unity
of action, state and national. Spokane's
| representatives were in conference with
| the fusion committee of "a named tonight
| by the populist convention. 1t is proba-
BILE that two or three counties whose
delegations are here under instructions
not to submit to fusion may not accept
representation on the committee; in the
event that fusion carries it is a pretty
! safe prediction that several counties will
! bolt
William II. White, a conspicuous figure
in the democratic convention, does not
feel hopeful tonight of the success of the
fusion scheme. He publicly declared that
| he was sick and tired of the whining and
/ insinuating methods of the populists and
that he was already at the point where
he favored fusion with the free silver re-
publicans. permitting the peoples party
men not only to have the middle but all
the road. From present indications, -
Mr.. White said, fusion with the popu-
lists is not going to succeed if they con-
tinue their unreasonable demands and I'M
just insinuations. 1 am for fusion with
the silver republicans, and let the oopu-
lists place their own ticket in the field
The democrats and free silver republi-
cans can carry the state anyway" DR..
]. Eugene Jordan, late fusion candidate