The Van Buren press., 1896-10-17
FUSION IN ARKANSAS.
Democratic Central Committee Gives
the Populists Three Places on
the Electoral Ticket.
From The Little Rock Democrat.

.
( 1t is fusion. As indicated in these
columns Saturday, Arkansas will have
D a Democratic Populist fusion electoral
ticket next November. The central
( committees of the two parties met
Saturday afternoon and entered into an
agreement whereby three Democratic
electors were taken off the ticket, and
Populists substituted in their places.
j. R. Sovereign will succeed either
Hon. J. B. Baker, of lizard, or JEFF
Davis, of Pope, as elector- at large A.
d. Tanner, of Lonoke, succeeds Jos.
T. Robinson, of Lonoke; E. r.
Arnold, of Clark, succeeds H. P.
Smead, of Ouachita. The Populist
electoral ticket was Withdrawn
entirely
Sub committees were appointed as
follows Saturday afternoon by the
respective central committees Demo
cratic-Chairman Carroll Armstrong.
Gov. J. p. Clarke, P. D. Scott, of
Crawford county; II. G. P. Williams.
of Union county T. W. NJ. Boone, of
Sebastian county. and Hugh Sullivan,
of Greene county. Populist-Isaae
McCracken, of Johnson county, chair
man; Thos. Fletcher, OF Pulaski
county; Homer Prince, of White
county; r. B. Carl Lee, of Lonoke
county B. P Baker, of White county,
and J. r. Donnell, of Faulkner
county.
A Joint council of these committees
was held, and the plan given above
agreed upon, whereby the Democrats
get five electors and the Populists
| three. That means that in the electoral
college the eight votes of Arkansas will
be cast for Bryan, for president, and
| for vice president, Sewall will get five
and Watson three. This is the common
deception of the action, although moth
ing was said about vice presidential
candidates.
When the Democratic committee met
there were seventeen votes in favor of
fusion, and two opposed it. In the
Populist committee the vote was
unanimous.
The following telegram was received
Saturday, and added much to the
fusion sentiment:
CHICAGO October TO- 1896
Hon. Carroll Armstrong. Little Rock:
! think it important to effect fusion.
J. X. JONES.
IL 10 ohid ti1oi iUboOAD WIZ iSSSi'N'
by the Democratic committee request
ing fusion for the influence it will have
on other states. This, in conjunction
with the expressed wish of Chairman
Jones. of the Democratic national com
mittee, and Chairman Butler, of the
Populist national committee, brought
about the result noted.
Chairman Carroll Armstrong, of the
Democratic state central committee,
gave out the following statement for
publication
Upon the suggestion of the chairman of the
state central committee of the Peoples party OF
Arkansas, and upon the recommendation OF the
Democratic national committee. the Arkansas
Democratic state central committee sonvened at
Little Rock today, aud by practically unanl-
nous vote effected fusion OF the silver forces
in Arkansas upon presidential electors, three OF
the eight electors being accorded 10 the People S
party, the same being j. A. Sovereign, master
workman of the Knights of Labor. E. X. Arnold
and A. ID. Tanner This agreement for fusion
was entered into By our party not nj all because
there was any danger whatever of failure to
elect onr Democratic electors, or because such
step was in any degree necessary for Democraue
success in Arkansas III November. The official
returns OF our election held last month show
that the Democrats cast 81, ia votes, the
Republicans 1885, and the Peoples party
1880 thus demonstrating that the Democrats
have plurality Of 81 7o Our Democrats were
moved to enter into this fusion with the Peoples
party for the purpose of showing tEeir APP.
probation of aud giving their support and Ell
couragement TO the fusion arrangements that
under the management of Chairman Butler OF
the Peoples party, have already been erected on
liberal terms i'll many other states OF the Union
where fusion is thought to be necessary for the
good OF our party in the pending national con-
test Furthermore, our peoge were glad OF an
opportunity OF showing their appreciation OF
the earnest and effective efforts that have been
made by our fellow citizen Mr.. Sovereign, for
the cause of silver.
The committee was much gratihed at the
prompt and cheerful offers upon the part Of all
our Democratic electors to resign in favor Of
such Populist electors as our committee should
see fl to substitute.
II am pleased TO say that believe that the
fusion effected will meet with the hearty
approval OF the great mass of our Democrats IN
Arkansas. The meeting OF our state central
committee today was largely attended by
mem beers from all quarters of the State, and
they voted in favor of fusion with great
unanimlty. there being only two votes against
it'
Arkansas is the thirteenth state in
which fusion between the Democrats
and Populists has been perfected
according to the desire of the national
committee. In the September election
the combined Democratic and Populist
vote against the Republican vote on
governor was:
Democrats and Populists 105, ia
Republican :. 80, S36
Majority 69.27S
In 1892, estimated on the same basis,
the vote was:
Democrats and Populists 80, SOS
Republican As, 1874
Majority 50, ISL
In 1892 II ,S31 Populist votes were
cast in the State; in 1894, "a $40 in
1896, 10 800.
Sub committees were appointed to
meet this morning and perfect the
arrangements for the fusion. The
Democratic committee consisted of
Carroll Armstrong, Gray Carroll, and
Gov. Jas. P. Clarke the Populist com
mittee consisted of Isaac McCracken,
of Clarksville; Prof. b. p. Baker, of
Searcy, and Col. Thomas Fletcher.
They held a meeting this forenoon, and
made all arrangements for the filing of
the joint certificate with the proper
authorities tomorrow. Addresses will
also be issued by both parties setting
forth their reasons for the action, and
urging the hearty support of the
respective adherents of both faiths.
Hon. jeff Davis, of Russellville,
Democratic elector for the Fifth
district, appeared before the committee
this morning and rendered his resig-
nation. His place will be taken by j
K. Sovereign, of Benton county, Master
Workman of the Knights of Labor.
The following telegram was received
/ Nsaal =. 4