The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-16
PLANS OF POPOCRATS
CONFERENCE OF MANAGERS OF MIR.
BRYAN'S CAMPAIGN.
Failure of the Fusion Movement i'm
Some of the Southern States
Worrying the Bosses.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15-The leaders of
the different elements which are supporting
Mr.. Bryan who are in the city, including
Senator's Jones of Arkansas, German and
Faulkner, Democrats; Teller and Dubois,
silver Republicans. and Butler, Populist,
and also Mr.. Johnson, the Democratic ma
tional committeeman of Kansas, spent a
busy day in conference among them
selves. They have not all been together at
any one time, but there has been no time
during the day when two or three of them
were not eloseted together. They have
discussed all phases of the campaign, and
it may be stated in a general way that they
have gone over the entire political situa-
ton, with the view of obtaining united
action in all States.
Senators Jones and Butler devoted two
hours TO the question of fusion on presi-
Dental and vice presidential electors The
failure of the Democrats and Populists in
many of the States, especially in the South
to agree upon the same electoral ticket was
discussed, and it is understood that the
chairmen were agreed the necessity of
inlpressing on the members of the two
parties in the discordant States that they
should get together as soon as possible.
They went over the differences in Ken
lucky, Tennessee, Alabama, North Caro-
lima, Kansas, Florida, Texas and West Vir
ginia and agreed upon line of action to
be recommended in each State. In Ken
lucky and West Virginia Senator Jones
agreed that the demand of the Populists
for two electors in each was reasonable
and he will recommend that the proposition
of the Populists to fuse on this basis
be accepted. He will recommend also IL
somewhat more liberal concession in ZEN
nessee There are three straight tickets in
field Florida !: result
conference effort will be made to merge
the Democratic and Populist tickets. There
will be attempt to get the two parties
together in Alabama. Louisiana and Texas.
In Texas there is a movement on loot
looking to fusion between the Populists
and Republicans. Senator Buffers infiu-
ence will be exerted to prevent this.
With reference to North Carolina Sena-
tor Butler gave the assurance that wheth-
er there was fusion or not the electoral
vote of the State could be counted for
Bryan. 1T is he said to Senator Jones,
like the case of the two women who APP
>pealed to King Solomon to settle the dis
pute. as to the motherhood of a child.
Neither of us can afford to have the child
killed TO settle the dispute"
The situation in Kansas received special
attention. Some of the Populists in this
State are dissatisfied with the arrangement
there, which they claim would result in
giving the electoral vote of that State to
SewalI and ignore Watson Mr.. Butler is
investigating the situation with the hope
of securing better terms for the Kansas
Populists Mr.. Johnson assured him, how
Populist party were entirely satisfied with
the arrangement in that State, and that the
movement for a second Populist convention
was in no wise general among the mem
bers of that party. 1t is understood that
Senator Jones promised to give attention
to the situation there, and 70 his good
offices with the Democrats to secure some
concession for the Populists the cleo
toral ticket of the State in case it should
appear advisable to do.
One of the reasons for general under
standing in the States where there is
known to be a majority favorable to silver,
which was conceded by ALL was the ne
cessity for arranging matters to per-
nit the leaders in those States to devote
themselves to the campaign in other sec
tons. In this connection there was
siderable discussion of the situation in
Idaho as bearing upon Senator Duboiss
reelection. 1t was generally agreed that
the effort to reach an harmonious under
standing there should be continued with
the view of permitting the Senator and
his friends to participate freely in the
canvass in other States.
Butler Says 1t Rests with SewaII.