The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-02
FUSION ENDING
IN CONF USION.
Joseph Kelly Intimated
That There Were
a. P. AS in It.
DEFIED THE COMMITTEE
McGlashan Gives Reasons Why
He Would Be Stronger
Than De Vries.
M0NTEITH TAKES THE TRAP.
Vann and Castle Will Be Turned
Down in the Third and Sixth
for the Democrats.
MoNTE1TH TAKES THE TRAP.

was the refusal of Messrs. Montelth and
McGlashan, Populist nominees for Con-
gress, and of Kelly and Maddux, Demo
cratic nominees, 10 Withdraw SO as to
leave the field clear for fusion.
McGlashan, Maddux and Kelly did not
appear before the committee. ThevSwere
evidently in a state of defiance, and they,
like Monteith, had no doubt received a
bunch that if they should withdraw their
Withdrawals would be received by the
committee with indecent alacrIty, to be
followed by the assumed regret OF the
committee when making the announce
ment that somebody else had been put
into their places for the best good of the
Democratic party.
O. ID. Lane, millionaire and mine
owner, presided at the conference. There
were present: Eugene n. Deuprey, H. ?.
Andrews, Woodson GarIard, NJ. C. Has
.sett and Joseph Leggett, Democrats; J.W.
Keegan, 1. NJ. marlborough, j. NJ. Moore,
A. b. Kline, &. NJ. Wardall and John S.
Dore, Popuhsts, and Charles d. Lane, w.
z. LawIor and James r. Edoff, silverites.
Ex-Congressman Caminetti, the only abb
sentee, was confined TO his bed by sick
ness. He had stated to several members
that he wished to resign from the confer
ence committee because of remarks by Mr..
McGlashan concerning the purity Of his
motives.
By courtesy of the committee w. 81.
Afford, chairman of the Democratic State
Central Committee, was allowed to remain
during the session, which was strictly
executive. a resolution was passed pledg-
ing the members to secrecy, and so faith
fully was this pledge kept that when John
S. Dore was asked by CALL reporter after
the ad journment the name of the presid-
ing officer he refused to give even that i'm
material bit of information.
The first real busiEess of the meeting
was the announcement by E. NJ. WardalL
chairman of the Peoples party State
Central Committee, that he had in his
pocket the withdrawal OF a. w. Nann,
Peoples party nominee for Congress from
the Third District. The committee heaved
a sigh of relief at this announcement and
the names Of Cutler, Rogers, Patton,
Barlow, Mcguire Castle and De Vries were
read off as having rendered their with
drawals.
Section of the plan invited the can
dldates TO appear before the committee,
ostensibly 10 place before them all the
facts in connection with their candidacy,
but IN reality for the purpose of commit
ting the candidates to an acknoEledg ment
that the committee had Jurisdiction over
them. Then, if the action of the COM
mittee hereafter should not suit them,
having by their presence assented to what
ever the Democracy and the Southern Pa
citc Company might see lit 10 do with
them.
George W. Monteith, People's party
candidate for Congress from the First
Congressional Dlstrict-who is to be sup
planted by Mr.. Cutler, Democrat from
Humboldt who is acceptable to the South
ern Pacific Company-made a lengthy
statement OF the reasons why he should
not be removed.
Mr. Monteith felt cold chill run down
his spine when he appeared before the
committee and he appeared to regard
them with much suspicion. He was cour-
teous in his manner and at no time did he
say that he would not tender his with
drawal. He spoke OF a secret vote (pre-
sumably that of the members of the Amer
lean Railway Union) having been pledged
to him and asked for further time in
order TO consult them as TO their wishes
in the matter. He said that he would be
willing to lay his case privately before
Joseph Leggett, Democrat, and j. w.
Keegan, Populist, and he would be almost
willing to abide by their decision. He
added that he and his family were in the
most straitened circumstances and that
he really could not afford to make the
campaign, but, notwithstanding that fact,
his wife had urged him to stand by his
honor at all hazards and not to sacrifice it
by withdrawing.
It was suggested that W. P. Lawlor
should be made the third mem Der of the
committee, because in case the two men,
bers should not agree there should be a
third, there being luck in odd numbers
such as 81 to l and not in even numbers
such as Is to 1.
1t was agreed that Mr.. Monteith should
hand to the committee a written COM
munication Tuesday. This was done, no
doubt, to entrap him into an acknowI-
edgment that the conference committee
had jurisdiction over his candidacy.
Cutler of Humboldt appeared before the
committee and declared himself TO be
sound on free coinage II the committee
should select some one else in his place he
would accept the verdict with resignation,
but as he is on the slate this kind of resig-
nation will not give him any mental
pangs. He said further that he was not
in sympathy with ex-Congressman Geary's
onslaught on Monteith.
G. A Barlow declared that he could
carry his district by majority of 5000
votes on fusion ticket, as he was
popular with the laboring classes and
had been defeated for the Legislature by
majority of Is by the Southern Pacific
Company.
his ability to carry tie Seventh District.
Judge Mcguire said that he would with
draw and abide by the action of the COM
mittee.
The committee then adjourned until
230 P NJ yesterday.
Mr.. Monteith said to a CALL reporter
that his position was that the State COM
mittees OF the parties taxing part in the
fusion did not represent the people in the
Congressional districts directly. He had
received many letters from his district op-
posing his retirement. and he had received
one telegram from the leaders of Hum boldt
County Populists requesting him to with
draw. All the letters had earnestly re-
questing him to remain He had answered
those letters by declaring that he would
remain in the fight to the end regardless
of consequences.
Mr.. Montieth added: "In all these at
tempts at fusion / don't think that the
railroad question is receiving the consid-
Grafton to which it is entitled, and that
with me is of primary Importance. I.