The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-30
ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND sEwALL

keep these deficits within bounds.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND SEWALL
Whatever may be said of the Popu-
lists, it is evident today that they have
upset general plans somewhat They
have changed politics entirely in Kan
sas. The Republican papers in this
state long ago became convinced that
poison for Democrats might be meat
| for the PopulistS.
The first great lesson the Republicans
Of Kansas learned in regard to the
weapons to be used against Populism
was that ridicule was powerless. 1t
was not so with the Democrats. Many
man has been turned out of the Dem
ocratic party by ridicule. No man has
ever been turned out of the PopuliSt
party by it.
But there were scores of other les
sons that Kansas learned as far back
as 1892 in regard to the Populists.
The Eagle has pointed out repeatedly
that the Populist is not the permanent
advocate of any one thing. He posi-
lively is not. He doesn't care for any
| one issue or question except for the
purposes Of his single campaign. And
| the purposes of PopuliSt campaign
are to upset the existing order of
things.
This is the plain truth and the sooner
the nation takes this view of it and
fights it out so, the better it will be.
The more complicated and unusual
situation the more a Populist likes It.
The darker the horse nominated the
happier he is. The Populist Is an
agent Of destruction; he may have a
remote idea that he will some time
build again, but he does not bother
about that now. He must tear down
now
There are several hundred Populists
i'll the state just now who are really
happy that Watson and Sewall are in
the race In Kansas they will be
forced to vote for Sewall. They must
even surrender their own candidate.
and for millionaire.
But these Populists do not care
Why? Because a single presidential
candidate with two vice-presidential
candidates attached to him is a strange
thing-it is new, novel, unusual. 1t is
new shake of the dice-box and the
ivories may fall out In new combine
ton. The Populist Is glad to have the
chance of throwing il that way.
The Sewall-Watson case is certainly
queer one. Poptlists have been
making brisk bargains in fusing with
the Democracy. Oregon Populists have
declared for Bryan, but with the stipu-
lation that Watson have second place
on the ticket. California fuSionists
agree that five electoral votes shall be
Democratic, with four for the Popu-
lists. Illinois Populists have been con-
coded four votes for Watson. Ohio
Populists are expecting half of the
electoral vote for Watson and Indiana
Populists are expecting even more. In
other states, also. fusion gives Watson
part Of the electors.
In Illinois of the twcnty-four electors
of the fused parties, Ryan will COM
mand the full strength: OF these, how
ever, Sewall can get only twenty. Wat
son getting the remaining four if fusion
carries the state. In Oregon the four
votes of that state Will go for Bryan
and Watson if fusion wins, leaving
Sewan out entirely. There has been
opposition to Sewall from many sides,
and with the concessions already made
to the Populist party its demands are
not likely to become more modest as
the campaign proceeds.
In the light of these conditions il
Bryan shall win in November ii is prob
able that no candidate for vice presi-
dent will get majorfty Of the electoral
vote. The twelfth amendment to the
constitution provides that 1.-THE person
having the greater number of votes as
vice president shall be the vice presi-
dent, If such number be a majority OF
the whole number of electors appoint
ed: and il no person have a majority,
then from the two highest numbers on
the list the senate shall choose the vice
president: quorum for the purpose
shall consist OF two-thirds of the whole
number of senator's, and a majority of
the whole number shall be necessary
to a choice"
The two highest ON the list would
probably be Sewall and Hobart The
senate is for free silver and Sewall
would be the man. OF course all this
depends on Bryan's election. He will
not be elected But those Populists
who believe he viii be want TO make
the victory OF his partner uncertain |
They simply want lie tangled all up.
The more complex a situation is, the
more q Populist likes it. To him It
means turmoil and in turmoil agitation
is at its best