Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-21
UlTIMATUM REJECTED.
The State Democratic Executive Committee of
Georgia Declines to Accede to the
Nerve-Charged Populist Demand.

Atlanta, Ga, Oct. 20.-The democratic
executive committee of Georgia met here
today for the purpose of taking action
concerning the party primary for the
nomination of four associate justices of
the supreme court, to be elected at spe-
cial election on the 18th of December un-
der the new constitutional amendment
and also for the purpose of considering
the populist proposition published last
week regarding fusion electoral ticket
state convention to nominate four JUS
tices was called to meet in Atlanta on the
18th of November, each county to choose
its delegates on the 14th day of Novem-
ber.
In regard to fusion with the populists
the committee refused to accept the pop
uist ultimatum, which demanded that
the full electoral vote of the state be cast
for Watson for vice president but offer
ing to withdraw seven of the pepulist
electors, retaining six to run with seven
to be named by the democrats This ac-
tion was taken by the populist executive
committee last week, their communica-
ton being formally delivered to the dem
ocratic committee today The communi-
cation declares that an inferential con-
tract exists as the result of the st. Louis
convention by which the populists were
to support Bryan in the event of the with
drawal of Mr.. Sewall. 1t then proceeds
to express the belief that it is the inten-
tion of the leaders of the democratic par
ty to defeat-and If possible humiliate-
Mr.. Watson, and attacks the democratic
party of the state. 1t then makes the fu-
sion proposition above outlined qualify
ing 1T with the express understanding
that the thirteen electors so agreed upon
shall cast their vote for Bryan and Wat
son, and concludes by resolving THAT
our central committee is authorized and
empowered to withdraw If advisable, our
remaining electors or reinstate those that
are now withdrawn If the democratic
party does not accede to the foregoing
just and reasonable proposition within
five days from date" The communica-
ton was dated the 18th instant, the pop
ulst ultimatum expiring today.
The natter was fully considered by the
democratic committee, and 1t was the
unanimous agreement that the populists
were seeking to prevent a fusion and that
they would listen to no reasonable terms,
though the consensus of opinion among
the members present was that if the pop
ulistS had not themselves locked the doors
against fusion the committee would have
cheerfully negotiated for satisfactory
settlement.
The ultimatum of the populists, howev-
err refusing to consider Mr.. Sewall as a
factor in the contest. settled the matter
and the following resolution, offered by
Mr. Clark Howell of the national commit
tee. was unanimously adopted:
Whereas. the populist state executive
committee has made a proposition which
completely ignores fusion by eliminating
the candidacy of the democratic nominee
for vice president, Mr.. Sewall and has
cut off the democratic committee from
further consideration by fixing an arbi-
trary limit which expires today giving
this committee no opportunity for con-
siderat.on of a movement for proper fu.
sion; therefore be it
Resolved, That the chairman of the
democratic state executive committee ap-
point a committee of five, of which he
shall be the chairman, to properly pre-
sent u the public the attitude of this
committee in its refusal to accept the un-
reasonable and unjust ulitmatum of the
populist committee, clothed as 1t is in Of
fensive and unheconing language"