The San Francisco call., 1896-08-22
THE PLAN OF. FUSION.

The plan of fusion by which the Demo-
cratic leaders of this State hope to capture
the Populist vote for Bryan has at last
been made public. 1t proposes an elect
oral ticket on which there are to be five
Democrats pledged to Bryan and Sewail
and four Populists pledged to Bryan and
Watson. The Populist who votes the
ticket will therefore give five votes for
Sewall to four for Watson, and will help
20 put the millionaire banker above the
farmer in the vote of the Electoral College.
Whether this form of fusion will be sat-
istactory to any large number OF Popu-
lists remains to be seen. Certainly it will
not be pleasing to those earnest men who
have made the party what it is and who
care more for principle than for the spolls
of office. This was made manifest by the
action of John S. Dore, one of the Popu-
list members of the conference committee,
who positively refused to approve the pro-
posed plan of fusion and stood out with
unshaken loyalty for the ticket which the
Populists at the st. Louis convention had
offered to the country.
There can be no question that the Popu-
lists at the st. Louis convention went as
establishing system of cooperation with
Democracy during the campaign. They
placed at the head of their ticket the head
of the Democratic ticket. They fashioned
their platform as near to that of the
Democrats as could be done without
making 1t travesty on Populism. In re-
turn for this they asked only that the
Vice. Presidency should be given to the
Populists. They named as their candi-
date for that Office man who, to say the
least of it, is more eminent in politics
than Sewall, and has cut far greater fg-
ure in National affairs. No breath of
scandal or suspicion assails the character
OF Watson or his reputation for honesty
and honor either in public or private life
and no objection therefore on the score of
personal fitness can be urged by the sup
porters of Bryan against the acceptance
of the Populist candidate for the second
place on the ticket.
If it had been the intention of the Demo-
cratic leaders to deal in any way fairly
with the Populists and the Teller Repub-
licans they would long ere this have
shown some willingness to accept the
generous terms of cooperation offered
them at ST. Louis. II SewalI cared for the
cause more than for his own prestige ana
for the notoriety the campaign will bring
him he would at once have stepped aside
gracefully and made way for the leaders
of his party to accept the st. Louis plan of
fusion. This would have brought about e
cooperation of the two parties in spirit
of temporary harmony, and might have
given the ombination chance OF success
at the polls.
Under no circumstances is permanent
alliance between Democracy and Populism
possible. They might combine for cam
paign, but they could not unite to conduct
a government. Even on the silver ques-
ton the views of the two parties are only
seemingly in agreement. This fact has
been well known 10 the abler leaders of
both parties, and has made them half
hearted in their efforts at fusion. No true
union can be brought about, and the best
thing the Populists can do is. to put up a
ticket of their own and make straight
fight for the principles they believe in.