The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-23
WAR AMONG THE LEADERS
A BITTER REE-CORNERED
FIGHT IS ON AMONG THE
POPULISTS.
FUSION, ANT|.FUS|0N, QUASI FUSION
Anti-Fusionists Have No Chance of Vic
tory. But Will Combine With the
Quasi Fusionists to Prevent Full
Endorsement of Bryan.

st. Louis July 19-Few of the dele
gates to the Populist convention have ar
rived, but among the leaders who have
reached this city very bitter war has
already developed. They seem to be
aligning themselves for thrae-cornered
fight: first, by those who favor a straight
endorsement or nomination of Bryan and
Sewall. which will bring to the Chicago
ticket the support of the Populists; sec
ond, those who desire Il fusion on
electoral ticket, which will maintain the
Populist party organization intact and
place the leaders in position to demand
recognition in the event the ticket is sue
cessful; and, third, what are known as
the middle of the road Populsts, who
favor an independent platform and ticket
and who oppose fusion i'll any form. Inc
latter. if present indications count Tor
anything. will eventually be overruled:
The middle of the road however, Will
prove strong and valuable lilies of the
| leaders of the second class, who seem
| determined to preserve their party or
ganizaton at all hazards, but VINO pro
! fess an earnest desire to combine all the
silver strength if Il way can be found to
give them recognition. The real fight,
it is believed, will come between this fac
ton and those who are in favor of put
ting behind them for the present all pride
of party for the sake of the ause of
silver, to which they are pledged.
Chairman Taubeneck. the leader of
the middle" gave out Il plan last night.
| But, even with fusion. he wants Il set
of Popuist nominees, the purpose being.
if his plan is carried out, TO elect Bryan
president and Populist vice president.
| Taubeneck' interview met with storm
of protests from the faction which advo-
Gates a straight endorsement of Bryan
and Sewall as the only chance of solidify-
ing the silver forces and gaining victory.
Mr. Patterson of Colorado, who heads
the regular committee. came out i'll an
interview tonight, in which he denounced
Taubeneck's plan as not only impfac-
ticable, but impossible. He declared
that existence upon such n plan would
SAVIOR of deal and jeopardize the cause
of silver, to which all professed to be
and should be devoted. While he coun-
selled the maintenance of the Populist
organization he went so far as to init
mate that those who now sought to place
it above the cause of silver were looking
to their personal advantage and such
loaves and fishes as might come to them
with the advent of a silver administra-
ton. Among these POpulistS who have
arrived from the south there is much OPP
position to the plan to endorse Bryan and
Sewall without conditions.
Senator Butler of North Carolina. who
heartily favors narmonizing all the sill
yer elements as the only way to win
points out the strong enmity between the
| PopulistS and Democrats in the south
and expresses the opinion that unless
the Populist organization is recognized
in the fight. through fusion electors, il
will be impossible to secure the support
of the rank and file of the Populists OF
the south for the Chicago ticket.
Mr.. Washburn of Boston. chairman Of
the eastern wing of the Populists, re-
turned today from visit to 'Ir. Bryan
at Lincoln. where he went presumably
to confer with the candidate concerning
his endorsement by the Populsts. Mr.
Washburn was outspoken in his expires
sion that the Chicago ticket should bC
endorsed and the people be given an op
portunity to express Il clear verdict OF
the issue.
All the indications are that the con
vention will be a very lively affair. witt
the certainty of much bitter wrangling
the probability of some sensational Incl
dents and of n bolt of larger ur smaller
dimensions, no matter what the ultimat,
decision of the convention is.
The leaders of the silver party whC
are here appear to be all of one mind
that Bryan and Sewall should be en-
: dorsed. Victory for silver is thei
slogan and they oppose anything whicl
will tend to cloud the issue or divide tn,
silver strength. They expect by thei
action to exercise strong influence owe
the other convention, especially as Their,