Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-16
THE FIGHT IN TEXAS
A Secret Deal Between Populists, Republi-
cans and Gold Democrats.
POpuIist Managers Here, However
Il
Think the StHte Will Go for Bryan,
IS 4
Notwithstanding the Combine.

1t is admitted by populist managers that
the situation in Texas is not what they
would like it TO. be. 1t is admitted that
the majority of, the populist leaders there
have not followed the rules laid down for
the guidance of populists by the national
committee. notwithstanding this nothing
has been done by Chairman Butler or any
Of the others..n & Something is expected,
however, ana there is, NO telling how soon
action will be 7takspa.,....!a Vs. ..-
1t is not admitted sbyYthe populist mau-
ayers that the state Is In doubt. They
say the state VIII be- carried for Bryan by
"a, 900 to 10000 majority. This is an open
inference that the populist electoral ticket
and its republican and democratic allies
will be defeated by the democratic ticket,
wi ich seems to be the only one In Texas
Since the attitude Of the populist national
committee became known the Texas popu-
list leaders have been reticent as to their
intentions in dealing with the national
managers. They have written few let
tiers about the situation. They have not
communicated their plans. and they have
not been frank in amy way. Their policy
has been to hide the state OF affairs In
Texas from the national committee. This
state of affairs has gone to such an extent
that it is said that the national commit
tee has depended on other than official
sources for its Information from that state.
solutely loyal to Bryan.
A Secret Deal.
The information received here is con-
firmatory of the stories that there has
been a secret deal between the populists.
republicans and gold democrats. By this
the two latter agree to support the populist
electoral ticket and the candidates for
state offices and Congressman Of that
party If the popuist electors will agree
not to vote for Bryan. This agreement
seems to have been secretly made by all
the populist electors. The information Is
that Electors Wood and Williams have
come out openly against Bryan and de-
clared their intention to vote for Popul1st
Norton of Chicago. The populist electors,
1t is stated are not bound to anybody.
They were not instructed by their state
convention, like the democrats and re-
pubIicans. Many Bryan populists IN Iexas;
it is declared, distrust the whole electoral
ticket. -
The populist national committee is said
to be in possession of these facts, yet 1t has
so far taken no action to carry out the
threat made by Chairman Butler that If the
populists fused with the republicans he
would repudiate the whole business and put
a. loyal populist ticket In the field 1t is
alleged that Chairman Butler has taken
no action because he knew the state was
safe and saw no reason to be in a hurry
about jumping on the recalcitrant leaders.
1t is regarded now as too late to do much
the lone star state. Even some of the popu-
list national leaders are disposed to the be-
lief that the electoral ticket now in the
field will lack great deal of getting solid
populist support; that the position of the
electors is well known, and that all who
are for Bryan will vote the democratic
electoral ticket.
Some Think IT May Go for Mckinley.
In republican circles much weight is given
to the fusion HAT has been arranged, and
there are many confident claims that the
state will go for Mckinley. well-posted
politicians fresh from Texas say that the
| gold standard democratic vote is going to
| be much heavier than is supposed This,
| with the popuftstst and republicans will
make a strong combination. and doesn't
| leave q clear field for the democrats by any
| means ala
To show that tha1 Texas populist leaders
are not in harmdnyiwith the national lead
ers it may be mentioned that the populists
there have plenary state committee which
| has had a number Of conferences with the
republicans. Yet this committee has never
written a line to headquarters here of its
| objects or PURPOSES The national commit
| tee has been kept N the dark from begin
| ming to end. :ss1,